Unsafe snake handling?

Bel5191 · 03-31-12, 09:21 PM

Hi all,
I don't know if anyone has seen videos on YouTube posted by viperkeeper or not. He has pretty much all the most dangerous hots and has a lot of videos handling or feeding his snakes.

My question is, for example in his one vid, he is giving water to a new wild black mamba with a squirt bottle. And he actually states in the video that he's in the strike range but that the snake isn't interested in biting him.

I'm sure you keepers that have hots can read your snakes pretty well, but do you ever put yourself in that position? I mean the one time you think that you have it all under control the snake could decide that was the day it would go crazy. It seems irresponsible to me but I was just curious.

DeesBalls · 03-31-12, 10:02 PM

i seen almost all his videos, i really enjoy them. i would say he is an expert and knows what he is doing. but i dont own hots or anything so relaly have no idea..

SSSSnakes · 03-31-12, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeEuGi

i seen almost all his videos, i really enjoy them. i would say he is an expert and knows what he is doing. but i dont own hots or anything so relaly have no idea..

Being an expert and know what your doing, does not keep you from being bitten. There is no excuse for careless handling of HOT snakes. Safety should always come first. Macho BS is what gets you killed. I've noticed that some of the most experienced and popular handlers are also some of the most careless handlers. After handling HOTs for years without being bitten, you think you have become "Bullet Proof", only to find one day, you are not.

KORBIN5895 · 03-31-12, 10:39 PM

I don't own hot and I never will so just let me shoot from the hip with some common sense. He sounds like an idiot. Would you play with matches while pumping gas? They seem to be on the same level to me.

marvelfreak · 04-01-12, 07:11 AM

If it's the idiot i seen a couple days ago i was praying one of the snakes would tags his dumb as-.

SSSSnakes · 04-01-12, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marvelfreak

If it's the idiot i seen a couple days ago i was praying one of the snakes would tags his dumb as-.

Hahahaha God's way of thinning out the idiots.

I don't care what people say, when a professional handles snakes in a unsafe way, he is setting a bad example for others. And a disclaimer of, Don't do what I do, is not an excuse.

alessia55 · 04-01-12, 08:36 AM

I enjoy the information viperkeeper has to offer, but I don't enjoy watching his videos where he constantly puts himself in danger. I'm sure his death will be caught on camera one day.

Brently · 04-01-12, 09:25 AM

Okay I am not a HOT owner, but I think some of you may be taking it a little hard on viper keeper. I mean hoping that he gets bit by a black mamba because he made a boo boo in judgement is cruel. He may have made a mistake and maybe shouldn't place those videos online if they display such, however where do you get off to hope he is poisoned by a snake? I am sure we have all made mistakes, so perhaps a little understanding is in order.

KORBIN5895 · 04-01-12, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brently

Okay I am not a HOT owner, but I think some of you may be taking it a little hard on viper keeper. I mean hoping that he gets bit by a black mamba because he made a boo boo in judgement is cruel. He may have made a mistake and maybe shouldn't place those videos online if they display such, however where do you get off to hope he is poisoned by a snake? I am sure we have all made mistakes, so perhaps a little understanding is in order.

I am sorry but it doesn't sound like he made a mistake. It sounds like he said "I am close enough to get bit by an extremely deadly snake but I am so arrogant it won't strike."

SSSSnakes · 04-01-12, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brently

Okay I am not a HOT owner, but I think some of you may be taking it a little hard on viper keeper. I mean hoping that he gets bit by a black mamba because he made a boo boo in judgement is cruel. He may have made a mistake and maybe shouldn't place those videos online if they display such, however where do you get off to hope he is poisoned by a snake? I am sure we have all made mistakes, so perhaps a little understanding is in order.

I am a HOT keeper and handler professionally and I never said I wanted for him to get bitten, but doing what he does the careless way he does it, will end up getting him bitten again. We all make mistakes, but when handling HOTs it could be your last mistake. Why tempt fate by being irresponsible. If you know you are at risk of being bitten, why do it? Him being bitten could possibly bring more laws made that could affect us all.

Bel5191 · 04-01-12, 11:02 AM

I know that if I ever owned a snake like a mamba (never in a million years), I would never willingly put myself in a position where I could be struck, barring unusual circumstances. He is very knowledgeable but he does seem to think he has it all figured out and I think that's very dangerous.

Hillsberry · 04-01-12, 11:20 AM

I just think he is to comfortable around is snakes. Like SSSSnkaes said I think he thinks he is "bullet proof". Now this guy really knows his stuff about HOTS and I am not trying to bash him in anyway. It's his life he is putting in danger. I hope he never gets bit, but standing that close to some of the worlds most venomous snakes is just asking for trouble in my opinion.

CDN_Blood · 04-01-12, 01:36 PM

People have a tendency to want to show the rest of the world exactly how stupid, foolish and/or irresponsible they really are. I see it all the time on YouTube and various other places, including right here.

My question to anyone who's complaining about this type of thing is: What have you done about it?

Did you "dislike" the video? Did you leave a comment stating how foolish it was? Did you report it if it was setting an awful example? Did you do anything, or did you just watch it and complain about it here?

There are entirely too many idiots out there making it difficult for the truly responsible keepers, so get off your duff and actually do something to make a difference. It's just that simple

JimiSellars · 09-19-12, 09:45 PM

I know he has lots of time with his snakes and works with many other talented people but I felt uncomfortable watching him try to get his snake in the tube. Way to much stress for the snake as it took way to long. Then he could not push the the snake through the tube back into the enclosure so he put the tube with the snake inside it. They way he talks to them was creepy too as they can't hear him.
Lastly feeding dangerous snakes while a mamba is loose behind him on a table is very poor technique no matter how good you think you are.

He is very good at reading them but even the best get bit and that is good for nobody.

DeesBalls · 09-19-12, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSSSnakes

Being an expert and know what your doing, does not keep you from being bitten. There is no excuse for careless handling of HOT snakes. Safety should always come first. Macho BS is what gets you killed. I've noticed that some of the most experienced and popular handlers are also some of the most careless handlers. After handling HOTs for years without being bitten, you think you have become "Bullet Proof", only to find one day, you are not.

dont think my post meant to go handle some mambas or vipers, i was just saying he seems to know his own limits... that is all... from what i see, he used hooks/tubs when handling anything. and i agree its the Macho bs that gets people hurt, same thing with people potentially getting hurt with large constrictors ect...