Purpose of Having Venemous Snakes?

[little_dragon_]

I understand now, I have loved reptiles my whole life.
They are very misunderstood creatures. And most people are terrified of the unknown.
So what kinds of venemous snakes do you all have?

[reptilesalonica]

I keep a Taylor's cantil and the Greek viper-longnose horned viper "Vipera ammodytes".
Photos on my gallery and more on my website.
Now searching for Atheris squamiger or chloroechis...but...here in Greece it's a daydream...
~Greg~

[Zoe]

most are not any more dangerous than a grown Retic or a Burmese Python .....

Really? I find that hard to believe...

[T.O-SK8TER]

Pythons and boas are lythargec and dont usualy defend themselves unless neccessary, most venemous snakes are agile and will attack if thought to be threatened. I may have a chance at stopping a python from constricting me but a bite from a venemous snake would kill me if not treated. Thats why I think pythons are less dangerous!

[fatboy]

Originally posted by little_dragon_
So what kinds of venemous snakes do you all have?

My personal collection is a Black Timber rattlesnake, 2 Pigmy rattlesnakes, Eastern Coral Snake, and a Southern Copperhead.

[Gregg M]

Zoe and T.O.SK8TER, you guys are missing the point....... They can be less dangerous if they are kept by an experianced keeper...... Boas and pythons do not defend theselves... Hahahahaha...... I have seen some huge constrictors that want nothing more then to bite down on anything that gets near it..... Venomous snakes do not attack people........ They defend themselves against stupid people....... And most will put up a huge display before resorting to bitting...... (ie; Rattles, hoods, mouth gapping, hissing, scale rubbing, spitting.......) I love when people who do not know a thing about venomous snakes give facts that are more like fiction......

[Samba]

Well, I'm just gonna skim through the replies here, but speaking for myself... keeping hots, if and because you fancy them as beautiful animals, is no different than keeping a large constrictor or 'dangerous' dog. Any animal has the ability to hurt you, even kill you.

Personally, when I kept the few hots that I've had, it was strictly an interest in the animal itself... it had nothing to do with being venomous... I tend to collect pets that I find attractive and personable. I do agree, however, that keeping hots should be done by experienced persons. These aren't pets for everyone, obviously. There is not a distinction for me. Why keep fish? That's what I want to know! J/K

BWSmith - Another brilliant post! Thank you!

[BWSmith]

Thank you Samba. I actually like when threads like this arise from time to time. It gives everyone a chance to step back and look at themselves and their own driving forces. Often we answer the same questions so many times that they become cookie-cutter answers.

[Mustangrde1]

Ok why keep venomous snakes . venomous dont hunt people, however the big 5 constrictors have been know to attack and even hunt down a human which they interpit as prey. All animals are to some degree dangerous even my Golden retriever who is as dumb as crissy on {three's comapny}. I am sure he can bite if he could only figure out how.Then again he would need to get off the couch and stop watching tv first. Venomous with proper care and caution are just as safe to keep as the big constrictors.The most dangerous animal on earth is Man and yet some of us have teens the most deadly animal know in the universe. Sorry had to add a little light humor to this.

[Pixie]

however the big 5 constrictors have been know to attack and even hunt down a human which they interpit as prey

The only large constrictor ever to have this rep is the green anaconda and it still isn't proven. On the same token, the same was said of one species of venomoid (African I believe) which was also disproved.

Both giant constrictors and venomoids can be deadly. The one big difference I make is that there is a bit more room for error with a giant constrictor. For example, if you get constricted you can have others help you out of the situation. If you get bit by a hot, it doesn't matter if there is a dozen people with you to help, you are in desperate need of medical attention.

Deaths from giant constrictors average 1 human death/year in the U.S. How many die from hot bites??? I'm sure it's more than one.

Pixie

[BWSmith]

Both giant constrictors and venomoids can be deadly.

uhhhhh, I think the word VENOMOUS is the one you were looking for. Unless the surgury is botched ot the glands or ducts grow back.

The only large constrictor ever to have this rep is the green anaconda and it still isn't proven. On the same token, the same was said of one species of venomoid (African I believe) which was also disproved.

I think that you are talking again about venomous. Except there is no hot that is capable or has ever been attributed to consuming a human. But an African Rock Python ate a child last year. Confirmed.

Deaths from giant constrictors average 1 human death/year in the U.S. How many die from hot bites??? I'm sure it's more than one.

About 5 last statistic I saw.

[Mustangrde1]

Fact Australian Amethestine python has attacked humans and in fact in a well documented attack one came through a window in to a house killed the family dog then attack a young child this was with no doubt to feed. Fact Indian Rock pythons have attacked numerous people walking along trails this animal can and does kill people..Fact retics do also hunt and would concider a human as prey there are numerous reports of this every year.This is not about captive animals but wild ones. I know of numerous attacks by the large constrictors on there keepers.Unfortunately some were fatal.If one of these large animals gets out one night while your sleeping and it is hungry it can and might decide to attack. If it does who you going to call.Dont get me wrong i keep some very large constrictors but i also am fully aware of the dangers and do keep them in locked cages and never work with them alone.

[Bryce Masuk]

With every animal there is a degree of stupidity allowed and vens just dont allow nearly any Personally i am tired of peopleasking this kind of a question for nearly all people the reason will be slightly different what does it really matter what it is

[T.O-SK8TER]

Gregg I love the fact that you think Zoe and I know nothing about venemous snakes. I said a large constrictor will not defend themselves unless nessessary, not that they will not defend themselves at all. I think you took the word attack out of context, I did not meen that venemous snakes hunt humans down. I was saying if you piss them off in any way they will attack. Heve you ever been bitten?

[reptilesalonica]

I will speak for myself. I keep venomous and a small (for now) giant, an albino burm which is 2,20.
I find more difficult to feed my burm than to feed my venomous snakes.
To feed my burm, i have to take him out of his cage and to put him in a large cage, those with plastic bottom for rabbits.
He has learn that when he is in that cage, that will get food and just by opening the door of the rabbit cage, he goes like mad in every movement around him (my hands).
I do every trick i can but sooner or later i'll get that bite...
Consider that he's only 2,20 m long...
Like others said, every animal is dangerous.
Man can find the ways to confrontate every animal, but unfortunately he will difficult could save his own kind.
Mistakes make the humans and not the animals that lives with them...
~Greg~