Is It Poison/Venomous?

[SerpentLust]

Honestly, when bringing a "noob" or someone not really into herps to show them your collection, how many times have you had to answer the question, "Oh, is it poison/venomous?"

Jenn

[BoidKeeper]

I got nailed on the hand once by my adult male black mexican king and I had to continually reasure my uncle and aunt that a trip to emerg was not needed.
Trevor

[mykee]

Honestly, never. I don't show off my collection to anyone who isn't aware that I keep snakes. They would of course know from talking with me on the topic that I do not keep hots.

[sapphire_moon]

A couple of times. When I was transporting, someone would see the bag, and see something moving, ask what I have, I would tell them, they would slowly back away asking "is it dangerous?!" I would say, "only if it's lunch, and your a rat/mouse." lol. You should have made the title of your thread a little more clear. I had no clue what you meant by "is it?" could mean so many things.

[Dani33]

My 12 year old nephew has done that quite a few times. At first with mine and then w/ every milk/king snake that he saw. He would actually argue with me about it - LOL. I eventually gave him a book about milk and king snakes to educate himself. He hasn't asked since.

I personally don't like to show off my herps - my relatives do though. They sorta brag about it and occaisionally bring someone here to show them. I have told them that I prefer them not to do it. I have a mother-in-law that doesn't like to hear no though.

I had no idea that so many people are afraid of herps/inverts. I can't really relate - I was raised to not be. My parents never even kept herps.

[C.m.pyrrhus]

With the folks I seem to encounter, about 90% of them are firm believers ALL snakes are venomous. That is where I have to say my peice of info. Many folks that know of my collection and come see it know I keep venomous species, so therefore they also ask if everything is venomous. I get many folks that argue with me as well on species and venom, etc etc. "This guy can spit blood" and other silly myths...heh. Some folks eh.

[Scales Zoo]

Every time we do a promotional / educational reptile show, without fail, someone will tell their son or daughter that boa constrictors or pythons are venomous.

I would bet that at least 1/3 of the general public that we meet assumes that the boa constrictor is venomous.

It is fun to tell people that boa constrictors, are actually constrictors - not a venomous snake, and then to see their reaction when they realize the name should have been a hint.

Ryan

[Pookie]

This is a very interesting topic. It's too bad that people have such misconceptions about snakes. I also have to reassure my friends and family that they're not poisonous but i guess when you're not interested in a specific topic such as keeping snakes, you probably don't know as much information about them as we all do!

[wyz]

When going into my first specialised herp shop (2 years ago). I myself asked that question

I was 29 I don't consider myself to be uneducated or dumb

This said, I asume 90% on the normal population think that many snakes are venoumous. Or I'm dumber than I think lol

WYZ

[SerpentLust]

Hehe great stories guys, that was nothing. My boyfriend told his Grandmother that I have a Spotted Python and she was like, "Oh yeah! That's smart, get a snake that'll grow 20 feet and kill you!!" and he tried to tell her they max out around 5 feet, and she was like, "Wherever you heard that from, they're WRONG, I know everything about the disgusting creatures" lmao

[drewlowe]

I kinda had this discussion last night just with a little differnt twist.

A friend of my boyfriends came over last night (he's been over several times) and i got out one of my juvi corn snakes to take out the shed and to check him out. His first question was (as i'm handling the snake) "Is that poisonous". I don't know why but that questions erks me really bad. I turned and said "No but if you find a poisonous snake let me know". So i had to explain the whole venomous/ poisonous thing to him.

[Mustangrde1]

With just about every show on animal planet or discovery talking about venomous is it really any wonder the large portion of the population think all snakes must be venomous. The simple fact is for those shows the more danger or precieved danger the higher the ratings will be.

People that know me know I keep a wide variety of reptiles but i still here OH they are all venomous because that is what you keep. I have to keep myself from laughing and try to explain to them with over 300 animals in my personal collection only about 50 are venomous. Still it is those people want to see. I would much rather show them my Emerald Tree boas or Chondros or Redtails or Monitors. Or really have fun and show them my 6 foot Iguana or 14 foot scrub python amazing how many people think Iguanas only get 2 feet max" thanks petshop employee's." I think its very important to show people that the cute 2 foot snake can get very large and that iguanas will get very large if cared for properly.

[boa]

We lost count it happens all the time.

[Edwin]

I think that the possibility of a herp being venomous/poisonous is foremost on the minds of most non-herpers because of the mass media. How many movies have snakes with venom dripping off their fangs etc.

Names dont really help herps too.. I overheard a newbie at a show tell his friend that the poison dart frogs are kept in special enclosures (those acrylic cases) so that people do not get accidentally poisoned.

Imagine this same person explain the "radiated ratsnake"...

[mykee]

A properly placed vial of water, or milk near your snakes, in clear site, labelled "Anti-venom" would freak a few people out, really funny too...