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Would you ever keep venomous snakes?

stragen

stragen

~~~~~~~~
Would any of you guys ever consider keeping venomous snakes? I'm fascinated by them but I don't think I ever could - knowing that if I, or the snake had a bad day I could end up dead. I'd be too scared! But thats also part of the fascination - that they are so deadly! :eek:
I don't think they would make good "pets" as you wouldn't really be able to handle them, but could be good for noble causes like creating anti-venom's or as exhibits in a zoo... :)
If there is anyone that does keep venomous on here then I'd be interested to know - why did you choose to start keeping them?
 
No. Unnecessary risk IMO. I'll go to the zoo or turn on the Discovery channel if I want to see venomous snakes. Plus I want to be able to interact with my pets.
 
I would, and I'd most likely find a way to touch them. But I wouldn't own snakes that would likely kill me if they bit me. I think a copperhead would be my first foray into hots. And also, if I ever decided to have a kid, all hots would find a new home.
 
I was really into colorful tree vipers for a long time back in the 80s. Eyelash are my favorite, although we had a number of Atheris and other New World and Old World species. We bred a few of them, but had to give them up when we started Glades Herp in 1990 - they required too much personal attention and we were working some long hours.

I have kept a number of other venomous species over the years, including Cerastes cerastes, 2 species of Aspidelaps (coral cobras) and some various rattlesnakes and even a couple of cobras.

You do have to pay more attention and have secure facilities. I consider the species that I like to be less dangerous than driving, and a lot of other things we do regularly. Although I don't have any venomous at the moment, I have kept up our Florida venomous license because I plan to get another pair of eyelash vipers one of these days.

The reason I like them so much is that they are like little gems in the leaves. They are extremely variable like corns, but are perfect for decorated vivs with live plants. They mostly just sit there and look beautiful. They don't eat or poop a lot, and are fun to try to see what colors and patterns they can produce. Sure wish there was a little species of python or boa that had all of those attributes - they would be extremely popular!
 
stragen said:
Would any of you guys ever consider keeping venomous snakes? I'm fascinated by them but I don't think I ever could - knowing that if I, or the snake had a bad day I could end up dead. I'd be too scared! But thats also part of the fascination - that they are so deadly! :eek:
I don't think they would make good "pets" as you wouldn't really be able to handle them, but could be good for noble causes like creating anti-venom's or as exhibits in a zoo... :)
If there is anyone that does keep venomous on here then I'd be interested to know - why did you choose to start keeping them?
Click to expand...

Used to but after the kids came, the hots went.
One day I'll get more.
They are NOT pets. Let your guard down once and you will be in BIG trouble.
I started with native local animals because I was doing presentations then went into the really exotic ones.
Let me tell you, cobras are SMART. I had a B&W spitter that never spit when I had goggles on. One time I wore just glasses. She spit over and over again. About a drop got in the corner of my eye. THAT BURNS. She knew my eyes were not protected well. Smart animal.
If you go with hots, get trained by someone who is very knowlegeable. Get all the proper licenses/permits you need and have a protocol book ready in the event of a bite. Label the cages with the scientific and common names and what AV you need to treat that animals bite. Introduce yourself to the local ER and police and fireman. Let them know what you keep. Always secure the room the snakes are in and ALWAYS have an exit route. Keep all your tools withing reach and never drop your guard.
These are very fascinating animals but until you work with one, it's hard to describe the feeling of what it's like to be on your toes with them.
Do not take it lightly. Even a less potent copperhead can pack a serious punch. You could end up with necrosis or have an allergic reaction to the bite or worse. A reaction to the AV.
Above all. Don't get a hot unless you are trained.
 
I would already have some native hots (rattlers) if my room mate didn't have a problem with it.
At some point, I will have hots. I really have my eye on Sidewinders and Mojave Green Rattle Snakes.
 
SPJ said:
Do not take it lightly. Even a less potent copperhead can pack a serious punch. You could end up with necrosis or have an allergic reaction to the bite or worse. A reaction to the AV.
Above all. Don't get a hot unless you are trained.
Click to expand...

Yep. Good points, all. Luckily, I work and will continue to work in the university setting, so when I decide I'm ready, I will knock on the door of the herpetologists who study the hots. I know them now, but I'm not ready now. I'm well aware that the preparation will involve lots of time and money (securing a room properly). I might not have enough of either ever, but I won't own hots until I do.
 
Most likely no. I've had the odd fleeting thought along the lines of "that would be cool..." but never anything serious. I'm just not confident enough to take on venomous snakes. Especially since I would like to have a family in the future, and know I am destined to have children - I don't think venomous snakes have any place in a family household.
 
They just dont interest me at all. I think its neat that others have them, more power to ya :) But, just seems to risky to me.
 
No I would not keep them in my own home. I am fascinated by them, but it's too risky and difficult to keep them. And with us fostering puppies, I would be afraid they would get hurt. Puppies are like children in that they can get into anything and they are very curious. Despite my best efforts, I've had the snakes escape their enclosures due to my own forgetfulness or the puppies distracting me and I failed to secure their enclosure correctly. An escaped corn snake is one thing, an escaped rattler or cobra is a much bigger problem that I would not want to risk.
 
nope wouldn't keep one, or even entertain the idea of getting one. heck.. I'm not even interested in getting a non-venemous that could grow bigger than me!! I do appreciate their uniqueness and beauty, but I can turn on the tv or read a book on them. thats close enough for me.
 
I am pretty fascinated with Coral snakes. If I was going to have a venomous snake, that is what I would want.

But when you can see so many kinds in the wild where I live, so frequently- rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, and the coral- you don't really need to keep them.

Nanci
 
Nope. I've never had any inclination to possess a venomous snake. Some of them truly are beautiful but I would never be comfortable having one in my home.
 
I adore all the asian hots... especially green arboreals :) Although I don't own anything that could kill anyone I have a western hoggie... oh and meet sweetpea - Philodryas Baroni. Shes the sweetest little girl ever :cool:

Image77.jpg


Shes rear fanged, and mildly potent. This is an abstract from "Venomous reptiles of the western hemisphere" (Campbell & Lamar, 2004):

" In Argentina, a specimen 90cm in TL, bit a 22-year-old male herpetologist on the thumb but withdrew immediately. There was immediate slight burning pain with minimal local bleeding. Swelling was evident after five minutes ; after one hour the whole hand was swollen and there were petechial hemorrhages in the skin. Swelling progressed to mid-forearm level, and there were ecchymoses along the line of lymphatics up to the axilla. Recovery was complete within 48 hours (Kuch and Jesberger, 1993)."
 
I would never keep hot snakes.

I'm all for keeping them for study, as venom can be very useful, but just for interests sake? In my opinion its much too risky- and not just for the keeper, but for the people around them.

I think that unless you

-are FULLY trained
-have the right resources available, and the right facilities
-live very far away from other people, (not in a close set neighborhood),
-do not have any dependents or other people living with you that do know know how to deal with hot snakes
-are a very very, responsible, mature individual

you should not own hot snakes. Rear fanged....maybe, but truly poisonous?
Just too dangerous, IMHO.
 
plasticknives said:
I would never keep hot snakes.

I'm all for keeping them for study, as venom can be very useful, but just for interests sake? In my opinion its much too risky- and not just for the keeper, but for the people around them.

I think that unless you

-are FULLY trained
-have the right resources available, and the right facilities
-live very far away from other people, (not in a close set neighborhood),
-do not have any dependents or other people living with you that do know know how to deal with hot snakes
-are a very very, responsible, mature individual
Click to expand...

I think most of these things should go for people who get to drive cars, as well!
 
plasticknives said:
...but truly poisonous? Just too dangerous, IMHO.
Click to expand...
It seems that truly poisonous snakes wouldn't be much of a risk at all, as long as you didn't eat them.
But what about truly venomous snakes? :grin01:

Now, don't get all huffy everyone. It was just a joke. :)
 
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