Any Crotalus horridus Keepers?

[eminart]

Once in a while I start tossing around the idea of keeping a venomous snake. In Alabama, we're restricted to only keeping native hots, oddly enough. Weird how the laws are all over the place on this issue, depending on where you live. But, anyway, that limits me to Timbers, eastern diamondbacks, pygmies, copperheads, and cottonmouths. I've always loved timber rattlers. I think my favorite herp find and photo of all time was a gorgeous light-phase timber I came across a few years ago. I've always thought about what a beautiful display snake they'd make.

Anyway, just wondering if anyone has any experience with them? I understand the risks, and this may be something I never follow through with because of that. But, I do love them.

Photos and stories welcome!

[Bandit]

I've only worked with one captive individual extensively. All I can say is that he was an absolute pleasure to work with. Easily one of the most laid back snakes I've ever worked with. Never struck, not fidgety at all, and was fairly easy to read. He was spoiled rotten though. He knew how things went and he loved it. His enclosure was on ground level, and every time we'd take him out to let him free roam he'd just make his way back to his enclosure (he's big and slow moving, so this wasn't as absurd as it sounds). That's my only experience though. I'm not sure if they're all that laid back or it was just him.

[eminart]

They wild ones I've come across seemed pretty laid back, as far as wild snakes go. And they're just such beautiful snakes.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j120/eminart/DSC_0158.jpg

[Bandit]

Agreed. And from what I've seen, the bigger/older they get (in the wild), the more laid back they become. So I'd assume it would be a similar trend in most captive individuals. Nice shot by the way. I'll have to dig through my computer and find some of the pictures I got earlier in the year.

[eminart]

Thanks for the info. I don't personally know any venomous keepers in my area. Thought I'd ask on here. I knew there were a couple of people that have kept various rattlers.

[aaron_cg]

Use to have a few Crotalus atrox (Western Diamondbacks) and a Sistrurus catenatus (Massasauga). The Atrox's were drama queens while the Catenatus was pretty mellow.

Can you own them in Alabama without permission from the Game Warden? Here in Texas we have to have a special permit to keep certain species (It's just a hunting license basically. $20 at Academy) But the Canebrake is a protected species here. So the only way I can legally own one is to get a special permit, get approval through the TPWD and buy it from out of state. Which sucks because they are my favorite snakes.

Now, in reference to them, they are amazing. As Bandit said, they are mellow and laid back. A friend, before he moved, had an extensive hot collection and he had 3. All three worked well on a hook, easy to tube, switched to F/t with a few meals, and overall were probably the easiest snakes to deal with. Not that you would, but his you could probably hold without the worry of getting tagged.

*Disclaimer - That last sentence was just to illustrate a point. I do not recommend ever touching a hot unless you need to. If you needed this sentence, please do not get a hot.

[Bandit]

*Disclaimer - That last sentence was just to illustrate a point. I do not recommend ever touching a hot unless you need to. If you needed this sentence, please do not get a hot.This made me laugh. I thought about saying the same thing about the one I worked with, but decided to leave it out. I had always thought about free-handling him, but I wouldn't even want to imagine a bite from that big boy. He was over 5' and bulky. Not something I'd want to experience.

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

One of my favorite snakes.
All Ive had and encountered were calm, as stated above, and depending on location, they come in a bunch of natural color phases.

[eminart]

Thanks for the replies guys. You're fueling the fire. My wife doesn't like the idea, but it's growing on me, and I know I can sway her.

Aaron, yeah, I'm almost positive I can have them here with no paperwork, but I'd definitely check into it more before proceeding.

[Bandit]

Here are some of the ones I saw this year. The last one was probably my favorite. The colors on it were absolutely stunning.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e313/connor323/Timber%20Rattlesnake%201_zpssmhrbn2e.jpg (http://s42.photobucket.com/user/connor323/media/Timber%20Rattlesnake%201_zpssmhrbn2e.jpg.html)

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e313/connor323/Timber%20Rattlesnake%2047_zpshfjzbsty.jpg (http://s42.photobucket.com/user/connor323/media/Timber%20Rattlesnake%2047_zpshfjzbsty.jpg.html)

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e313/connor323/Timber%20Rattlesnake%2025_zpsezs6mstx.jpg (http://s42.photobucket.com/user/connor323/media/Timber%20Rattlesnake%2025_zpsezs6mstx.jpg.html)

[aaron_cg]

Thanks for the replies guys. You're fueling the fire. My wife doesn't like the idea, but it's growing on me, and I know I can sway her.

Aaron, yeah, I'm almost positive I can have them here with no paperwork, but I'd definitely check into it more before proceeding.


The wife is always the hardest part. Mine actually now loves the snakes, and is ok with hots. Best of luck on that front, I know it doesn't always go so smoothly.

[eminart]

Very nice Bandit. I love all the color variations.

As far as the wife, she's fine with all the reptiles, but it looks like hots might be more of a fight than I anticipated. But, I have no imminent plans, so maybe I can slowly warm her up to the idea.

[pet_snake_78]

My .02 is it probably isn't worth fighting the wife over, though they certainly are amazing snakes. Would a few field trips a year to see them in the wilds suffice? Maybe if the wife came along and saw how docile even wild ones are, she'd be more inclined to agree? How far is the nearest hospital, can you get any kind of coverage in case of a bite and if not what is the anticipated cost, and do they have antivenin?

[aaron_cg]

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/general-venomous-forum/113649-agkistrodon-contortrix.html#post1010665

Post I made on here about locking an enclosure so it is escape proof.

[MartinD]

@Aaron, someone I know didn't remove the keys and her snake worked out how to get out of the enclosure by moving the locking tabs from inside lol

[aaron_cg]

@Aaron, someone I know didn't remove the keys and her snake worked out how to get out of the enclosure by moving the locking tabs from inside lol

I plan on removing the keys, I just have to wait for my Key Locker to get in. Then, I only have to keep one key on my keychain.

The Keys are only a redundancy as well, as the enclosures have 3 spinning locks. I added the keys once this happend.

Escaped king cobra found alive in Fort Bend County | khou.com (http://www.khou.com/news/local/neighborhood/king-cobra-on-the-loose-in-fort-bend/307160886)

This guy uses the same enclosures I do, and had an escape. Since then I know he re-enforced them to ensure they are escape proof. And please, anyone who see's this, please don't bad mouth him. He is a member of my local group and he is still to this day upset that it happened. Took all the immediate steps he needed to (alerting game wardens, sheriff, and local PD and getting other herpers out to help locate the missing animal). He knows he put his permit at risk by doing the right thing, but did it in order to help protect this hobby, and have more people on the lookout in hopes of making sure someone didn't get hurt.

[sattva]

I did a trade with a guy who had about 40 snakes... Two of them being Albino Western Diamondback rattlesnakes... I have wanted one every sense...such a beautiful animal... I will take me years, if ever, to talk my wife into it...

[Bandit]

I've never been dead set on keeping hots. My girlfriend didn't like snakes when we started dating, but she's come to like them since. She stood her ground on the "nothing venomous" rule for a while. She then said if I wanted to get something venomous it was fine. I was surprised, because it wasn't solicited at all. However, she's only okay with the "less dangerous" venomous snakes (whatever those are, in her mind). The only venomous snakes I've ever really wanted to keep are eyelash vipers. They're still on the list of snakes she's not okay with though, at least for now.

[Andy_G]

I'd love to get into them if I didn't have little kids.

[MartinD]

I would also like to get into 'hots', preferably Dendroaspis and Bitis, absolutely gorgeous snakes.

[Aaron_S]

I plan on removing the keys, I just have to wait for my Key Locker to get in. Then, I only have to keep one key on my keychain.

The Keys are only a redundancy as well, as the enclosures have 3 spinning locks. I added the keys once this happend.

Escaped king cobra found alive in Fort Bend County | khou.com (http://www.khou.com/news/local/neighborhood/king-cobra-on-the-loose-in-fort-bend/307160886)

This guy uses the same enclosures I do, and had an escape. Since then I know he re-enforced them to ensure they are escape proof. And please, anyone who see's this, please don't bad mouth him. He is a member of my local group and he is still to this day upset that it happened. Took all the immediate steps he needed to (alerting game wardens, sheriff, and local PD and getting other herpers out to help locate the missing animal). He knows he put his permit at risk by doing the right thing, but did it in order to help protect this hobby, and have more people on the lookout in hopes of making sure someone didn't get hurt.

I'm glad the person took the necessary steps. I hope his permit wasn't revoked for this mistake. No reason to bad mouth him because mistakes do happen and at least he owned up to it and it wasn't one of those "cobras found in a apartment building loose." With no owner.

I will say though, that this is why people (not saying you or anyone here) need to really look at their decision to keep hots as extremely serious. I've seen far too many cavalier attitudes when it comes to keeping them because "they do it right". Yet someone else who "does it right" made a mistake.

[aaron_cg]

I'm glad the person took the necessary steps. I hope his permit wasn't revoked for this mistake. No reason to bad mouth him because mistakes do happen and at least he owned up to it and it wasn't one of those "cobras found in a apartment building loose." With no owner.

I will say though, that this is why people (not saying you or anyone here) need to really look at their decision to keep hots as extremely serious. I've seen far too many cavalier attitudes when it comes to keeping them because "they do it right". Yet someone else who "does it right" made a mistake.


Luckily he didn't receive a whole lot of backlash. And yes, 100% lesson to be learned here. Anyone who says it "won't happen to them" needs to pay attention. This guy here is second only to Andy Maddox (some people know who he is. He is a big name in Texas) for my local area in his knowledge and skill with keeping hots.

If there is a chance it can happen, you better plan on it happening. And from there figure out every way possible to stop it. Hence the extra locks on my enclosures.

[eminart]

I just remembered one of the main reasons why I've never pursued hots further - Isn't there an insurance issue? I believe I read that either or both health insurance or home insurance can refuse to pay in the event of an accident. I mean, I'm a very very careful person, but not having the security of insurance would probably make it not worth it to me.

But, on a related note, I just got this for my birthday. Great read, so far, although I just started it.

http://tmm.chicagodistributioncenter.com/IsbnImages/9780226040646.jpg

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

Luckily he didn't receive a whole lot of backlash. And yes, 100% lesson to be learned here. Anyone who says it "won't happen to them" needs to pay attention. This guy here is second only to Andy Maddox (some people know who he is. He is a big name in Texas) for my local area in his knowledge and skill with keeping hots.

If there is a chance it can happen, you better plan on it happening. And from there figure out every way possible to stop it. Hence the extra locks on my enclosures.

Not going to say the King owner's name but his situation was literally a freak accident, especially with how wet it was over there in their area. Luckily Andy was there and got hands on the snake. Not so sure the same outcome would've happened had the wardens been there without help. He did have locks on its enclosure if I do recall correctly.

[aaron_cg]

Hey, your in my area! Awesome guy and very humble. Wish more people were like him.

[KrokadilyanGuy3]

Yeah, moved here almost a yr ago from Florida. Actually known Andy since back when he was in high school and I was deeper in the reptile scene.

Definately a good dude. Wouldve gotten one of his kings if I hadn't gotten hit by a car and wasted my money on medical bills back in october.

[aaron_cg]

My wife had to stop me from picking up one of his hatchlings that was flaring up at me. All the others ignored me, but this one was just being a prick, so of course I wanted to take him home, but the wife vetoed that.