What/How did you get into Hot's and what was your first?

[Derek1]

I'm not trying to start any controversial threads and would like the anti Hots stay off this thread. Granted I said I wouldn't pass a free Copperhead, and I stand by that, but I am by no means looking to get into Hot's. I like to gain knowledge from those experienced with many species.

That said: What was your first Hot? And why/how did you get it?

[SSSSnakes]

My first HOT was a Canebrake Rattlesnake baby. I purchased it from a Reptile Store in PA. I was doing educational snakes shows and wanted to upgrade the variety of snakes that I could offer in my shows. I then fell in love with HOTs and have kept them ever since.

[Derek1]

Thanks Jerry! I like your site! Very good Mission Statement.

[SSSSnakes]

Thanks Jerry! I like your site! Very good Mission Statement.

Thank you. I try, but have to give a lot of the credit to my wife, who encourages me and tolerates all the snakes, as well as helps at most of the shows.

[stephanbakir]

My first hots (got them from the same guy) were 1.0 O. Hannah and 1.0 N. Siamensis.
Both were horrible choices as first starter hots, but I had been working with my mentors snakes for almost 4 years, 2 of that was hands on with the hots and the first 2 were with the rest of his collection + cage cleaning and general theory.

Just a quick note, while a copperhead won't likely kill you... Your going to feel it for... A while.

[Georgia]

A western Cottonmouth was my first hot.

[Georgia]

When i wanted a hot...i got one and went all in from there.

[amousley1]

My husband, while I love him, is not so bright sometimes. He is a venomous guy and started before we got together. His first "hot" was a black mamba. He has also kept inland taipans, snout nose cobras, Egyptian cobras, western green mambas, a copperhead, a tiger rattler, a Mojave rattler, Vogels vipers, multiple types of lance heads (one of which is about 5ft long), puff adders, death adders, gaboon vipers, rhino vipers, and a plethora more that I'm sure I'm forgetting. Whenever someone seriously asks him (and it is a bit of a joke with venomous keepers because it irritates the crap out of them as they believe you need to fully do your own research and make your own decision), he says pick something indigenous to the area. That way if you DO get a bite, the anti venom will be readily available. He also recommends getting a garter snake first, so you learn how to deal with a rear fanged snake. And he does not EVER condone free handling of a venomous species like some people in videos online are wont to do.

[Derek1]

Black Mamba is a hell of a starter hot lol. Sounds like he/y'all have a nice collection.

[CrotalusR#1]

I started getting interested in hots when I way 14years old and the next year I went out herping and collected my first hot. A bright red speckled rattlesnake.

[CrotalusR#1]

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3866/14762826031_9a298d1596_c.jpg

[Will0W783]

I got into hots gradually- I'd worked with arboreal non-venomous and kept many rear-fanged species, so it was kind of a natural progression. My fiance actually brought home our first hot- a baby green eyelash viper. I was actually very nervous about it at first, but he quickly stopped cleaning its cage often enough. Green Goblin was so tiny at first that we kept her on paper towels, which needed changing at least once a week. I ended up caring for her, and quickly fell in love with hooking her and working with her while I cleaned her cage. I bought my own first hot, a horned bush viper (Atheris ceratophora) 3 months later, and the rest is history!

Now my collection consists of all hots, except for an old boa.

[Derek1]

Both the Horned and Eyelash vipers are beautiful snakes.