Coppers/Moccasins

[jonny666]

Hey folks! I am going to Hmbrg this weekend and was wondering about Copperheads and Cottonmouths. I was thinking about one or the other and was wondering if anyone has owned and witch one was better to own. I have done research but wanted to see what you guys think. At carlisle show I saw a copper-cotton hybrid and thought about having the best of both worlds. I have WDB,EDB,Prairie, and Mojave rattlers so it would not be my first hot. Probably should have done it the other way copperhead then rattler. You live and learn. Any advice would be great.

[jparker1167]

well either one is a good snake, i have cooperheads they seem to be a pain lol they bite at everything they musk and are very hard to hook. i dont keep cottons but have cantils they also just but ride a hook better then the coopers im sure you will be happy with which ever you pick

[jonny666]

Yeah I've heard they are not the best on hooks but thats ok. Just trying to figure out the next venomous I want. What did you pay for yours if you don't mind me asking. Trying to get a ballpark figure.

[Chu'Wuti]

If you really want venomous snakes, go for the copperheads. Jparker, you may think the coppers bite a lot--they don't really want to waste their venom on you and are only striking defensively. Cottonmouths are far more aggressive and will go on the attack.

I live in copperhead/cottonmouth/rattlesnake country and kept WC hots for a year and a-half. My copperheads (and a pygmy rattlesnake) were my favorites. The prettiest, too.

[jparker1167]

chu wuti, striking and biting are the same thing. if the snake is striking at you it will bite you if it gets the chance. that doesnt mean it will inject venom but theres a chance it would to not a bet i would take.

i think the pair of osage cost me 100 and same with the pair of southerns. i would also go with the coppers they just look nice to me.

[Chu'Wuti]

LOL! I was clearly in too much of a hurry when I wrote that! I didn't mean that striking and biting are different--of course they aren't! I only meant that they don't really want to strike/bite you if they don't have to in comparison to the cottonmouths/water moccasins which are extremely aggressive & will go on the attack.

The copperheads I had & with which I've dealt in the wild only struck/bit defensively when I rushed them. If I stopped & didn't move, they didn't strike/bite. In the enclosure, when we put the hook in very slowly, they would get into a defensive position, ready to strike, but by moving very slowly, they would stay calm & never strike.

Contrast that to the cottonmouths which would literally chase a person or a dog trying to strike. I personally would never keep cottonmouths.

[jparker1167]

i though you may have just messed up that part lol, my coppers are different then yours they strike a lot

[Mrdavisito09]

i have some phone #s i can give you
people selling them between $25-$30

[jonny666]

Depends on where I can get them. Where are you located?

[Joel La Rocque]

Really late in the day for my two cents but Copperheads are the best all around snake especially for people with limited knowledge. I am semi-retired now and have several Copperheads left and I love them all. Very smart, easy to train and once they become accustom to you, its a very nice relationship. If you have time go to POOR SNAKES! (http://www.specializedvenoms.com) and look at the ones that joined our group.