Purpose of Having Venemous Snakes?

little_dragon_ · 08-18-03, 03:43 PM

I was wondering why you all risk having venemous snakes in your home?

fatboy · 08-18-03, 03:50 PM

I can't speak for someone who keeps them in their home. Mine are secured in a separate buliding behind my home that is escape proofed. It brings a whole new aspect to herps. They almost act "cocky", seeming like they know what damage they can do. I can go on if you want, but there are no risks inside my home or to my family.

NewLineReptile · 08-18-03, 03:52 PM

Why do you risk anything?

Brandon

Mustangrde1 · 08-18-03, 03:57 PM

What risk lol. Proper tools and equiptment and precations and they are as safe as an anaconda or retic. In all honesty it is a love for the animals and their beauty and elegance. So long as proper care and caution is used it is a very rewarding experiance.

fatboy · 08-18-03, 03:59 PM

I enjoy the hots that much that it is well worth the risk. I have a good mentor whom I still work with. I actully enjoy my venomous more than my boids because of the attitude and the different habbits.

little_dragon_ · 08-18-03, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mustangrde1
What risk lol. Proper tools and equiptment and precations and they are as safe as an anaconda or retic. In all honesty it is a love for the animals and their beauty and elegance. So long as proper care and caution is used it is a very rewarding experiance.

What Risk,
So you are saying even with the proper tools having a black/green mamba isn't a risk?

Bartman · 08-18-03, 07:52 PM

why would someone jump off a cliff. Its all about the thrill. I dont own hots myself but thats what i would think.

Gregg M · 08-18-03, 08:54 PM

If you are into hots for the thrill, you are in it for a very wrong reason....... It is not about the thrill...... It is for the love of the beast....... There is nothing macho about keeping hots........ It is more like evolution......... I feel that I progressed into keeping hots....... It is something that I earned by doing a ton of research and thinking....... Hots are serious animals and should be left to the serious keepers, not thrill seekers or show offs........ Just like with anything we do there are risks involved....... Will you not drive because you could get into a bad crash???? Risks are minimized by using the proper tools and staying focused but you can never have 100% safety...... We all know the risk and we still keep these snakes........ We all know what could happen and hopefully most of us will be prepared when worst happens.....

little_dragon_ · 08-18-03, 09:40 PM

Thankyou for the reply

Mustangrde1 · 08-19-03, 03:57 AM

LiL it was ment more as a joke but like . You take more of a risk getting in a car or an elevator or walking around in a construction site . The risk is minimized with all the precautions you take before working with the animals. Now I 100% agree with Gregg on thethrill seakers. This is not for anyone wanting to be macho or sshow off or looking for a thrill.I met and spoke to many keepers at daytona and you will be hard pressed to find a better eduated group of people.These are people you would want as friends and neibors.Hard working people with reponcibilities alot have families and take every precaution possible.

reptilesalonica · 08-19-03, 04:35 AM

Venomous snakes came into my Herplife last 1+1/2 year. My 1st was a Taylor's cantil. I was amazed by this animal. I found it was so much interesting observing the differencies between a venomous and non venomous snake.
This snake is extremely fast, probably one of the fastests hot!
In a blink of an eye can move forward 30 cms or more!
Of course this is not a snake for a 1st timer in hots, but having that natural skill with animals from childhood, was easy for me in the next few days understand the limits of this snake.
Knowledge is the key to the 1st step of safety when you have to do with venomous snakes.
Knowing each species' limits and knowing yours is the 2nd.
I don't want to pet any ears and make it sounds like it's easy owning venomous snakes. It's not and venomous snakes are not for everyone-not claiming, on the other hand that i am something special, but i see irresponsible people a lot, people who more easily make more mistakes than others in their lives and i would never gave them a hot snake.
These people must shadowing close to a serious Hot keeper, before they decide to add a venomous snake in their snake collection.
Knowledge BEFORE owning a venomous snake, acceptance of the limits of both owner and animal and responsibility are the musts for any hot herper, newby or experienced.
~Greg~

BWSmith · 08-19-03, 07:55 AM

Why do we keep venomous snakes? That question is not as clear cut as you may think. Venomous snakes are one of the most feared and misunderstood animals on the planet. There is no doubt that they are very dangerous creatures. So are big cats, bears, raptors, sharks, and the list goes on. I think the question would be more suited to say "Why keep them privately?" than "Why keep them in your ouse?". This encompases most of us. But you rarely see these other predators in private care. Why are the snakes kept privately and big cats are not (to the same extreme). The long and short of it is that they CAN. Snakes are much more condusive to private ownership than bears, for example. So now that we have established that the logistics of keeping venomous is much more viable than other "dangerous" animals, it should be easier to understand. There are tousands of people around the world that work with dangerous animals. Yes, some are cocky thrill seekers. But many have a true love and fascination of the creatures. There are people that will spend their entire life studying snails or a plant. I cannot understand the fascination, just like most cannot understand mine. It is difficult to explain. They are so different from nonvenomous. It is like adifferent world. They require a different mindset, discipline, and knowledge. They require you to learn as much as possible. Husbandry is just one small aspect of venomous herpetoculture. Most hot keepers I have met have knowledge of venom and envenomation than a hundred doctors. it is neccessary to safely care for them. Most keepers have probably tousands of dollars worth of specialty caging and equipment. The entire room is generally modified. When you walk into the Hot Room, your mindset has to change. Great knowledge has been gained from private keepers. Private collections boast species that are rarely found in zoos or are disappearing from the wild. Many keepers take every opportunity to educate the public about the beauty and neccessity of venomous snakes. I would venture to say that 90% of venomous displays at nature centers and the like are from private keepers. I display at numerous "Snake Days" each year. It is generally myself and a couple other private keepers. It is not like going to a zoo. Here they get the opportunity to see them closer and actually speak to experienced herpers and ask questions. Far more informaive than any zoo, and far more effective for conservation. We, as venomous keepers, have passion for the animals condemned by society and humanity. We admire their majesty and power. We take the risks we do (and accept those risks) because it is something we feel we have to do.

Venomous herpetoculture is not hobby, it is a way of life.

fatboy · 08-19-03, 08:34 AM

BW that almost brought a tear

. Truthfully, well said.

chas*e · 08-19-03, 05:26 PM

Venomous animals(snakes) are just another "wonder".... good for some and not others.......most are not any more dangerous than a grown Retic or a Burmese Python .....

Mustangrde1 · 08-19-03, 06:42 PM

Well i think brian just said it all, what happened to the short post brother.