Cobras for Derek1

[SSSSnakes]

Originally Posted by jossh27

im sorry to jump in here with zero knowledge of venomous snakes and bi-laws and i have no intentions on ever owning a venomous snake, but i was curious how you guys got into them... specifically Willow and kwhitlock as i'm sure they aren't legal in your states without a permit or license?

Willow is from PA, were venomous snakes are legal to keep.

[kwhitlock]

Originally Posted by jossh27

im sorry to jump in here with zero knowledge of venomous snakes and bi-laws and i have no intentions on ever owning a venomous snake, but i was curious how you guys got into them... specifically Willow and kwhitlock as i'm sure they aren't legal in your states without a permit or license?

I do not keep venomous reptiles, more than likely never will besides a False water cobra, in regards to state law in MI, I believe there is no laws regarding keeping venomous reptiles, unless the city declares otherwise.

[jossh27]

Originally Posted by MDT

Can't speak for Willow or kwhitlock or others...but here in dear old Oklahoma, no restrictions per se, possibly city or town specific, but as a whole, none. Murica!!!

Having said that, I leave the venomous stuff to the stout hearted like Willow and Jerry!

God bless murica

[Will0W783]

Jossh27,

In PA where I live, there are no state-wide restrictions on keeping venomous snakes. Some localities do have bans or other restrictions, but for the most part as long as it's not native it's ok. If you're over 18, you can buy one.

However, that's not saying that I feel that anyone should be able to just go out and buy a venomous snake here, even though that's what's allowed. I personally will not, nor will I associate with anyone who will, sell a venomous snake to any individual that I have not had a good extensive conversation with on his/her experience and training. I personally had a very good mentor to help me hone my skills and learn a lot about living with hots, but I also put in years of heavy research beforehand. And I worked my way up with aggressive colubrids, arboreal pythons/boas, and rear-fanged species. I do feel that some sort of licensing protocol would be good in PA- maybe a skills test and a certain number of required hours with a mentor or some such thing. Several of my snakes are rescues from people who had no business owning them. One such animal is "Gabby," a 5-foot, 15-20lb Gaboon viper whose previous owner had her in a 30-gallon fish tank with a simple screen lid and flimsy cage clips. His toddler had taken an interest in Gabby and it was not going to end well for anyone involved. Gabby now has a 5 x 3 foot Vision cage with heavy duty locks and plenty of room to move around. I also have a male EDB who was rescued from a frat house where he was getting abused and teased by the idiots....

Venomous snakes are a very serious animal, and the decision to own one should not be taken lightly. You are making a conscious choice to invite potential death and dismemberment into your house, and interact with it on a daily basis. I love my vipers, and cannot imagine life without them, but I am aware of what they can do to me, and would given the change, and it is sobering.

[jossh27]

Originally Posted by Will0W783

Jossh27,

In PA where I live, there are no state-wide restrictions on keeping venomous snakes. Some localities do have bans or other restrictions, but for the most part as long as it's not native it's ok. If you're over 18, you can buy one.

However, that's not saying that I feel that anyone should be able to just go out and buy a venomous snake here, even though that's what's allowed. I personally will not, nor will I associate with anyone who will, sell a venomous snake to any individual that I have not had a good extensive conversation with on his/her experience and training. I personally had a very good mentor to help me hone my skills and learn a lot about living with hots, but I also put in years of heavy research beforehand. And I worked my way up with aggressive colubrids, arboreal pythons/boas, and rear-fanged species. I do feel that some sort of licensing protocol would be good in PA- maybe a skills test and a certain number of required hours with a mentor or some such thing. Several of my snakes are rescues from people who had no business owning them. One such animal is "Gabby," a 5-foot, 15-20lb Gaboon viper whose previous owner had her in a 30-gallon fish tank with a simple screen lid and flimsy cage clips. His toddler had taken an interest in Gabby and it was not going to end well for anyone involved. Gabby now has a 5 x 3 foot Vision cage with heavy duty locks and plenty of room to move around. I also have a male EDB who was rescued from a frat house where he was getting abused and teased by the idiots....

Venomous snakes are a very serious animal, and the decision to own one should not be taken lightly. You are making a conscious choice to invite potential death and dismemberment into your house, and interact with it on a daily basis. I love my vipers, and cannot imagine life without them, but I am aware of what they can do to me, and would given the change, and it is sobering.

gaboons are the most amazing looking snake EVER! but I would never consider owning one as im afraid of being bit by my kingsnake, let alone a hot.

so what was it for you willow? just a fascination with snakes and after having so many different kinds you eventually found yourself interested in venomous snakes?

[Derek1]

Originally Posted by Will0W783

Jossh27,

In PA where I live, there are no state-wide restrictions on keeping venomous snakes. Some localities do have bans or other restrictions, but for the most part as long as it's not native it's ok. If you're over 18, you can buy one.

However, that's not saying that I feel that anyone should be able to just go out and buy a venomous snake here, even though that's what's allowed. I personally will not, nor will I associate with anyone who will, sell a venomous snake to any individual that I have not had a good extensive conversation with on his/her experience and training. I personally had a very good mentor to help me hone my skills and learn a lot about living with hots, but I also put in years of heavy research beforehand. And I worked my way up with aggressive colubrids, arboreal pythons/boas, and rear-fanged species. I do feel that some sort of licensing protocol would be good in PA- maybe a skills test and a certain number of required hours with a mentor or some such thing. Several of my snakes are rescues from people who had no business owning them. One such animal is "Gabby," a 5-foot, 15-20lb Gaboon viper whose previous owner had her in a 30-gallon fish tank with a simple screen lid and flimsy cage clips. His toddler had taken an interest in Gabby and it was not going to end well for anyone involved. Gabby now has a 5 x 3 foot Vision cage with heavy duty locks and plenty of room to move around. I also have a male EDB who was rescued from a frat house where he was getting abused and teased by the idiots....

Venomous snakes are a very serious animal, and the decision to own one should not be taken lightly. You are making a conscious choice to invite potential death and dismemberment into your house, and interact with it on a daily basis. I love my vipers, and cannot imagine life without them, but I am aware of what they can do to me, and would given the change, and it is sobering.

Well said!

[Will0W783]

Originally posted by jossh27:so what was it for you willow? just a fascination with snakes and after having so many different kinds you eventually found yourself interested in venomous snakes?

Yes, more or less. I have always thought the vipers were beautiful and fascinating animals; I just never imagined myself keeping them. After you get used to progressively larger and more intense non-venomous snakes, and you meet many people who keep hots, it starts to seem less out-there I guess. A lot of the stuff I liked was rear-fanged and then once I kept those it didn't seem much of a stretch to look at arboreal vipers. Once I started keeping arboreal vipers, and had a lot of time with my mentor, I felt comfortable with terrestrial vipers. I've always had a thing for rattlesnakes, and Gaboon vipers are just stunning, so they became the goal to shoot for.

A lot of non-venomous keepers say "Oh I could never keep hots; I want to hold everything!" Well, I don't hold my hots, but I would say I have a more complex relationship with some of them than I ever had with a python or boa. For example, the rattlesnakes- they are far more curious and active. My male EDB always wants to see what I'm doing in the room. I'll hear him rustling about in his cage, and if I look over he's at the front flicking his tongue and watching me. And my biggest Gaboon, Gabby, is amazing. If I sit in front of her cage she will make her way to the front and pick her head up and nod at me. I can sit there for 10-15 minutes, talking to her. She stares at me intently, tongue flicking every now and then, head bobbing off and on. It looks for all the world like she is listening. (I know that's not really the case, but she is curious and appears to get something out of the interaction). There's an aura about them- whether it's that they know on some level that they are deadly, or it's us projecting that onto them, whatever it is, there is definitely just "something about them." And that something is darned addictive once you get into it.

[reptiledude987]

Originally Posted by jossh27

gaboons are the most amazing looking snake EVER! but I would never consider owning one as im afraid of being bit by my kingsnake, let alone a hot.

Gaboons look cool but I like the looks of alot of the arboreal vipers like temples and bush vipers. (sigh) If I lived in the states I'd have some of them in a second