My cute Trapjaw.....

[MegF.]

Just got this little fellow from my good friend Anthony. A beautiful Florida cottonmouth to replace a Southern that didn't survive......he will be an educational critter teaching folks the difference between watersnakes and water moccasins....
Toast:

 

[BlackBear123]

I love his expression in that first picture.

 

[AliCat37]

I love him.
I think venomous snakes have the most awesome facial features.

 

[vetusvates]

Nice. Ummm....chocolatey...yummmm
Beautiful, too.

 

[MegF.]

I know...they manage to look cute and pissed all at once is how someone once described them.

 

[Alli_Draggy]

What a cutie!

 

[Xerneas]

I don't keep hots and I don't plan to, but my favs are Gaboon vipers. Beautiful animals.

Super pretty!

 

[MegF.]

Gaboons are pretty but they don't do anything for me. Not one I've ever had the desire to have one.

 

[m1n054]

It inspires me fear and respect, more fear than respect though.

 

[Lt. Dan]

Love the name, definitely deserves respect.

 

[MegF.]

Respect should be given...fear no. I had one rattlesnake that did create fear....I got rid of her. She gave me nightmares she was so nutty and aggressive. The ones I have now definitely make me cautious but I don't feel the fear that the other one did. It's good to have a bit of caution in you...keeps you from making mistakes and getting bitten.

 

[NH93]

Super interesting. I have no desire to ever own venomous snakes or creatures at all personally. Nor do I have the desire to have a snake larger than me but that's just me!

To be fair, venomous snakes are not legal in Canada whatsoever - unless belonging to a zoo, in which case they cannot leave, even for educational or reptile expo-type events.

I'm just curious (not to overtake the thread!) why some people do have the desire to own venomous snakes? Not that there's anything "right" or "wrong" about it, I just don't understand and have never had the opportunity to ask anyone here.
What are some thoughts?

 

[MegF.]

I keep them because they fascinate me and the look of them. They are completely different from non venomous....I guess it's like trying to explain to someone why you like snakes at all. I did not get venomous until I'd been keeping for years and then I did my research before ever starting. I can own anything here in South Carolina...there are no restrictions but I know what my limits are and there are species I won't keep. Elapids are one of them. Some of the snakes I have...the copperhead and the cottonmouth are educational. I do talks to boyscouts and schools and can show the differences between those snakes and the non venomous species that they are often confused with. I keep a watersnake for that reason as well. There is truly nothing like them and if you are someone who is interested in them, then it's something you keep. They are certainly not for everyone!

 

[diamondlil]

What a beauty!

 

[MegF.]

I hope he keeps the pattern into adulthood. Our SC versions do quite often....hopefully the Florida ones do too.