Do HOT keepers generally milk them?

[candyraver69]

I am not interested in keeping hots but out of morbid curiosity I have been reading about them a lot tonight. What I am wondering is, if hot keepers expect to take a bite now and again(accidents happen right?), what do you do for antivenin typically? I know that in North America there is sort of a fix-all one for native hots except corals, but what if you keep non-natives? Does anyone milk their own hots to sell to people that make antivenin?

Is there anyone crazy/brave (pick your own version) enough around here to try and build a tolerance like Bill Haast? I think if I kept hots I would be a lunatic like him, trying to make myself immune to every hot I kept :P Although I would instead of taking 1/100th of how much it takes to kill you to start I would start with 1/1000th, because I'm a weaksauce hahaha.

I figured this forum needed something interesting and controversial to talk about besides something that has been beaten to death 20 times over yet continues to come up.

[stephanbakir]

Hot keepers do NOT generally milk them. It is INCREDIBLY difficult and expensive to maintain the required condition and records that you need to register for it.

As far as I know, under a dozen people in the entire united states are registered to do so, and only 3 companies are legally allowed to make antivenin.

It's not an easy business to get into, and not overly profitable in any real way. The value comes in the lives you potentially save.

[candyraver69]

I am surprised to hear it's not more lucrative. I know it's very dangerous and takes a lot of snakes to produce a small amount of antivenin, but I get TV sensationalizes it a bit and I was under the impression it could make good money.

However, I agree, the real virtue is in the lives you could help save. It saddens me that there are not more companies able to be working on it. So many hoops to jump through that people with good intentions loose hope and give up I suppose.

I can't imagine why in other less regulated countries it isn't done more though. I know that a centrifuge is cost prohibitive to most people, but I imagine the market for antivenin is pretty high in some places. Come on there has to be some dumb American tourists getting bit regularly in certain areas willing to fork out big money? LOL

[Gungirl]

Come on there has to be some dumb American tourists getting bit regularly in certain areas willing to fork out big money? LOL

Really? That's a low blow. That situation will also restrict our rights even more as snake owners. Not something I would lol about...

[candyraver69]

Really? That's a low blow. That situation will also restrict our rights even more as snake owners. Not something I would lol about...

If an American tourist goes to Asia or somewhere and gets bit by a venomous snake because they are in the jungle not knowing what they are doing? How would that effect our rights as snake owners?

[stephanbakir]

I am surprised to hear it's not more lucrative. I know it's very dangerous and takes a lot of snakes to produce a small amount of antivenin, but I get TV sensationalizes it a bit and I was under the impression it could make good money.

However, I agree, the real virtue is in the lives you could help save. It saddens me that there are not more companies able to be working on it. So many hoops to jump through that people with good intentions loose hope and give up I suppose.

I can't imagine why in other less regulated countries it isn't done more though. I know that a centrifuge is cost prohibitive to most people, but I imagine the market for antivenin is pretty high in some places. Come on there has to be some dumb American tourists getting bit regularly in certain areas willing to fork out big money? LOL
The problem isn't making the antivenin, although it isn't easy. Hospitals will not allow you to use antivenin that you bring in, everything within their walls must be regulated so they know exactly what you are taking in, they can't take the risk that its D grade, (stands for dead in this case) or that its the right stuff but you didn't know that it needed to be kept at a specific temperature.
If an American tourist goes to Asia or somewhere and gets bit by a venomous snake because they are in the jungle not knowing what they are doing? How would that effect our rights as snake owners?
Bad press is bad press... the last thing we want is someone getting bitten, paying medical bills or worse... dying! its not the type of press that a hobby already in danger needs.

[candyraver69]

Bad press is bad press... the last thing we want is someone getting bitten, paying medical bills or worse... dying! its not the type of press that a hobby already in danger needs.

I guess I kind of see the point. People see an animal sensationalized as dangerous in the wild, they won't want it in the hobby. Let me assure everyone I wasn't saying I WANT anyone bit and dying, I was saying surely it happens. I might be a bit cynical but people's stupidity surprises me every day. And if I offended you with my "dumb American" phrase, I didn't mean all Americans are dumb, I am after all American, I meant that our country sure has some.... people with not much common sense.

[shaunyboy]

I meant that our country sure has some.... people with not much common sense.


common sense ain't that common,regardless of which nationality were talking about ;)

cheers shaun

[alessia55]

common sense ain't that common,regardless of which nationality were talking about ;)

cheers shaun

Off topic but I was wondering Shaun... why not put "cheers shaun" in your signature instead?? then you wouldn't have to type it every time :p Just wondering why you haven't done that yet
/hijack

[candyraver69]

Off topic but I was wondering Shaun... why not put "cheers shaun" in your signature instead?? then you wouldn't have to type it every time :p Just wondering why you haven't done that yet
/hijack

/giggle

that's a good question

[alessia55]

Bump! I want my question answered Shaun! :p

[stephanbakir]

Shaun is off making himself a BOL for when the zombies come, should be back soon :P

[alessia55]

Shaun is off making himself a BOL for when the zombies come, should be back soon :P

Huh? what's a BOL? And what's the ETA on the zombies? WHAT IF HE DOESN'T MAKE IT BACK ALIVE AND I NEVER GET MY QUESTION ANSWERED?! :eek:

[Gungirl]

Bump! I want my question answered Shaun! :p

Maybe he likes to be a bit more personal than having his name "stamped" on everything he says. I don't understand why this really matters.... lol

[alessia55]

Maybe he likes to be a bit more personal than having his name "stamped" on everything he says. I don't understand why this really matters.... lol

lol it doesn't really matter. I was just wondering ;)

[KORBIN5895]

I think Shaun is mia!!!! Bust out the shotguns and barricade the doors! It looks like the dead ain't so dead after all!

[SkYyaMe1623]

*waits for shaun
http://www.lilwaynehq.com/forums/images/smilies/popcorn.gif

[stephanbakir]

Huh? what's a BOL? And what's the ETA on the zombies? WHAT IF HE DOESN'T MAKE IT BACK ALIVE AND I NEVER GET MY QUESTION ANSWERED?! :eek:
A BOL is a "bug out location" its where you retreat to while the world goes to hell and then gains some stability, once the world is stable you break out the big guns and have some fun :)
Shaun will be fine, if anything happens he knows he will be safe in the great white north :)