Handling?

[Solid Snake]

I was wondering, do u guys handle your venomous snakes??

[Emily-Fisher]

I don't own any but Handling venemous snakes is down right stupid. My honest opinion.

[Matt]

handle how?

handle with equipment? yes
free handle? no

[Emily-Fisher]

I think he meeds handling as in picking him up and playing with him, or as you say, free handling. Otherwise, I get the feeling the it's necessary for everyone to pick up their rear fanged baby with equipment at some stage in their life. So yeah... I think that he means freehandling.

[Samba]

I saw a program on T.V. yesturday... I think it was the Discovery Channel or TLC where a man was free-handling his king cobras and got tagged in the stomach.

The entire thing was video-taped and I can't believe on the way to the hospital this guy calls his girlfriend on his cell phone to let her know he's been bit, but never once thinks of calling the hospital and informing them that he will be coming in. The hosptial did not have a supply of anti-venom, therefore had to call around and have it flown in via helicopter, from another part of the state, to save the man's life. All in all, he took 10 viles of anti-venom to counter the effects. The whole time I'm watching this I'm thinking this guy should not be a reptile owner. He was stupid enough to free handle King Cobras, get bit, and not call the hospital in advance. He wasted taxpayers' money and time by being stupid.

A half an hour after the man was released from the hospital, he was back at home free-handling his snakes again. Some people never learn.

If and when I come across venemous snakes I always use the proper tongs, etc. With the ONLY exception being a hog-nosed snake I used to have as a pet. That's it.

I think we should let dumb hot keepers succumb to these snakes, they are far more dangerous than the animals themselves.

[Jungle Jen]

Handling with the proper equipment, when it's necessary.
Free handling? Never.

JMHO

[Jungle Jen]

Let me also add one VERY important point. Even if handling with equipment, there is a great deal of responsibility required. There are proper ways to go about it, and very wrong ways. Due to someone who had hots as a novelty, too much testosterone, and improper handling with equipment, I myself got tagged by a hot. I again say...
free handling - never
handling with equipment - only in a RESPONSIBLE manner when necessary

[BWSmith]

I think my views and techniques are well documented ;)

[matt_mcco]

i thought haveing venomous snakes in canada was eligal or is it that you have to have a licence to have then and also could yous state what kinda venomous snakes you have please

[SCReptiles]

Here we go again! =) Brian, I doubt this guy has read your work, so I think you will need to enlighten him. Yoeun905, some venomous keepers handle their snakes, while most do not. Think of it like this. You have the general herp community, a sub-culture of the general public. They are considered irresponsible and outlaws by many in the general public. Then you have the venomous keepers who are a sub-culture of the general herp culture. They are considered irresponsible and outlaws by many in the general herp culture. Then you have the free handlers who are a sub culture of the venomous community. They are considered irresponsible and outlaws by many in the venomous herp culture. See how the cycle works? Each looks down on the one below it, but does not make the connection that the one above is looking down on them in the same way. There are some free handlers on this site, but the majority take a strong stand against it. I think BW Smith and unBOAlievable are the most vocal opponents. Even the ones who do it will tell you that it is a risky practice and none that I know recommend it to other keepers. Most would not allow a third party to free hand their snakes, even though they do it. I did, however, offer Tony the opportunity last week….but he held his position and refused. Ha ha.

[Invictus]

matt_mcco - Venomous snakes are not illegal Canada-wide. There are no federal laws for snakes as pets at all - that is provincial jurisdiction as far as I know. Municipalities can also ban certain animals. But, there are many areas of BC and Ontario where hots are perfectly legal.

[SCReptiles]

never once thinks of calling the hospital and informing them that he will be coming in. The hosptial did not have a supply of anti-venom, therefore had to call around and have it flown in via helicopter, from another part of the state,
No hospital is going to have a supply of AV for exotic species. Its imperative for exotic venomous keepers to have their own or know the nearest source. The Dade County Anti-Venom bank in Miami, FL has the nations best selection. They have deals with airlines in Miami. If the AV is needed elsewhere, they put it on the next plane in that direction. Most zoos keep AV on hand for the species they keep and will loan it to a hospital in a life/death emergency.

[fatboy]

I think he should have still called though. Even if you know they don't have any maybe it would make it quicker with the advance notice. Do you know if any hospitals in the southest or TN Valley stock it?

[reverendsterlin]

I'll handle the adult crotalus's and gaboons if really necessary but usually use my tools or tube them. The small crotalus no, and the insane cantil absolutely NOT (silly fool will strike the tongs repeatedly and won't stay on a hook she's nuts). Scorps have padded forcepts to use with. 35 years and not a single venomous bite(knocks on a redwood), but the big boas have nailed me a couple of times lol.

[SCReptiles]

Do you know if any hospitals in the southest or TN Valley stock it?
Negative. Erlanger in Chattanooga still has some Wythe on the shelf, but other then them, every other hospital only has CroFab. The zoos in Knoxville and Nashville are required to have it. And Rainforest Adventures in Pigeon Forge, TN should have a big supply, but being a private business, they may not be willing to loan it.

[unBOAlievable]

I was wondering, do u guys handle your venomous snakes??

I am going to go at this with a different aproach,
No where did he say freehandle, he only said handle. I can only answer for myself and say yes I handle them, but only when necessary. Handleing them is often required for sick or injured ones and ocasionaly a stuck eye cap. This is part of keeping venomous. When these procedures are done I use "special" venomous snake handeling tools.

For routine cleaning and feeding I have always used slide lockout boxes. That away intervention with the snake is kept minimal.

And yes I was at Chucks last weak to look at and palpate a timber to see if she was gravid. He used the double hook method the whole time I was there, I was very impressed. He did not even tail anything. Does Chuck practice safe handeling behind closed doors, or was it just because I was there? ;)

And NO I did not turn to the darkside.

[ETET]

I do handle ven only necessary with proper tools. Venomous snakes do need to handle like any other kind of snakes like for medical problems....; of course I do not free handle them. Sometimes I wonder why so many people ask fellow ven keepers if they handle their snakes or not....(nearly every friend I know ask me the same questions). May be some people like those in TV shows who free handle vens make non-ven people think ven keepers do the same thing...

ETET

[Solid Snake]

Well i never had or seen a venomous snake before so i wouldn't know, anyway, i thought that if u raise the snake from a neonate to adult hood it would become tame and docile. Or all venomous snakes extremely aggressive and strike at anything?

[Oliverian]

I was kind of wondering something along the lines or yoeun's question.. Are venomous snakes more likely to strike than other snakes? Or is it just that there is the risk of envenomation that you have to be so careful? Just curious. ~TR~

[reverendsterlin]

all snakes bite, given the right circumstances. The right circumstances just are better with venomous because they know their defense is adequate. There is no such thing as a tame snake.

[cobraman]

I'm gonna have to be the bad guy on this thread... I do venom production, so untill I figure out how to talk the snakes into bitting the vial and making a generous (and I might add, a lucrative) donation of venom, yep!!! I handle venomous snakes!
I will also add that there are ocupational hazards in all jobs. Race car drivers wreck, carpenters bash their thumbs, etc. and snake handlers get bit. I do stock an extensive supply of antivenom, and along with the use of proper tools (shut up, Scott) I take every precaution I can (AMA) to live to see tomorrow. A good friend of mine was just bitten by one of his Death Adders, yet he is as cautious as they come. Accidents do happen, hopefully we learn from them. People that show off with hots is one of my biggest turn offs. Many people think that car racing is dangerous and stupid (given all the accidents, injuries, and deaths involved) yet still it is legal, telivised, and copied. (blah blah blah)
Blessings
Ray Hunter

[Solid Snake]

Originally posted by reverendsterlin
all snakes bite, given the right circumstances. The right circumstances just are better with venomous because they know their defense is adequate. There is no such thing as a tame snake.

ok... so theres no such thing as a good tempered venomous snake?

[Andy_G]

In my opinion on that youen, it shouldn't matter whether there are good tempered ones or not, don't handle unneccesarily and always use the proper equipment.

[blessed]

I catch rattlesnakes,and love to do it.

[Solid Snake]

i'd love to own those more exotic looking snakes. not sure what they're called but they have a very cool looking head, its kinda spiky and they're yellow when babys.

[Samba]

Chuck, I was well aware that the hospital did not carry the antivenom; my point was made thoughtfully but the person (sorry I don't remember your handle), who posted after you. The guy should have called and informed the hospital of his condition and the medicines necessary to save his life. Coincidentally, this guy was located in FL and was flown in antivenom from the location you specified, (or to the best of my memory). =)

[Mustangrde1]

Just use the same common since you would with a gun or knife or other deadly object .You wouldnt point a gun at yourself and pull the trigger or stab yourself with a knife on purpose. you use all the precations and care possible . Hell I even use the right tools with non-venomous.I do it to keep my mind set in the right place so that I will not get lazy with the HOTS. Personally I do not want to ever see my name in the news or be another thorn in venomous keepers hobby by bad publicity, not to mention the big money a bite would cost me.

[reverendsterlin]

yoeun905, that would probably be an eyelash viper

[BWSmith]

or a bush viper.