What percentage of HOT keepers are actually qualified?

[Praireboyfarmer]

It seems I hear on the News about once a month about somebody being killed because their venomous snake/spider/other exotic animal bit them. Most of the time it is a copperhead (which for some reason, in recent years, has gotten the reputation of being almost harmless)

And recently my Cousin, of who I should say has zero experience with ANY kind of reptile, purchased a Rattlesnake.

Now, I know there are those who go through years of training and preparation and studying before attempting to even tackle the most mellow of hot snakes/other reptiles, but out of the whole of people who own them, how many actually do this?

[MDT]

interesting topic......i would venture that while most will say they are eminently qualified, very few are.

jerry, willow, viper keeper (to name a few) come to mind in terms of "very qualified".....

[Aaron_S]

It seems I hear on the News about once a month about somebody being killed because their venomous snake/spider/other exotic animal bit them. Most of the time it is a copperhead (which for some reason, in recent years, has gotten the reputation of being almost harmless)

And recently my Cousin, of who I should say has zero experience with ANY kind of reptile, purchased a Rattlesnake.

Now, I know there are those who go through years of training and preparation and studying before attempting to even tackle the most mellow of hot snakes/other reptiles, but out of the whole of people who own them, how many actually do this?

Very few,

It seems that most people who take the correct approach do one of two things. The first being become responsible safe keepers. The second being that they realize it isn't right for them and their situation and put it off until the time is right.

Tons of people do it the other way, much like your cousin. Or learn from someone much like your cousin and consider it the right way.

[SSSSnakes]

interesting topic......i would venture that while most will say they are eminently qualified, very few are.

jerry, willow, viper keeper (to name a few) come to mind in terms of "very qualified".....

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I would say most are not qualified and don't really know the dangers of what they are getting into. I have mentored a few people, but had never completed their training as they were not mature enough and did not take what they were doing seriously.

[MDT]

jerry...to take what you said a bit further....they did not complete their training because they were like luke skywalker and "left the training before complete", or did you go all "yoda" on them and kick them out of training because of their lack of maturity?

[SSSSnakes]

jerry...to take what you said a bit further....they did not complete their training because they were like luke skywalker and "left the training before complete", or did you go all "yoda" on them and kick them out of training because of their lack of maturity?

A few left, because they could not start off their venomous train handling venomous snakes right away. Other were told they were not ready because they were not taking the training seriously.

Venomous training starts off with handling non venomous snakes, that are fast and aggressive. If after a long period of time they can do this without getting bit, they can move on to the mild venomous snakes.

[reptiledude987]

I agree that a small percentage of hot owners have the proper level of trainning and respect for most hots. I think its generaly due to the tough guy mentality (in those who arent qualified) that makes them want hots. The problem is when people get them because theyre "bad a$$" and they can brag to their friends and say check this out it can kill you with one bite. But themselves dont have the trainning or knowledge or take the time to learn to care or handle them properly.

That being said from what "ive seen and read on this forum most hot keepers here seem to have a pretty good grasp on what theyre into. The problem comes from those who arent part of a community like this with no formal trainning and think its a good idea.

Here on Ontario hots are illegal. It dosent mean theyre not arround tho. so the problem is when something is purchased illegally how are you supposed to be trainned to deal with it?

There was a death a couple years back on the east coast of a guy who was bit in the face by a Gaboon viper because its viv was at face level. Thats what happens when you have something banned and no trainning is available.

[MDT]

I remember when I took herpetology in undergrad, the class went on an overnight collecting trip....I found a big racer and attempted to tail it. He got me twice in rapid succession. Prob as close to a mamba-like snake as I care to be.

I'll just watch the hot keepers from a distance!

[SSSSnakes]

I remember when I took herpetology in undergrad, the class went on an overnight collecting trip....I found a big racer and attempted to tail it. He got me twice in rapid succession. Prob as close to a mamba-like snake as I care to be.

I'll just watch the hot keepers from a distance!

Racers and coachwhips are great training snakes. If you can learn to handle them for months with no gloves and no equipment, without getting bit, then you are ready to move on to the next level.

[reptiledude987]

Racers and coachwhips are great training snakes. If you can learn to handle them for months with no gloves and no equipment, without getting bit, then you are ready to move on to the next level.

What would that next level be? Hots with mild toxicity levels?

[SSSSnakes]

What would that next level be? Hots with mild toxicity levels?
Teaching the use of proper handling equipment, such as sticks, tongs, shields, gloves, pinning sticks and restraining tubes. Also using fast, nasty snakes that are shorter and harder to handle like Water Snakes.

After that we move onto rear fang snakes, like Mangroves and False Water Cobras.

Then we move onto Mildly venomous snakes like Copperheads/.

And last but not least the bad boys., Rattlers, True Vipers and Cobras. The bad boys all require special handling techniques. You don't try to handle a Cobra the way you would handle Rattler or a Gaboon Viper.

[reptiledude987]

Teaching the use of proper handling equipment, such as sticks, tongs, shields, gloves, pinning sticks and restraining tubes. Also using fast, nasty snakes that are shorter and harder to handle like Water Snakes.

After that we move onto rear fang snakes, like Mangroves and False Water Cobras.

Then we move onto Mildly venomous snakes like Copperheads/.

And last but not least the bad boys., Rattlers, True Vipers and Cobras. The bad boys all require special handling techniques. You don't try to handle a Cobra the way you would handle Rattler or a Gaboon Viper.
Very interesting. If the laws here ever change I'd be very interested in engaging in that trainning. However dosent look like that will be happening any time soon so I'll just stick with the variety I can.

A hoggie however is on my list for this weekend as they are ok here :D

[trailblazer295]

I'm going to guess most aren't but that can be said of a lot of pet owners only worse with HOTs I'd guess. Many pets that are in tanks/cages aren't kept properly but most aren't dangerous either. And while most other pets don't have the 'show off factor' which is why HOTs are worse IMO the ones that don't do it right are probably the ones that want to advertise what pets they have. Personally I'd never own a pet that can kill me no matter how much experience I might have.

[jjhill001]

I'm going to guess most aren't but that can be said of a lot of pet owners only worse with HOTs I'd guess. Many pets that are in tanks/cages aren't kept properly but most aren't dangerous either. And while most other pets don't have the 'show off factor' which is why HOTs are worse IMO the ones that don't do it right are probably the ones that want to advertise what pets they have. Personally I'd never own a pet that can kill me no matter how much experience I might have.


Hit the nail right on the head.

[SSSSnakes]

Hit the nail right on the head.

Dogs an horses have killed people.

[pet_snake_78]

I doubt most people will ever be fully prepared and what would that mean, anyway? Having AV, life support systems, and doctors on premise? I mean we can never be fully prepared for anything. We don't drive racecars to work just in case we hit a wall. We don't wear bullet proof vests when hunting. We all accept some risks. I guess with venomous keepers it's not different. Some people keep species they know they cannot access AV for. Some people know they should always use tools but insist on free handling. I don't agree with the philosophy that we must always protect people from themselves. Ultimately, it's their lives, their choices. A foriegn concept in the current nanny state of affairs, but that's how I feel. So for me, I know people keeping cobras and such who have had no training at all in towns where they aren't allowed to do so and the people have always been OK but there's always a risk and the actions some take greatly increase that risk. I do think that training should be available and that keeping hots is best done legally, but the current state of affairs leads me to believe there's always going to be a lot of back alley type deals with these snakes in areas where permits are not available and people who won't bother even where they are.

[PatrickT]

I love watching poisonous snakes but would never have one myself. I decided that i simply dont want take the risk. Not for me and even more so not for my family and friends. I respect people who own such animals and i love too watch the videos of viper keeper on youtube but thats it.

[RAD House]

Patrick I know English is most likely not your first language, but it is venomous snakes not poisonous. Poison is something toxic when ingested. Venom is toxic when injected into your blood stream.

[PatrickT]

Patrick I know English is most likely not your first language, but it is venomous snakes not poisonous. Poison is something toxic when ingested. Venom is toxic when injected into your blood stream.

uhm ok, thanks for telling me.