Agkistrodon contortrix

[aaron_cg]

Cool pic I got earlier today doing some maintenance.

http://i.imgur.com/5elpuqK.jpg

[MartinD]

Beautiful copperhead, stunning snake

[aaron_cg]

Thank you. A buddy bought a 1.1 pair from a breeder, and realized he doesn't like snakes with an attitude. Needless to say, I don't mind them.

[MartinD]

Thank you. A buddy bought a 1.1 pair from a breeder, and realized he doesn't like snakes with an attitude. Needless to say, I don't mind them.

With something like a copperhead with attitude, it certainly can test your reflexes...lol

[SWDK]

Beautiful copperhead!

[Jim Smith]

While I would never personally keep hots, I find them to be some of the most beautiful snakes out there. I have captured and relocated a number of Copperheads from my yard and to suggest that they would test one's reflexes is a very big understatement. I actually have pretty good reflexes and I've seen Copperheads strike so quickly that most people would just be registering in their brain that the snake was going to strike and it would be all over. Beautiful snakes but keeping hots is just not worth the risk to me.

[dave himself]

Beautiful snake :)

[MartinD]

While I would never personally keep hots, I find them to be some of the most beautiful snakes out there. I have captured and relocated a number of Copperheads from my yard and to suggest that they would test one's reflexes is a very big understatement. I actually have pretty good reflexes and I've seen Copperheads strike so quickly that most people would just be registering in their brain that the snake was going to strike and it would be all over. Beautiful snakes but keeping hots is just not worth the risk to me.

I like watching viperkeeper on YouTube

[Bandit]

While I would never personally keep hots, I find them to be some of the most beautiful snakes out there. I have captured and relocated a number of Copperheads from my yard and to suggest that they would test one's reflexes is a very big understatement. I actually have pretty good reflexes and I've seen Copperheads strike so quickly that most people would just be registering in their brain that the snake was going to strike and it would be all over. Beautiful snakes but keeping hots is just not worth the risk to me.Agreed. I got one a while back and decided to donate it to the nature center I used to work at. Too many risks for me to keep it at home. With all the copperheads I've dealt with while herping or while doing relocations, I've decided they are a bit squirmy for me. Honestly, I feel "safer" (I use that word cautiously) handling cottonmouths because they often just sit there and tense up. Although I must say, the one I donated was probably the most laid back individual I've ever seen.

Anyway, beautiful snake you got there. Always love to see copperheads.

[aaron_cg]

Agreed. I got one a while back and decided to donate it to the nature center I used to work at. Too many risks for me to keep it at home. With all the copperheads I've dealt with while herping or while doing relocations, I've decided they are a bit squirmy for me. Honestly, I feel "safer" (I use that word cautiously) handling cottonmouths because they often just sit there and tense up. Although I must say, the one I donated was probably the most laid back individual I've ever seen.

Anyway, beautiful snake you got there. Always love to see copperheads.

Safety is definitely the number one concern. Currently I keep my enclosures in the bed room, and 2 have locks on them. The retic since she is too smart for her own good, and the copperhead for obvious reasons.

This first pic is the outside for the retics enclosure to show how it looks when locked http://i.imgur.com/9MwpTtt.jpg

This second one shows how far the bar goes up. http://i.imgur.com/p30WNAi.jpg

These are enclosures from JPM Reptilla and the mount of strength it took to "bust" out with a lock on there is insane. I can't image any of my snakes being able to.

Right now the keys are in the locks since the little one (child) is only 2 months, but at some point I will be getting a "Key Locker" to lock up all the enclosure keys.

[Bandit]

Very nice! I can see myself getting a couple hots once I get a new place and some more money to put towards nicer, locking enclosures. Looks like you've got a good set up!

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

What are the plastic tabs on the top?

[aaron_cg]

In which picture? Can you circle what you are talking about?

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

If you look at your locks, go to the left in either pic. Appear to be those double winged thimble spinner things that I would assume would help keep the glass closed but it also appears the glass goes beyond the opening. Your picture is messing with my eyes

[aaron_cg]

That is the way the way these enclosures come. It is the original locking mechanism. But, they can loosen up and a snake in theory could cause them to come loose. Thats why I added the locks.

Right now they are only on the Retics, and the Copperhead. But, any Hot I get will have them.

[pet_snake_78]

The copperheads I encountered in MO were generally quite docile. 9 times out of 10 they were found under rocks are would just sit there kind of stunned for 30 seconds. Sometimes they would strike when I moved them before turning the rock to its original position but I never found those efforts more than half hearted. I found pinkish and extremely light colored ones in the eastern half of that state which were extremely beautiful. The most fun I had was when I lifted a giant rock with two coppers under it, the rock was too heavy for me to flip over and I couldn't lower it because I'd crush them.... I ended up having to put my tennis shoe right next to ones head to get enough leverage to turn it over, a bit dodgy but saved the snakes' lives. I also sometimes found them in rock crevices.