Close calls

[Venomhunter]

A friend of mine keeps some rather large retics, burms and rocks.
A few weeks ago he was grabbed by his 15 ft retic out of a foodresponse, he coiled around him and broke 3 ribs.
Luckily after 30 seconds the snake realised that it wasn't a rabbit that he grabbed and released him.
This is one of the reasons that i don't plan on keeping giants, i've had a incident with a 9 ft yellow anaconda and that was very very unpleasant ;)

So i was wondering, do you people have had some close calls with your giants? I'd be interested in reading your stories :)

[RAD House]

Wow that certainly could have ended much worse. I think most that do keep them do not recommend handling giants alone.

[Venomhunter]

Wow that certainly could have ended much worse. I think most that do keep them do not recommend handling giants alone.

His brother was with him, only 2 persons on a 15 ft snake is not a good idea either.
I'm glad he is allright, you are right it could have been much worse!

[themeyers]

I get tagged all the time by the babies. but as far as my giants go I use my hook to open the cage thus granting me a few extra feet of distance and a better stance on my feet. I have had them get quite close to hitting me with those precautions. but just my wife and I handle our big girl (pushin 20') all the time. we feel we can tell with a bit of accuracy as to whether or not she is in a good mood. but this is the snake that will come out all on her own after you let her know with the hook that no food is coming her way. and she will climb right up us. but I have never been tagged by one of our bigger retics. that would scare the crap out of me.

[reptiledude987]

I get tagged all the time by the babies. but as far as my giants go I use my hook to open the cage thus granting me a few extra feet of distance and a better stance on my feet. I have had them get quite close to hitting me with those precautions. but just my wife and I handle our big girl (pushin 20') all the time. we feel we can tell with a bit of accuracy as to whether or not she is in a good mood. but this is the snake that will come out all on her own after you let her know with the hook that no food is coming her way. and she will climb right up us. but I have never been tagged by one of our bigger retics. that would scare the crap out of me.

If that big 20' beast did grab you one day (I hope it never does), would you rethink keeping giants?


I think this is aa great conversation thread by the way. As I believe that many people really under estimate the ability of giants. But those same people often think hot keepers are crazy lmao.

[dave himself]

I get tagged all the time by the babies. but as far as my giants go I use my hook to open the cage thus granting me a few extra feet of distance and a better stance on my feet. I have had them get quite close to hitting me with those precautions. but just my wife and I handle our big girl (pushin 20') all the time. we feel we can tell with a bit of accuracy as to whether or not she is in a good mood. but this is the snake that will come out all on her own after you let her know with the hook that no food is coming her way. and she will climb right up us. but I have never been tagged by one of our bigger retics. that would scare the crap out of me.

Any chance of you sticking up a pic of your big girl, true 20ft retics are rare and I love seeing them :)

[dave himself]

If that big 20' beast did grab you one day (I hope it never does), would you rethink keeping giants?


I think this is aa great conversation thread by the way. As I believe that many people really under estimate the ability of giants. But those same people often think hot keepers are crazy lmao.

I'm one those that think that hot keepers are completely bonkers. But then again I'm under no disillusion as to the damage that giant snakes can cause, after all what's the old saying. There's no antivenom for constriction

[reptiledude987]

I'm one those that think that hot keepers are completely bonkers. But then again I'm under no disillusion as to the damage that giant snakes can cause, after all what's the old saying. There's no antivenom for constriction

Also like at the beginning of viperkeepers videos it says "The deadliest snake in the world is the one that just bit you" :sorry:

[dave himself]

Bite and wrap report
http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j342/davy64/snakes/IMAG0897_1.jpg (http://s1081.photobucket.com/user/davy64/media/snakes/IMAG0897_1.jpg.html)

A few days after this pic was took I was bitten and wrapped by this guy, this was completely my fault. He is hook/tapped trained but on the day of the bite I home alone and just ready to leave when I noticed his water bowl was empty, so I opened the door of the viv and reached in without tapping him. The heat of my hand and movement set of a feeding response, he hit my hand like a sledge hammer taking three of my fingers and thumb into his mouth. Before I realised what had happened he already had a coil around my arm, I grabbed him behind the head and quickly pushed myself against the vivs which are stacked to stop him throwing coils over my head or neck. We must have stayed like that for maybe a 15 seconds but it seemed a lot longer, and then he just released his grip. I put him back in his viv and cleaned up, I was left with a bruised hand and arm I didn't require any stitches but he left a tooth in my thumb which took a few days to get out by picking at it with a needle. I'm just glad as this could have ended up a lot worse than it did :)

[reptiledude987]

Great story Dave and it now occurs to me why bites from giants may be more likely than hots. In the scenario You described a hot keeper would have removed and quarentined the hot before EVER putting a hand in the enclosure even for something as simple as a water change. I do the same with my snakes as what you did and I was also tagged by my adult male bredli the same way. However he held on for more than 15 seconds lol. Glad to hear your bite wasnt too bad and didnt need stitches.

[marvelfreak]

It not just the big ones you have to watch.

I had a 8 foot RTB wrapped partially around my neck as i was moving her to clean her cage. She got spooked by my brother in law walking pass the window. She tighten up and choked me out in under 10 seconds. I had always figure i could easily pull her off but when you can't breath it a different story. Luckily my brother in law and his girlfriend were able to get her off of me.

I have also had a 8.5 foot Burmese mistake my hand for food. Took 15 minutes to get him off of my hand. He left me with 14 teeth broke off in my hand and temporary nerve damage.

[Venomhunter]

Also like at the beginning of viperkeepers videos it says "The deadliest snake in the world is the one that just bit you" :sorry:

Wasn't the saying: "The most venomous snake in the world is the one that just bit you" yes, i also watch him and i think he is a little bit reckless at times but hey, i also don't work with gloves so i can't really judge on that one ;)

[Venomhunter]

I get tagged all the time by the babies. but as far as my giants go I use my hook to open the cage thus granting me a few extra feet of distance and a better stance on my feet. I have had them get quite close to hitting me with those precautions. but just my wife and I handle our big girl (pushin 20') all the time. we feel we can tell with a bit of accuracy as to whether or not she is in a good mood. but this is the snake that will come out all on her own after you let her know with the hook that no food is coming her way. and she will climb right up us. but I have never been tagged by one of our bigger retics. that would scare the crap out of me.

I can only imagine it would!

[Venomhunter]

Bite and wrap report
http://i1081.photobucket.com/albums/j342/davy64/snakes/IMAG0897_1.jpg (http://s1081.photobucket.com/user/davy64/media/snakes/IMAG0897_1.jpg.html)

A few days after this pic was took I was bitten and wrapped by this guy, this was completely my fault. He is hook/tapped trained but on the day of the bite I home alone and just ready to leave when I noticed his water bowl was empty, so I opened the door of the viv and reached in without tapping him. The heat of my hand and movement set of a feeding response, he hit my hand like a sledge hammer taking three of my fingers and thumb into his mouth. Before I realised what had happened he already had a coil around my arm, I grabbed him behind the head and quickly pushed myself against the vivs which are stacked to stop him throwing coils over my head or neck. We must have stayed like that for maybe a 15 seconds but it seemed a lot longer, and then he just released his grip. I put him back in his viv and cleaned up, I was left with a bruised hand and arm I didn't require any stitches but he left a tooth in my thumb which took a few days to get out by picking at it with a needle. I'm just glad as this could have ended up a lot worse than it did :)

Wow, that sounds like a hectic experience..
Never hurry when taking care of your animals because everything that can go wrong will go wrong! I've had that as well and i have learned my lesson!
What a gorgeous snake by the way!

[themeyers]

If that big 20' beast did grab you one day (I hope it never does), would you rethink keeping giants?


I think this is aa great conversation thread by the way. As I believe that many people really under estimate the ability of giants. But those same people often think hot keepers are crazy lmao.

no. nothing will change my love for these "giants" even if she did grab me one day I would know it was my fault. I will not blame the animal.

[Venomhunter]

no. nothing will change my love for these "giants" even if she did grab me one day I would know it was my fault. I will not blame the animal.

This is one trait that quite a few keepers lack, laying the error by yourself instead of by the animal.
i completely agree! :D

[trailblazer295]

Can't we all agree that you guys are all completely nuts lol but keep posting pics of your insanity.

[reptiledude987]

Can't we all agree that you guys are all completely nuts lol but keep posting pics of your insanity.

I second this for both keepers of giants and hots!!!!!!!
(especially if you have arboreal vipers)

[dave himself]

Wow, that sounds like a hectic experience..
Never hurry when taking care of your animals because everything that can go wrong will go wrong! I've had that as well and i have learned my lesson!
What a gorgeous snake by the way!

Thanks mate and this is one mistake that will not be repeated ;)

[Venomhunter]

I second this for both keepers of giants and hots!!!!!!!
(especially if you have arboreal vipers)

The thing with arboreal vipers is, they are often well camouflaged making them hard to see but once you spot them and you use thongs, hooks etc. You are relativlely safe, vipers even the arboreal ones are lazier then elapids and will only strike when they see a chance.
Now mamba's for instance.. Well let's say they are "ballistic missiles" when agitated and you open up the cage, it can be quite a show ;)

[Venomhunter]

Thanks mate and this is one mistake that will not be repeated ;)

That's a good solution!:D

[Wdnesday99]

At the pet store i was working at i went to the back to get a couple bags of bedding, when i turned around with it i noticed a large retic staring at me. Apparently someone left the cage open before me, also it happened to be feeding day so their were buckets of rabbits right next to me. the snake struck at me a bit but was mostly interested on the bucket.

[themeyers]

At the pet store i was working at i went to the back to get a couple bags of bedding, when i turned around with it i noticed a large retic staring at me. Apparently someone left the cage open before me, also it happened to be feeding day so their were buckets of rabbits right next to me. the snake struck at me a bit but was mostly interested on the bucket.

I am glad you are ok. but you got lucky. this is why I don't trust anyone (even my wife) in my snake room with out me.

[prairiepanda]

At the pet store i was working at i went to the back to get a couple bags of bedding, when i turned around with it i noticed a large retic staring at me. Apparently someone left the cage open before me, also it happened to be feeding day so their were buckets of rabbits right next to me. the snake struck at me a bit but was mostly interested on the bucket.

How did you guys resolve that situation? I'm curious what the procedure would normally be for cases like this where a giant is loose and there is prey around, as this is when they are most dangerous, and I've heard that they continue to be in "food mode" for a while after eating...would you just lock them in the room with the food and wait it out for a safe opportunity to wrangle them back into the enclosure, or is there a better way to handle the situation?

[Wdnesday99]

How did you guys resolve that situation? I'm curious what the procedure would normally be for cases like this where a giant is loose and there is prey around, as this is when they are most dangerous, and I've heard that they continue to be in "food mode" for a while after eating...would you just lock them in the room with the food and wait it out for a safe opportunity to wrangle them back into the enclosure, or is there a better way to handle the situation?
I did my best to not get struck then went to tell a coworker who was not busy, I'm not sure exactly what they did but i went back in about 10 minutes later and she was back in her cage.

[Venomhunter]

I did my best to not get struck then went to tell a coworker who was not busy, I'm not sure exactly what they did but i went back in about 10 minutes later and she was back in her cage.

Consider yourself very lucky, i wouldn't want to be on the business-end of a retic with a food response.
They can go absolutely nuts!

[Herpenstein]

These are pretty chilling stories lol I think they are good to hear though. I've made all the classic handling mistakes with carpets, balls and young retics. Even those teeth teach you pretty quick. My worst was at a reptile shop in my home town. The owner and I got on superbly and he invited me to the back to check out an anaconda. It was only 6-7 feet, my tics were longer so I confidently picked him up. Well, as soon as I felt him wrap and arm and shoulder I realized he had way more power than any snake I'd handled before. He was scared and gripping me tight for security. I went to hand him back to the owner and he pulled the old anaconda sideways bite and wrapped my arm so tight I felt all the blood cease to flow. He let go after only a few seconds but I am much more wary of any snake now.

[Chub_by]

These are some great (and scary) stories! The OP made me laugh though, I'm too scared to keep giants too, but the OP has a spitting cobra! lol