Is this man being responsible with these hot snakes?

[D Grade]

This one isnt smart either:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h8HGfgxMYG0

[reptiledude987]

Originally Posted by D Grade

Thats pretty bad. Thought this one was pretty bad too after I saw it for the first time.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oxb6jZ-mMak

Ok yes this is way worse than anything you will see anything see from viper keeper. that guy totally deserved to get bit in the face. It was rattling the whole time telling him he was being an idiot.

[D Grade]

Definitely a close call and definitely darwin award nominee. And yes, definitely nothing you will see Al do which is why I dont believe Al is a wreckless hot keeper.

[bigsnakegirl785]

It's not a matter of "there's worse out there." If it's bad to any degree that could be fatal, it's not worth showing imo. Keep the bad practices in your home and off the web.

[prairiepanda]

Originally Posted by D Grade

Thats pretty bad. Thought this one was pretty bad too after I saw it for the first time.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oxb6jZ-mMak

That snake is venomoid, and it says so clearly in both the video title and description, so what this man is doing isn't any more dangerous than someone holding an angry colubrid around their neck. It is something I hate seeing online, though, as it encourages people to seek that "cool factor" by mutilating snakes

[D Grade]

Cant read the description when using Youtube on my TV, which is 95% of the time. I agree with the mutilation comment and I dont agree with the practice at all.

[D Grade]

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

It's not a matter of "there's worse out there." If it's bad to any degree that could be fatal, it's not worth showing imo. Keep the bad practices in your home and off the web.

Keeping hots is 100% potentially fatal at all times. You're keeping snakes and handling snakes that could potentially kill you no matter how well you handle them. You're always risking being bitten by interacting with them, feeding them, and performing husbandry or removing them to perform husbandry.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Originally Posted by prairiepanda

That snake is venomoid, and it says so clearly in both the video title and description, so what this man is doing isn't any more dangerous than someone holding an angry colubrid around their neck. It is something I hate seeing online, though, as it encourages people to seek that "cool factor" by mutilating snakes

Venomoid animals can grow back their venom glands, so it's still just as dangerous to handle venomoid snakes as unaltered ones.

[prairiepanda]

Originally Posted by bigsnakegirl785

Venomoid animals can grow back their venom glands, so it's still just as dangerous to handle venomoid snakes as unaltered ones.

I thought that was only possible if some of the gland tissue was left intact? I know there are some sketchy people out there who don't know what they're doing but if it's done right there shouldn't be any risk(to the human, anyway)...unless I'm mistaken? I don't really know anything about stem cells in snakes.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by prairiepanda

I thought that was only possible if some of the gland tissue was left intact? I know there are some sketchy people out there who don't know what they're doing but if it's done right there shouldn't be any risk(to the human, anyway)...unless I'm mistaken? I don't really know anything about stem cells in snakes.

Could be right. Could be wrong.

I am in no way up to date on how the surgery is done. I know at one point it was common for them to grow back or to not have been done correctly by hack people in their garages and the venomoid was still lethal.

Back about oh 10 years or so ago it seemed the surgery is more inline with what you're saying. I believe there's less complications and that the right people with the right knowledge can do the surgery and it be "safe".

As I said though, I in no way keep up with that type of stuff as I don't agree with it so I'm going off what knowledge I pick up in passing.

[SSSSnakes]

I'm no doctor or expert in this field, but I have read and heard some ways that it is done. If the duct from the gland to the fang is cut or removed it is possible for the duct to grow back. If the gland and the duct are removed it is not possible for them to grow back. Also if the gland is remove in some snakes, a silicone shape gland is put in the glands place, so the head shape looks the same.

I personally don't agree with making a venomoid. If you want a HOT snake, then leave it HOT.

[D Grade]

Originally Posted by SSSSnakes

I personally don't agree with making a venomoid. If you want a HOT snake, then leave it HOT.

Couldn't agree more, Jerry.

[AlexCrazy]

Originally Posted by MDT

PBF...no worries dude, this is herpetoculture...we eat our young. it's all good

LOOL! XD
Like many say.. the bad part would be for people.. even do there is a this-claimer.. to try these things.. its like the.. don't do it.. means do it dum@$$! :S
My dad keep cobras as a teen.. and he would place them on the couch! but now that he is a man.. he thinks he was so stupid! haha
lucky me.. he learnd that! everyone should learn that too.. you mess with fire.. you get burned. learn that precautions are there for a reason. (what i seed dosent make me stand against HOT owners..im just against the ones who do stunts like these)

[kiiarah]

As a relatively new member of the snake keeping crowd, and also a regular viewer of Al's videos, I can say that at least for me his videos never stike me as reckless or sensational. He is incredibly brave, I will give him that, but don't you have to be to work with deadly animals?

I can see the argument that his videos promote other's seeing HOT keeping as no big deal, but I would have to side with those arguing that he does have a disclaimer and is in no way responsible for other people being idiots. He also frequently disucsses the dangers involved and the measures he takes to prevent accidents. His film techniques are deceptive. With the exception of his Elvis videos he is almost always at least 2 feet if not farther from the tank with the camera fully zoomed in. Yes it looks like he is an inch from their face but that is not the case. He also frequently uses a chest harness for the camera, he is not holding the camera with one hand and tongs with the other, the camera is secured in place and not being held. Elvis is an exception because he knows him well enough to safely allow him more freedom, at least as safely as possible given the circumstances.

I just don't believe that the fact that one person doing something may inspire others to do something crazy should limit their options or freedom of expression. I believe that all states have restrictions and license requirements in place for keeping of HOTs as it is, it is not like some 12 year old is going to go buy a cobra because they watched a Youtube video. If a person wants to do something as stupid as going out and catching a wild venomous snake to keep for fun, I don't think a Al's videos will be the factor that pushes them over the edge. That kind of person is going to wind up in trouble with or without others' example. I have watched a ton of his videos and of course I think it would be remarkable to be in his shoes and get to work with the animals he keeps, but I am smart enough to know I am nowhere near in a position to do so and that path would require years and years of training and preparation and would still be a potentially fatal decision. All I he has ever inspired be to do is feel overjoyed that there are people like him doing what they are doing to promote acceptance of such a universally feared animal.

In many of Al's videos he discusses his behavior with his snakes and his reasoning behind it, all has seemed perfectly sound to me. He comments multiple times about how people give him a hard time about his speech patterns and the long pauses, and points out that it is due to most of his focus being on the deadly snakes in the room and not on the video, and also that if people are bothered by it they can stop watching because attention to the animals takes priority. He is not just oblivious to what is going on around him. He has also discussed how his calm demeanor does not mean that he doesn't take them seriously, he just knows that panic in an already risky situation will only make things worse. I have seen snakes strike inches from his fingers and he hardly flinches, not because he is ignorant of the risks but because flipping out over it would make a serious bite even more likely.

I will admit that some of his videos seem like he is taking major, possibly unnecessary, risks. However, I strongly believe that the education he is bringing to the public is absolutely valuable enough to overlook that. As others have pointed out, if he places himself in harms way that is nobody's problem but his own. The fact that he talks to and interacts with the snakes, Elvis in particular, as though they are the family dog does strike some as reckless, but I think it drives the point home that these are wonderful animals and his love for them rubs off on the viewers. If this is what it takes to help people see HOTs as amazing instead of evil I am all for it.

The original poster made a comment about him being "just a hobbyist". We are talking about a man who is maintaining a huge collection, a large percentage of which are sent to zoos and other educational facilities. He is assisting heavily in venom research, biological studies, and breeding to preserve populations that are threatened in the wild. I don't see it as relevant whether his primary career is snake-keeping or whether he has just chosen to puruse it as a "hobby" he is absolutely not just some guy keeping snakes for fun.

My thinking on it is, until I have as much experience as he does with his animals, I am really in no position to judge.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by kiiarah

As a relatively new member of the snake keeping crowd, and also a regular viewer of Al's videos, I can say that at least for me his videos never stike me as reckless or sensational. He is incredibly brave, I will give him that, but don't you have to be to work with deadly animals?

I can see the argument that his videos promote other's seeing HOT keeping as no big deal, but I would have to side with those arguing that he does have a disclaimer and is in no way responsible for other people being idiots. He also frequently disucsses the dangers involved and the measures he takes to prevent accidents. His film techniques are deceptive. With the exception of his Elvis videos he is almost always at least 2 feet if not farther from the tank with the camera fully zoomed in. Yes it looks like he is an inch from their face but that is not the case. He also frequently uses a chest harness for the camera, he is not holding the camera with one hand and tongs with the other, the camera is secured in place and not being held. Elvis is an exception because he knows him well enough to safely allow him more freedom, at least as safely as possible given the circumstances.

I just don't believe that the fact that one person doing something may inspire others to do something crazy should limit their options or freedom of expression. I believe that all states have restrictions and license requirements in place for keeping of HOTs as it is, it is not like some 12 year old is going to go buy a cobra because they watched a Youtube video. If a person wants to do something as stupid as going out and catching a wild venomous snake to keep for fun, I don't think a Al's videos will be the factor that pushes them over the edge. That kind of person is going to wind up in trouble with or without others' example. I have watched a ton of his videos and of course I think it would be remarkable to be in his shoes and get to work with the animals he keeps, but I am smart enough to know I am nowhere near in a position to do so and that path would require years and years of training and preparation and would still be a potentially fatal decision. All I he has ever inspired be to do is feel overjoyed that there are people like him doing what they are doing to promote acceptance of such a universally feared animal.

In many of Al's videos he discusses his behavior with his snakes and his reasoning behind it, all has seemed perfectly sound to me. He comments multiple times about how people give him a hard time about his speech patterns and the long pauses, and points out that it is due to most of his focus being on the deadly snakes in the room and not on the video, and also that if people are bothered by it they can stop watching because attention to the animals takes priority. He is not just oblivious to what is going on around him. He has also discussed how his calm demeanor does not mean that he doesn't take them seriously, he just knows that panic in an already risky situation will only make things worse. I have seen snakes strike inches from his fingers and he hardly flinches, not because he is ignorant of the risks but because flipping out over it would make a serious bite even more likely.

I will admit that some of his videos seem like he is taking major, possibly unnecessary, risks. However, I strongly believe that the education he is bringing to the public is absolutely valuable enough to overlook that. As others have pointed out, if he places himself in harms way that is nobody's problem but his own. The fact that he talks to and interacts with the snakes, Elvis in particular, as though they are the family dog does strike some as reckless, but I think it drives the point home that these are wonderful animals and his love for them rubs off on the viewers. If this is what it takes to help people see HOTs as amazing instead of evil I am all for it.

The original poster made a comment about him being "just a hobbyist". We are talking about a man who is maintaining a huge collection, a large percentage of which are sent to zoos and other educational facilities. He is assisting heavily in venom research, biological studies, and breeding to preserve populations that are threatened in the wild. I don't see it as relevant whether his primary career is snake-keeping or whether he has just chosen to puruse it as a "hobby" he is absolutely not just some guy keeping snakes for fun.

My thinking on it is, until I have as much experience as he does with his animals, I am really in no position to judge.

First bold comment. How do you know this is actually legally binding? There are tons of lawsuits placed and won on a yearly basis that the 'idiots' win. A lot of facts proving you wrong that it will save him.

Second bold comment. Are you completely sure? Last time I checked very few States have any sort of restriction or licensing program in place. It's mostly done on the municipal and or county level and I doubt every single one in the Country has what you're claiming.

Third comment. This is a very bold statement to make. Considering a lot of the scientific community when dealing with those issues have very strict protocol on the animals they use for their programs. Do you know for a fact he participates in these with well known organizations or just says he does by keeping them?
I know one of his students extremely well so I'll be asking her.