Hello from AR

Calter1983 · 09-22-15, 02:52 AM

Hello my name is Chris I'm 32 and I'm medically Retired from the USAF. I grew up in Florida and loved Catching and keeping snake turtles gators ect. Well I got married and the wife was terrified of snakes so for 9 years I haven't had one well six months ago she said she was threw and wants a divorce been a hell of a year the only up side is I can have snakes agian. Well yesterday I was working on my truck and felt a sting on my back when I climbed under it flopped ovet thier was a baby copperhead. Well crap so I go get a bucket and scoop him up toss him in a empty aquarium and off to go get looked at no sysptom so either I got lucky and got a dry or a bug bit my at the right time. Up side I know have my favorite snake in an aquarium down side I'm nervous as hell around him this epuld be my first venomous snake if I can keep him all the research looks like I can but I'm not a lawyer so still looking for a definite yes lol. I plan on turning my 1000 + sq ft storage shed into a reptile room. Dose anyone know if it's legal to keep hots in Arkansas specifically Pulaski County I'm well out side the city limits and have 5 acres if someone knows for sure it would help out alot thanks.

Calter1983 · 09-23-15, 02:43 AM

Well looks like I will be releasing him he dosnt want to eat I have had him 4 days so I might be over reacting but I don't want to hurt him

Mikoh4792 · 09-23-15, 04:29 AM

Hello and welcome! Don't know about the legalities of this, but you need to provide the proper parameters for any reptile. This usually includes a heat source( heat mat, heat lamp, radiant heat panel...etc) hooked up to a thermostat(to control the output), minimum of two hides(one in heated area, one in unheated area), and a water bowl.

The copperhead is most likely not eating due to stress from being captured and put into an aquarium. Best thing to do for now, would be to release the animal, then find out whether keeping a wild caught snake from your area is legal or not. You could also use the time to research on how to care for any particular snake you'd like to keep.

Calter1983 · 09-23-15, 07:21 PM

I did release the snake and I have all the proper stuff except for tongues if it would have been mid summer I would have kept him longer but with cold weather coming it wasn't worth the risk
As far as game and fish I was good but just wanted to find someone eles that had hots just to make sure there weren't any county laws I had to worry about I did find someone and I was good to keep him but thought it was better for the snake to be released.

I just bought a sand boa and have set him up funny I spent 100 bucks on a snake I can't see lol

**EL Ziggy** · 09-23-15, 11:14 PM

Welcome and best wishes Chris. Thank you for your service brother. Congrats on the new snake. Brush up on your research and enjoy the hobby/addiction.

Calter1983 · 09-23-15, 11:46 PM

I will I have had and housed many snake but I am rusting my favorite part is building enclosures can't wait to do that again

dave himself · 09-24-15, 02:15 AM

Welcome aboard

rubbertoes · 09-24-15, 06:17 AM

Welcome! Glad you were kind to it and gently captured it, rather than immediatley killing it like most people wouldve done.

Albert Clark · 09-24-15, 09:27 AM

Always nice to have a fellow soldier nearby! Welcome, and there are plenty of captive bred herps for you to choose from anyway.

Calter1983 · 09-27-15, 06:44 PM

Yeah I got a sand boa thanks for the welcome

Calter1983 · 09-29-15, 12:47 AM

Freaking stupid state denied my permit to keep my pet aligator snaping turtle guy I talked to told me it's not even an option here hell in Louisiana they eat the damn things
Oh well