where to learn?

[snakekid6996]

I'm going to be 18 in the next 10 months and I want to start working with venomous snakes. It's been a life long dream of mine. I want to have training before I purchase any hots, but I don't know where to go. I live in Indiana and haven't been able to find anywhere where they do venomous snake training. Does anyone know anywhere that I could try or any hot owners/breeders in Indiana I could contact with questions? Thanks.

[snakekid6996]

Anybody know?

[MDT]

you might try PM-ing some of the venomous keepers on the board.

[SSSSnakes]

I've trained a few people, but they had to prove their dedication and maturity level, before I would consider them. Not to many people are going to want to teach you if they don't know you personally. Ask yourself why you want to handle HOTs. This decision could get you killed.

[snakekid6996]

I've trained a few people, but they had to prove their dedication and maturity level, before I would consider them. Not to many people are going to want to teach you if they don't know you personally. Ask yourself why you want to handle HOTs. This decision could get you killed.

I want to handle hots simply because I Love snakes. I have since I was born and I've wanted to work with venomous and nonvenomous snakes since I was four. They excite me and I have a passion for them. That's really the main reason. Plus I'd like to milk snakes to sell the venom for antivenom and for medical research, but that's just a bonus. Yes, the idea of getting bit does scare me and makes me question it, but I've never even gotten the chance to work with any venomous snake. I'll never know if I don't try.

[MDT]

snakekid....when you say you "want to work with them", what does that mean? you want them as pets? you want to get your PhD in toxinology/toxicology? jerry is right....you should be able to pointedly state your end goal to someone who will be mentoring you.

i'm pretty sure you can't just milk snakes to sell venom- at least in the US. CroFab is a USP (Untied States Pharmaceutical) product. Very stringent lab procedures and methodologies for preserving venom exist. if you want to do that, you'll need to get a job with the venom supplier.

btw, have you ever come across a venomous snake in the wild? just curious....best of luck in finding a mentor...at least you're trying to plan things out.

[snakekid6996]

snakekid....when you say you "want to work with them", what does that mean? you want them as pets? you want to get your PhD in toxinology/toxicology? jerry is right....you should be able to pointedly state your end goal to someone who will be mentoring you.

i'm pretty sure you can't just milk snakes to sell venom- at least in the US. CroFab is a USP (Untied States Pharmaceutical) product. Very stringent lab procedures and methodologies for preserving venom exist. if you want to do that, you'll need to get a job with the venom supplier.

btw, have you ever come across a venomous snake in the wild? just curious....best of luck in finding a mentor...at least you're trying to plan things out.

I'm not exactly sure what I want to do with them yet. I know I for sure want to have my own personal collection as pets someday and I might like to breed them as well. I want to be a herpetologist, but I'm not sure specificly what exactly, but I want a job where I can work with snakes of all kind, including venomous. I would also like to be comfortable going herping and on field expeditions and work with any hots a may encounter. Anyways, as of now my only set goals are to own at least a few of my own personal venomous in the next few years.

And no I've never seen a hot in the wild, except what could have possibly been a water moccasin when I was around 10, but it was to far to see. Could have just been a water snake

[pet_snake_78]

I would volunteer somewhere before starting my own collection. It will give you the training you need plus you can see what you enjoy working with. Are there any zoos or similar you can volunteer at? You'll also want to check what permits you may need for your city/state. Sometimes there are research opportunities that will involve bagging/observing/tracking venomous but you will not likely get paid for them as the paid opportunities will be flooded with applicants. If you haven't already, I'd definitely get my college education going. We need people with a genuine interest in herps to land the jobs working with them as opposed to some bird watcher with a passing interest in herps. Have you checked with any local herp societies or attended one of the venomous shows?

[snakekid6996]

I would volunteer somewhere before starting my own collection. It will give you the training you need plus you can see what you enjoy working with. Are there any zoos or similar you can volunteer at? You'll also want to check what permits you may need for your city/state. Sometimes there are research opportunities that will involve bagging/observing/tracking venomous but you will not likely get paid for them as the paid opportunities will be flooded with applicants. If you haven't already, I'd definitely get my college education going. We need people with a genuine interest in herps to land the jobs working with them as opposed to some bird watcher with a passing interest in herps. Have you checked with any local herp societies or attended one of the venomous shows?

I do volunteer work for a local breeder, but she doesn't do hots. The only zoo around doesn't have any venomous and I'm still in high school. I've been keeping am eye out for volunteer working that has to do with snakes, but haven't seen any. I'm planning on emailing ipfw this spring, because I know they do stuff with herpetology, but I'm not sure if they venomous. I Hope so

[millertime89]

You're 18, go to college, get your bachelor's degree, and go to a school with a good herpetology program. If they've got a good program the person in charge will most likely have hots that they work with.

[snakekid6996]

You're 18, go to college, get your bachelor's degree, and go to a school with a good herpetology program. If they've got a good program the person in charge will most likely have hots that they work with.

I'm a junior, still got a year and half before I can go to college. That's the plan, but I just wanted to see if I could get started with them earlier

[millertime89]

Good luck. If I kept hots I would never allow a minor to interact with them.

[Primal Rage]

Start with this book Venomous Snakes in Captivity: Safety and Husbandry: B. W. Smith: 9781411629493: Amazon.com: Books (http://www.amazon.com/Venomous-Snakes-Captivity-Safety-Husbandry/dp/1411629493). It is filled with basic venomous husbandry protocol. The writer Brian is an awesome dude! I got to meet him around 10 years ago at a local pet shop where he used to pick up his feeders. I am sure if you poke around your local herp societies you can find someone to point you in the right direction of a responsible hot mentor. Good luck!