Best Hot for first one?

[S&HExotics]

I need help with suggestions a what hot to get first? I have had snakes and breed snakes for 15 years now and want to get a hot. I have handle them many times just never owned one myself. I reall like some of the cooperheads and want a 1.1 pair can anyone help??? If so email me plz and thanks in advance!!

[reptile boi]

start off with a mildly venomous rear fanged snake, such as a false water cobra or a vine snake before getting a copperhead. Even though a copperhead cant kill u, its venom will detroy muscle tissue.




Thanks,
Ben

[asphyxia]

I said to myself that I would ask the next person that asked that question...

Why do you want a hot?

Cheers
Brian

[S&HExotics]

I have loved and had snakes all my life and Im ready to take the step up to hots and would like to breed copperheads

[BWSmith]

Copperheads are generally considered to be a "good" first hot because they are considered nonlethal. But they can still deliver a VERY painful and possibly disfiguring envenomation. I would recommend that you try keeping one first, before breeding them. Take it from someone who has has hundreds of baby coppers come through, i would rather have to deal with a 6 foot diamondback than baby coppers. They are truly a PITA!

[Cerberus71]

I have a small question for you.
What will become of said "training" hot when you feel you've gained the proper experience to move onto something you're actually interested in?
These are living breathing animals, not bicycles. Rather than worry about what others think would be a good "beginner snake", why don't you sit down and make a list of the 5 venomous snakes that most hold your interest. After coming up with that list, research everything you can about the captive husbandry of those species. This includes what is neccesary to keep others safe from the danger these animals pose.
Armed with your new knowledge, it's time to spend some time deciding which one of these animals will best fit into your lifestyle and environment. More than being able to boast of X amount of hours handling hots, you should be spending your time concentrating on developing an effective set of protocols for for day to day maintenance. Keep it healthy, escape free and minimize the chances for dangerous interaction.
I believe we spend too much time worrying about being experienced hot keepers. And spend too little time worrying about being effective herp keepers.

I look forward to hearing any constructive conversation on this subject.

Brett J.

[S&HExotics]

I agree I have done alot of checking and have a list of what I want someday but wanted to start out with something like a copperhead which I like alot also for their very pretty markings and not deadly. Was just getting info from people who knew alot more then I do on Venomous

[One More Herper]

Its easier to learn from anothers mistake or experiances, then it is to do on your own.

[nolagurl]

Hrm. This question seems to get asked like every week. Just browse through the forum and you'll get your answer.

[Scotty Allen]

Excellent post "Cerberus71". With your permission, I'm going to copy it and use it as a direct quote the next time I'm asked the question. I can't think of anything I would add or remove.

[chas*e]

Get an Amazon Tree Boa and practice hooking and such....see if you can avoid getting bit and then try an Agkistrodon.....

[JuliusSqueezer]

Originally posted by chas*e
Get an Amazon Tree Boa and practice hooking and such....see if you can avoid getting bit and then try an Agkistrodon.....

Hmm I don't get the connection. I have a lot of both and have never noticed any copperhead/atb behavioural similarities. ATBs are nippy by nature usually yes...but they have a fairly slow strike despite how fast they can dart around. Arboreal snakes are a world all of their own as are hots. I don't think dodging ATB strikes will be any help learning how to not have an envenomation type incident with a copperhead.

[Gregg M]

Honestly in my opinion there is no good starter hot snakes........ Also I really do not agree with using a non hot to practice with....... Nothing like that can prep you for keeping hots........ Coppers can be a good choice but will teach you nothing about keeping cobras and vice versa........ I dont thing anything would be better than learning from some that keeps the spacific species you want to keep......... Dont ever take these so called "starter hots" lightly because it will just get you nothing but hurt.......... Another thing to remember is to acquire AV whenever possible for the species you are gonna keep....... It could mean your @$$ if you dont........ Unfortunately when I started keeping hots there were not many people doing it so I never really had anyone teach me the way......... I had to learn and teach myself for a long time........ The cool thing is you never stop learning in this hobby......... You can never know everything......... These guys on this site are good keepers and alot know the tricks of the trade....... You will learn something new every day......... Keeping hots is not really hard but you need to have alot of common sence and the right mind set........ You might be bitting off more than you can chew........ Hots are not for everyone........ That is why there are only a few in comparison to the rest of the reptile community.......And there is nothing wrong with that........ Just makesure you really want to get into this......... If you are not sure then you are not ready...........

[Mustangrde1]

Best starter or first hot for a person has to legs and cages with the species the begginer wants to work with. Training with an experianced person is the best bet.