Venomous - to keep or not to keep - Page 3

BlindOne · 03-10-11, 09:36 AM

I don't see a problem with keeping hots if you are smart about it. I think FL has a good system in place, you must show 1000 hours of working with the animals and have two keepers vouch for you. That seems reasonable to me.

I started with venomous when I was 20 and kept an amazing variety of stuff until I was ~30. Rattlesnakes, cobras, gabbies, lots of tree vipers (Atheris, Bothriechis, Trimeresurus), copperheads, etc. Never came close to being bitten, and I bred several species. Amazing amazing animals. They really aren't that difficult to work with, just good common sense and the proper tools.

I'm done with them now that I have children, I'd NEVER risk a child's curiosity with venomous. Just a tragedy waiting to happen. After the children are gone though, who knows? My wife, a biologist, isn't opposed to me keeping them.

Will0W783 · 03-10-11, 10:05 AM

Quote:

I think FL has a good system in place, you must show 1000 hours of working with the animals and have two keepers vouch for you. That seems reasonable to me.

This should be the case in all states and countries. While I find venomous snakes absolutely beautiful, I do not feel that I ever will trust myself to keep the deadly ones. I have a hognose, a FWC, and a mangrove snake. I only ever handle the mangrove by hooking and tailing him while wearing 2 layers of gloves, hooded sweatshirt and glasses. Mangrove snakes are not even deadly, but one can have tissue necrosis and a bad reaction. He was from a friend who could not keep him and will probably be rehomed once I am sure he is healthy enough to a responsible keeper than I personally approve. I think Gaboon vipers and king cobras are some of the most beautiful and amazing reptiles, but the risk is just too great for me. All it would take is one tiny mistake, one day of being off my game, and I could be dead. I prefer to admire them from afar, but I do not take offense to others keeping them. However, we definitely do need to tighten down the regulations and licensing required to keep one. I may get flamed for this next statement, but I also think ownership of the giant constrictors should be regulated and tightened down as well. A Burm or retic or African rock python can kill someone just as easily as a hot, and far too many idiots run out and buy one because they think they are cool and bad-arse running around with a 15+foot snake. It's a risk, doesn't mean that no one should be allowed to take it, just that anyone who does take that risk should be well-trained and informed of said risks and how to handle the worst-case scenarios.

DeesBalls · 03-10-11, 11:04 AM

I would love to own a cobra. there just so amazing animals and they are absolutly stunning. but i have absolutly no intentions on owning a cobra, or any hot for that matter. they are just to much for me.... i am having trouble taming down a pastel ball, lol no way i could handle a hot. and i know that, so im not going to jump into it.

* on a side note, i will own a cobra, but a Mustang, lol**

ilovemypets1988 · 03-10-11, 12:12 PM

theres only 1 hot that im interested in and thas the western diamond back rattler, theres acouple more but none more or as important to me though.
unfortunatley though, i dont know anyone who can train me up for it so i probably would never get 1

Sapphyr · 03-10-11, 12:15 PM

The UK and FL regulations sound really nice, I only wish these regulations applied to all other areas. I do kinda agree with the contrictor/retic+other LARGE species of snakes. We all know some people wrap them around their necks and go walking around, and all know a snake that big can accidentally hit the right pressure point to knock you out. Lord forbid this happens while you're alone. At the very least, proper education of such a large snake should be ensured before finalizing a purchase of one, if there isn't licensing or classes/exams. They don't strike me to be as dangerous as a hot, but they can kill, nonetheless, like a hot can. Accidental or not, and it's your responsibility, as its owner, to know how to properly own and care for the animal. Too many people just waltz into -any- type of pet, big or small, without knowing proper care. Then it's the animal that suffers, and also, potentially, the owner that suffers, as well(in the case of any hot/very large snake).

Damion930 · 03-10-11, 12:57 PM

I can fully agree that with the current system you should need a license for both hots and giants. I also think ther is a line that is streaching when you try to regulate things to protect everyone from the risks in the world. Who is qualified to assess all the risks and tell others they can't take them. Wher is the line drawn between acceptable risk and unacceptable and who gets to draw it. Just stirring the pot for thought

ilovemypets1988 · 03-10-11, 01:26 PM

i only put my corns around my neck because i know that i can easily get out of difficulty if needed, however im getting a bci on 23rd and theres no way im gunna put that around my neck, its not big but its strong enough to kill me via constriction if it wanted to

Lankyrob · 03-10-11, 01:34 PM

An adult corn around your neck can have you unconscious in under a second, if it doesnt let go when you hit the deck then after approx 30seconds brain damage starts, a minute or so later and if you survive you will be lucky to survive with any form of cognition. In my opinion NO snake should EVER be put around the neck or shoulders, just not worth the risk.

Sapphyr · 03-10-11, 04:17 PM

Not to stray from subject, but does that mean Snake Massage Therapy isn't advised? Or is that semi-acceptable considering you have others around/supervision?

Lankyrob · 03-10-11, 04:24 PM

If the snake knocks you out, and then panics because you drop to the floor so it locks on tight the only way i can see to get it to let go is to kill it, most people would kill the snake before trying any other method because a human life is at risk.

We are literally talking less than a second of pressure in the right place to make you slip into unconsciousness, i had it done to me by a martial arts trainer - i barely felt him touch me and he used just a thumb and forefinger, it really is that easy. The snake does not know wwht it is doing and when it suddenly drops to the floor it is very likely to panic. Either it will let go and run or more likely as it is quite possible that part of your weight will be on the snake it will go into fight mode and just tighten up.

Our adult corn panicked whilst wrapped around my arm when we first got him, my hand was blue and totally nu,b before he let go, there was no way i hell i could of unwrapped him, i just had to wait. Move that constriction from your arm to your neck or chest.............

Sapphyr · 03-10-11, 04:50 PM

Aww poor snakey :c I never knew that they could wrap -that- tight. I did kinda wonder what a snake would do if someone did heave/put the snake over their shoulders(thus, neck) and ended up knocking out, falling with the snake. I thought either flee orr... I don't know.

Though, I'm talking Snake Massage Therapy. You're not standing for that. They have you lay, face down, on a table and put snakes on your back and let their slithering do the massage work. It intrigues me because I'm very finicky about people touching me, especially with touching my back. I really doubt I'll ever experience such an event, though.

Here's a link to SnakeByte's Snake Massage Therapy video. I have it skipped to the Snake Massage part so you skip all the snake breeding information bit of the show.

YouTube - Snake Bytes TV - Snake Massage : SnakeBytesTV

Just to note, I see most snake massages using corn snakes, king snakes, rats snakes, etc.

Lankyrob · 03-10-11, 05:16 PM

Hmmm, dont think i will be trying that anytime soon, seems pretty pointless to me but thats just my opinion.

Sapphyr · 03-10-11, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Hmmm, dont think i will be trying that anytime soon, seems pretty pointless to me but thats just my opinion.

Eh, maybe it's just me. I find something to be very... 'therapeutic', in a ways, with a snake's muscle movements as they slither, and me? I often have back pains. Probably 'cause I slouch when I sit. :l Haven't had a massage in like.. 5 years :c I'm very easily bothered by random people/strangers/people I don't know touching me, especially my back.

Lankyrob · 03-10-11, 06:26 PM

Wayne, we kinda derailed this thread and i think it is important it should keep going on topic, could you do your magic with me and Sapph posts please??

I cant have anyone touch my back with the problems i have. I had accupuncture at one point to try to ease the pain, first couple of sessions seemed ok but on the lsst occassion she hit a trigger point and sent my back into a massive spasm, was locked up so tight they were considering an epidural to try to release it. Thankfully after about 90 minutes the muscles relaxed enough for me to be able to move enough to get off the bed, never went back to complete the treatments!!

Sapphyr · 03-10-11, 06:34 PM

Oh ouch... :c Sorry to hear.

At any rate, back on topic, really love the looks of some venomous <3 The farthest I'd be willing to go is with my hognose and maybe a Vine Snake in the future(yes, I do know survival rate isn't high on them since most come from the wild and are possibly infested with parasites).

One's looks particularly struck my curiousity, and I gotta say, it's the one used in BlindOne's forum display picture. BlindOne, what snake is that in your picture?