gaboon vipers??

[n8whitie]

hello! I have a question here for you and if it seems a bit stupid forgive me.(bad way to start out) haha. I have dealt with rattle snakes in the past but I wouldnt consider myself a pro-handler by any means.Anyways this guy is selling a gaboon viper over on the reptibid web-site and I think those are the coolest snakes ever but they are also very venomous.I am a very carefull keeper and I wouldnt ever handle it unless I needed to clean the tank or it got sick.Would this bad-*** snake be recommended for somebody of my skill level or should these be left to the pro's?
I've heard in the past that the arent to aggressive. Any advice would be of great help.
thanks, nate

[Big_V]

Definately not a good snake to begin with. Not a good idea. If you want to get into venomous try owning a snake like a tiger rat for a few years and if you dont get bit once(using tools) then consider asking someone to teach you how to handle these Hots carefully. Is it really worth rushing into, because one mistake and it could be your last. These things may be beatiful but you have to make sure your ready for this type of commitment. Maybe start out with copperheads or a rear fanged snake then move up to some other species.

[n8whitie]

hey thanks alot for the advice Big V. I just wasnt sure what the deal was with starter hots.From your words i will take it they are mainly for pros. I think for right now I will just stick with my red tail and maybe later on get a hot when I am fully settled.Anyways thanks for the advice and good luck and good times with your hots.
Adios, Nate

[Big_V]

Yeah its a good idea to stay away from hots until your ready, I myself thought about getting into hots but researched and found out even with about 5 years of dealing with snakes of all different kinds im still not ready. Stick to the boa and expand your Non Hot collection instead, there are many many amazing species out there that can be just as joyful to keep.

[Maik Dobiey]

I think this species is very easy to handle if not the easiest snke at all.
I would even recommend it to start with if you want to get a hot one.
Most specimens are very docile and wont even try to bite. But you shouldnt trust in that. And they are easy to manipulate. I have never got to know one that tryed to slip from the hook...

The only problem with this species is that it will grow relatively big(long and fat). So you need a good and long hook and some muscles to get the snake up with such a long hook. Big ones may exceed 15 pounds...

If you have got that hook and if you can handle it you shouldnt get any problems with this species.
But you should make some experiences on your own with the gaboons of friends before you buy one.

yust my two cents,

Maik

[n8whitie]

Thanks Maik. I found your two cents very helpful.I just found out that they are illegal in CA and the seller wouldnt ship it here anyways.This state wont let me have any fun with all the b.s. laws and regs. I think Im going to go with big v though because they are very venomous and one bite from a gaboon and you can kiss your *ss goodbye( so I hear). I might just go catch another rattler and get more experience through that.

Take it easy, n8

[andytheboa]

good idea :D

[Gregg M]

Maik,
That is just about the worst advice I have read..... It is quite true that they can be easy to handle on a hook when they are small..... Try to handle a 20 pound gaboon that does not want to be handled..... Try to administer any type of meds oraly when you have 2 inch fangs flicking out at you..... Or what would you do when a gaboon needs to be restained by the head and neck (not common but needs to be done in some cases) and pushes one of those huge fangs out through its lower jaw.....

One of the biggest misconceptions about gaboons is that they are tame and docile.... Make no mistake, if you put yourself into its strike range you will get tagged quicker than you can flinch and say outch...... When they strike they are dead on and do not miss..... I have been dealing with these snakes for over ten years and have been struck at by every single one I have ever owned atleast once....

Bad advice my friend and I was very suprised to hear you say what you said Maik....
If you want to learn something about gaboons from someone that has been keeping them alive and healthy for 10 years plus, go to www.bitisgabonica.com

[NewLineReptile]

hahah i was just going to tell him to contact you for info on gaboons Gregg...:) but you got in there before i could tell him..lol

Brandon

[n8whitie]

the thought was already far and away from my head but thanks for the help anyways gregg. Your site is killer and your snakes are beautiful( especially the gaboons). Gaboons just have the most amazing look, I could just watch it move all day.Thats hardcore keeping all those poisonous animals around ( gotta be quick on your toes).........and hands and face and neck and................... hahaha.
see ya, Nate

[MsTT]

http://www.snakegetters.com/demo/gaboons.html

[Mustangrde1]

N8 I see your in Cali. Your odds of getting any exotic venomous are almost none. California does not allow them as a rule and getting that permit is normally only by an act of god. sorry to spoil it but I dont know of any reputable or legal dealer that would even think of shipping one to you. Sorry to be the one to give you the bad news.

[n8whitie]

Yeah, I found that out a week or two ago so I just pretty much forgot about it.Unless I want to drive to AZ but Im over it.

thanks, nate

[Mugwump]

Ye gods of hot keeping, correct me if I'm misinformed...I seem to remember that there has never been a recorded fatality from Gaboon venom...not saying that a Gab is a good call as far as first hots are concerned, just trying to clarify things at least in my own addled brain.

[Matt]

gregg knows what hes doing when it comes to bitis, take his advice and run with it :)

[Gregg M]

Mugwump,
You are misinformed..... There are numerous fatalities from gaboon viper bites..... A few took place here in the US....

[psilocybe]

Mugwump,

The venom of any large Bitis can and has caused numerous human fatalities. About a year ago, a firefighter in Ohio I believe was bitten and died while handfeeding (yikes! :eek: ) his Rhino viper (Bitis nasicornis)...this firefighter supposedly was very knowledgable on venomous and did numerous venomous rescues, including the snake that killed him. The venom from a Rhino is presumably very similar to that of a gaboon seeing how closely related they are. The LD50 (though this doesn't neccesarily mean anything) for a gaboon i believe is .14 mg/kg. They can inject a huge quantity of venom in a bite that may be many times more than the average lethal dose. If immediate medical attention and infusion of antivenin is not administered, the victim will almost surely die.

[psilocybe]

Apparently I was wrong, he WAS NOT handfeeding the snake as I said before, somehow I remembered reading that he was, but none of the articles I dug up mentioned it (in fact they mentioned he was feeding with long tongs), so I stand corrected. Here is a link to one of the articles.

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/08/06/loc_exoticpets06.html

Oh, and Gregg, I sent a reply to the pm you sent me on TRR...