rattlesnakes

[never25]

hey every one
i have had some experience with some rear fanged stuff and am thinking about getting somthing.... a little more. would a rattlesnake be a good thing to start with?
thx

[infernalis]

Please don't take this wrong Dave, but you are 18 and I would like to see you make it past 21....

Here is a good plan to follow...

Find a mentor who lives close by that has hots and is EXPERIENCED in keeping them.
Spend as much time as you can watching, listening to and assisting with the snakes as you possibly can.

Check and make sure that your local hospital has anti venom on hand for the species you intend to keep, (making rattlesnakes a better choice than say a cobra)

Purchase a cage setup specifically engineered to contain a venomous snake, meaning don't use an aquarium with a screen top, you don't want to wake up one morning and step on your rattlesnake because it got out.

refrain from having any kids while you are keeping hots in your care.

If you are a renter, expect your landlord to serve eviction on you as soon as the snake's presence is discovered.

If you live in a multi unit dwelling, and your snake gets loose, finds it's way into apartment number two and bites someone expect to get sued and lose.

Expect to have bizarre girlfriends, nuff said there.

In other words, keeping hots is better off if you own your own house, you don't have any kids or your children have grown up and moved out.

Spend a little more time working with snakes before jumping in this deep, really it's not a decision to enter into lightly.

[marvelfreak]

Wanye said it perfected. Also check you local laws on keeping venomous snakes. You may have to get permits. No cents in getting a snake then someone find out you have it turn you in and you get a huge fine. Sometime even jail time. In my state having alligator without a permit is up to $3000.00 fine and 3 years in jail. All snake should be treated with the same respect as a loaded gun. And all venomous snakes should be treated with the same respect as a ticking time bomb.

[emseeKAY]

Wayne, again, said pretty much everything, remember that although you have experience with rear fangs, often hots know they have the ability to kill and can be very unpredictable. I would love to own a W. Diamondback but i would study under someone as much as possible before even dreaming of owning one. and besides there are many downsides to owning hots, search around the forum and i'm sure youll find more than a few discussions on the topic!

[marvelfreak]

Also it's hard enough to find a reptile vet and near impossible to find one that will have anything to do with venomous. You get one and it get sick you might as well call it dead. Or be ready to pay a hel- lot more money to get one look at.

[infernalis]

Pictures on the web and zoo displays are the closest I care to get.

Monocle cobras are exceptionally beautiful animals, but I will not try and keep one.

http://www.venomousreptiles.org/data/classifieds/images/27243.jpg

[Will0W783]

I agree with you, Wayne. Absolutely beautiful but I won't keep them.

[Lankyrob]

If i was a batchelor, and a good few years into my snake keeping life. I would consider keeping hots (after the suggested mentoring etc) - but with a family sharing the house would never consider having them - the risk of an escape or someone opening the viv that shouldn't just isnt worth taking in my opinion.

[Terence]

hey every one
i have had some experience with some rear fanged stuff and am thinking about getting somthing.... a little more. would a rattlesnake be a good thing to start with?
thx
If you are seriously going into hots, I think they are a good way to start.
They nearly always offer a warning. Most rattlers are a guaranteed hit if you are in range. IMO, this prevents complacency. Also antivenin is more likely available. Get a local species if possible. This makes releasing them acceptable in a remote location. Since you are 18 you are old enough and smart enough to look up the safety precautions on your own as well as the correct equipment.

Cheers

[BlindOne]

I kept venomous for 10 years, mostly Eyelash and Ceylonese tree vipers plus a few rattlesnakes. I'd highly recommend starting with something like a Copperhead for your first viper. If you do get tagged, it's not likely to be as serious as a big Western/Eastern DB or something crazy like a Mojave Green rattlesnake.

Pygmy rattlers, plus Banded and Mottled Rock rattlers are also awesome and reasonable sized to start with.

You just need to have very secure caging and no desire to play with the snakes.

[Terence]

You just need to have very secure caging and no desire to play with the snakes.
Very sound advice. Well put.

[infernalis]

You just need to have very secure caging and no desire to play with the snakes.

Very sound advice. Well put.


I would hold this true for many snakes, excessive handling is stressful.

[BlindOne]

I would hold this true for many snakes, excessive handling is stressful.

Handling venomous is more stressful for the keeper than the snake, IMO :)

I once had a 8" eyelash viper with mouth rot....holding that teeny snake while giving subcutaneous injections was interesting. She fully recovered and I eventually bred her.

[infernalis]

Handling venomous is more stressful for the keeper than the snake, IMO :)

I once had a 8" eyelash viper with mouth rot....holding that teeny snake while giving subcutaneous injections was interesting. She fully recovered and I eventually bred her.


Congrats on the recovery, now go start a picture thread.

Vipers are some of the sleekest, awsome looking reptiles out there.

[never25]

thanks for all the advice
northern pacifics are native here so i think i may start there
there is a guy localy that has been breeding diamonbacks for some time now
and i think i am going to ask him for some help
thanks again

[Terence]

Please be careful and stay out of range. A norpac hit is a trip to the hurt locker for sure.

[BlindOne]

Please be careful and stay out of range. A norpac hit is a trip to the hurt locker for sure.

+1

pretty snakes though

[emseeKAY]

Handling venomous is more stressful for the keeper than the snake, IMO :)

I once had a 8" eyelash viper with mouth rot....holding that teeny snake while giving subcutaneous injections was interesting. She fully recovered and I eventually bred her.

pics please? :D

[BlindOne]

pics please? :D

Keep in mind that this was at least 10 years ago and dig cameras weren't that great :)

http://venomous.com/webpics/B.schlegeli.jpg

This was my male

http://venomous.com/webpics/greeneyelash.jpg

[never25]

those are some beautiful animals


Please be careful and stay out of range. A norpac hit is a trip to the hurt locker for sure.

will do, thanks for the tip

[RandyRhoads420]

Baby Northern Pacific found in Auburn CA. My new friend "killa" . He's only 3-5 " long.

Never25 i'm up in Auburn ( a few miles from you) just caught a Northern Pacific here so if you can't find one there head this way.

[Freebody]

best of luck with your interest in hots, follow waynes advise he could not have said it better, other posts i have read here also say never own a hot if their is ever a question you ever need to ask anyone as a rule of thumb. their are western diamond back rattle snakes about 1.5 hour drive from my house, i would love to catch one but im not ready by all means.

[percey39]

I dont agree with the motto "if you have to ask a question, then you should not own one!" That is rubbish in my eye's, you will always continue to learn through out your life.If you knew everything there would be no point living.
In husbandry terms venomous snakes are no harder to keep than any python. Its only when you have to handle when cleaning enclosures and health checks, that things change a hell of a lot more. If you believe you are responsible enough and have enough experience i would say go for it. They are amazing animals to keep. Just make sure you have had some experience with some one else who has been keeping for many years, just to show you the ropes and get you started.

[Nafun]

Get a crimson milksnake, tell people it's a coral snake.

No one is going to check.

[emseeKAY]

Get a crimson milksnake, tell people it's a coral snake.

No one is going to check.

LOL that made my day hahaha

[venomousluva]

love to see all the people that keep venomous talk others out of keeping them like as if they are the most exp keeper alive we all start out in a learning process and for someone to come on here and ask multipal questions is good IMO the more you ask and read the more you learn of coarse if the only snake you ever has was a corn snake i dont recommend going out and getting a rattle snake but then again its your life so there are a few things that i do agree with from other posters like if you have kids never put them at risk along with family,girlfriend even pets like dogs,cats you can avoid this with a simple thing we call a HOT room the room needs to be 100% sealed for no escaping residents its going to need a lock on door and a sorce of fresh air or your snakes will clearly die from lack of oxogen the room needs to be big enough for you to move around and work in without tripping over your cobras encloser and having it pissed off with only you to be responable for disturbing it you want good lighting a door with a window is ideal but not a must but being able to have a look inside 1st can be comforting seeing there all still in there cages you want your tools inside and out never enter without a handy hook cause you might not have time to grab one off the wall if something got loose and charges at you anti venom on shows responsibily print out some paper work of all the snakes in your collection incase you have to go to hospital so you can show them what they are dealing with also dont keep in a rented aparment or even a rented home unless your landlord has aproved it cause last thing you need to to get evicted and have to find a place that will take you and your deadly animals owning your own place and being a loser with no family or kids if very helpfull cause puting others at risk for your plesure isnt fair its selfish well i could go on for hours but im not going to dont let others talk you out of getting into hots if its a passion go for it but just make sure you do your reserch 1st and the web is amazing for that find out what your going to do if you do get bit and always start small and work your way up meaning get a eyelash viper as a 1st there small not very toxic but will keep you on your toes before running out and getting a king cobra ,cobras are very smart snakes and can out smart most average humans if you have any questions feel free to message me i wont bash you like alot of internet trolls will i will give you my own opinion based on my own exp ...so be safe and take it slow have everything you need and set up before being home any new residents ... cheers