23 Venomous Snakes (tl;dr)

NennaMeerkat · 08-25-11, 04:27 AM

So tonight was the hoarding episode on Animal Planet where they showed the guy who owned 23 snakes. He seemed to keep them all separate in about 20 gallon aquariums scattered around the living room of a mobile home. His mom didn't want him in her home anymore and bought the trailer for him to move himself and the snakes in. They had hides, newspaper bottom, and food bowl. Everything was clean, the animals looked healthy and well fed, and he takes general precautions for escapes (heavy bricks or special screen tops that lock into place). He had mostly rattlesnakes but a few cottonmouths and copperheads.

He also had a few non-poisonous snakes that no one seemed to have a problem with. This was kind of what I expected. The people in his life ONLY had a problem with them because they were venomous snakes. They also complain cause he raised his own food. But yeah over and over again they were saying how dangerous it was, how he shouldn't have them cause they are dangerous ect.

Now I dunno about how to handle rattlesnakes but he did move them to a large plastic bin to feed them and he used a large long snake hook. Seemed he would hook the snake mid body and then hold the tail to move them from home to feeding bin.

The show seemed to say that the reason he had the snakes was because his parent's divorced when he was a young teen. Guy obviously is messed up because of it but I am not sure if that is the true reason for having the snakes.

Overall he seemed to really take care of the snakes and the main problem everyone was screaming was "they are venomous and dangerous get rid of them". The REAL problem I saw was that the guy was just generally lazy and lacked motivation to get a job. Maybe a bit disorganized as well, but I didn't see anything GROSSLY insane like the lady they were also showing that had 250 love birds.

youngster · 08-25-11, 05:08 AM

I guess they have a right to want them out however people act like snake want to kill them always no matter the situation. Almost always a snake won't bite at first glance it just Wants to be left alone. For some reason people don't understand that sometimes.

Jay · 08-25-11, 07:27 AM

23 snakes + no job or source if income = hoarder

Snakefood · 08-25-11, 10:07 AM

well I saw a commercial for an upcoming "hoarders" about a guy who has like 500 rats!! Maybe they should get these 2 together!!!!!

NennaMeerkat · 08-25-11, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay0133

23 snakes + no job or source if income = hoarder

After 2 months they showed him still not having a job. Without most of his snakes (he gave up 17) his mother was more than happy to supply him with everything he needed...just like she was doing before. Again I don't think it was that he was unhealthly obsessed with snakes BUT his family not giving him the boot for being a bum or not contributing to the family. His mom treats him like he is still 16! We got someone like that in our family and everyone just gives him what he wants. I am the one that thinks he should get the boot and not have everything just given to him.

SpOoKy · 08-25-11, 05:23 PM

Quote:

well I saw a commercial for an upcoming "hoarders" about a guy who has like 500 rats!! Maybe they should get these 2 together!!!!!

HA! lol I think you may be on to something

Uncle_Rev · 08-26-11, 05:48 AM

I am not sure what to think of that episode, the son and mom just seemed a bit off; like dressing up in her underwear sort of off.

He also seemed to have an issue with his ability to hook handle those snakes in such a confined area. I would surmise that when dealing with venomous snakes you would want space and the ability to maneuver. Otherwise he seemed to know his business.

Unfortunately, the moment you mention snakes in regards to hobby there is always a knee-jerk sensationalism factor people like to play up. Add some AP style of hype and hysteria as well as some creative editing and the next thing you have is entertaining TV and little else.

He seemed like a nice kid I guess, I hope everything works out for him.

brylecc1989 · 08-26-11, 09:41 AM

Animal Planet Tom's True Confession Part 1 a - YouTube

Interesting

BlindOne · 08-26-11, 11:28 AM

Heck, I just got down to 23 snakes.

Nismo89 · 08-26-11, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlindOne

Heck, I just got down to 23 snakes.

Lol I'm sure you're not the only one who was thinking that when they watched it.
The youtube video was interesting too.
In the actual episode he said he got 16 snakes for $900 that seems like a deal to me. I would have came home from the expo with all of them too lol.