A brief intro, and some photos - Page 2

Morgan says · 06-04-12, 02:07 PM

Wow they are absolutely breath taking. Their colors are stunning. I love looking through this forum to see all of the people who are interested enough to care for such amazing creatures. When you do have to handle these guys how do you go about doing that?

Frozenflame · 06-04-12, 04:13 PM

they are fascinating! have always been fascinated by vipers and their brilliant colors and deadliness... could never keep one though lol

GarterPython · 06-04-12, 06:29 PM

at Morgan Says = I don't actually keep them but I am guessing that he uses a snake hook and gloves.

jaleely · 06-04-12, 07:27 PM

The '10 Female Beautifull Pitviper (Cryptelytrops venustus) is AMAZING. Love!!!!
I wish I trusted myself with hots! I can't even not get bitten by my silly ones lol

botis · 06-05-12, 08:31 AM

It's all about the color for me, too

As far as handling is concerned, hooks are the primary tool, usually two. I have a set of tubes, and a couple pinsticks that I occasionally use. I also have a pair of gloves, but I never use them. The loss of dexterity that comes with wearing snake gloves is just not worth the limited amount of added protection they provide, in my opinion. I would also add that I never remove my hots from their enclosures, except for cage cleaning and the like. I also never put my hands on them unless I absolutely have to. Unfortunately, with 40 or so vipers in my care, I do have pin and grab them from time to time. It's not fun, but it comes with the territory. Definitely something to think about for anyone considering keeping venomous snakes.

Btw: I get bit all the time by some of my more aggressive non-vens. You have to take on a completely different mindset when working with something that can kill you. That's why I laugh when people say that working with aggressive non-venomous snakes, and not getting bitten, will prepare you handle a hot. Their mannerisms, and most importantly, their strike speed, are not comparable. I'll have to take a video of my Gaboon eating, sometime. His strike is, literally, faster than the eye can see.

Wama · 06-05-12, 08:51 AM

WOW and Welcome. Stunning collection

jaleely · 06-05-12, 08:53 PM

I would love to see a video!
The strike posture of some of my non-hots is very telling, and i'm usually pretty good at not getting bit...however recently i was "nommed" by my hognose snake and couldn't get him off *lol* he hooked right onto my finger.
Just chilling out in my hand while I wiped out his tank. Next thing i knew he was chewing *lol*

I am actually very proud of myself for "reading" my snakes as well as i do, but i just know it only takes that one time of reading incorrectly or not being on top of it, and i'm just klutzy enough to pull that off around a hot.

Love the vipers though. I have not seen a hot i didn't like the look of.

botis · 06-06-12, 11:14 AM

That's one of the more dangerous aspects of the viperids. They are supremely addapted ambush predators, and their "tells" can be very subtle. Their pupils will dialate, their respiration will increase, they will flick their tongues more rapidly, but they often won't move a muscle. At a time of their choosing, they explode into action. Anything in range, and targeted, has no time to react.

This isn't my video, but it's a good illustration as to what I'm talking about.

Scary Short: "Say Ahhhhhh" - YouTube

Will0W783 · 06-06-12, 01:16 PM

Hello and welcome! I see you're another arboreal viper lover! I too am just enamored with these beauties. I LOVE your Wetar and venustus! And you have a beautiful selection of eyelash vipers. I have two green eyelashes, 2 Wagler's temple vipers and a horned bush viper, along with a rattler and cobra.

botis · 06-06-12, 05:25 PM

Hi, there. I've seen some of your photos, very nice. I'd love to add a few wags to my collection, but all I ever run across are imports and ltc. No matter how nice the animal, I won't touch anything that's not cbb. I've been taking a lot of pictures, lately, so here's a few more for you all to check out.

'10 Female Eyelash viper

'09 male Variable Bush Viper

Some more of last years baby Eyelash Vipers

Dam and Sire to last years babies, both born in '07

exwizard · 06-06-12, 05:48 PM

Man I am completely in awe of what Ive seen so far in your collection. All I got to say is "wow!"

jaleely · 06-06-12, 09:23 PM

ah i love them, love them! I can't get enough.
That video was funny, too....Hoooooollleeeee sheeeeeet! LOL

And you are right about the subtlety of their "tells". That video is a good example. We could tell she was primed, but there was just *no* warning.

Aaaaand that is why i have to live vicariously through others...lol

You have some amazing specimens though! I just love them.