Training for a Copperhead

[apps567]

I am a relative intermediate in reptile care as I have a leopard gecko, a bearded dragon, and a corn snake. Now, somewhere very long down the road, I want to get a copperhead, no other venomous snakes. Copperheads are just so beautiful. Since I have no previous experience with aggresive snakes, I was thinking about keeping a similarly sizedsnake with a similar temperament for a few years or so. I was thinking of keeping a banded water snake and wearing no gloves or anything as motivation to not get bit and as training for the copperhead. Do you guys think this is a good idea and, if after keeping a banded water snake and not getting bit at all, I would be ready for a copperhead? I heard they were rather sluggish but when handling them I will still be extremely alert dont worry.

[shaunyboy]

hello and welcome

you really should find a " mentor " if you want to get into venomous snakes mate

cheers shaun

[alessia55]

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Finding a mentor (someone who already owns venomous snakes) to train you in proper handling would be better. They will be able to give you more practical experience and they will be better at assessing whether you are ready to own a venomous snake.

[Lankyrob]

Not getting bit by a non venemous snake is NOT training for dealing with a venomous one, get yourself a mentor amd when (if) they say you are ready then you get your own venemous snakes.

[SSSSnakes]

I have been asked to mentor and train people for handling venomous snakes. I have always in the past turned them down, because I do not want to be the one who gets someone killed. Advancing into the world of venomous snakes could be the last thing you do. I have considered mentoring a young man who has worked with me for many years and wants to train for venomous. He has shown great responsibility and dedication. He will most likely be the only one I will ever teach. If you like to look at Copperheads, the are just as beautiful n pictures and a lot safer to view that way.

[GarterPython]

I think getting a difficult snake will help you a little bit on how unpredictable they are but other than that you need to find a mentor that can train you up to handling and owning a venemous snake. That might be a long time away so just be paisent.

[BarelyBreathing]

Just because you've had success caring for a few beginner reptiles does not make you an intermediate keeper. Also, venomous snakes are NOT for intermediate keepers. Venomous snakes are for the most advanced snake keepers only. Get yourself an "intermediate" snake to move up in experience, like a boa constrictor. From there, start getting into more aggressive species like amazon tree boas or green tree pythons. And from there, you get into even more advanced animals like emerald tree boas and Biak green tree pythons. THEN start looking for a mentor. Most mentors won't take on somebody with little experience. They look for somebody who has about ten years experience with a LOT of different species, and they look for somebody who is safely able to handle very fast and very aggressive animals.

[botis]

Certainly, having experience with a wide variety of non-vens will be helpfull, especially regaurding husbandry. However, they will in no way prepare you to handle a venomous snake. They only way to learn how to handle a copperhead is to actually work with a copperhead, the only way to learn how to handle a cobra is to work with a cobra, ect. As everyone else said, it's always best to find someone with experience to show you the ropes. In the meantime, start hitting the books. There is wealth of knowledge available in books, and on the web, if you take the time to look.

[Jay]

Just because you've had success caring for a few beginner reptiles does not make you an intermediate keeper. Also, venomous snakes are NOT for intermediate keepers. Venomous snakes are for the most advanced snake keepers only. Get yourself an "intermediate" snake to move up in experience, like a boa constrictor. From there, start getting into more aggressive species like amazon tree boas or green tree pythons. And from there, you get into even more advanced animals like emerald tree boas and Biak green tree pythons. THEN start looking for a mentor. Most mentors won't take on somebody with little experience. They look for somebody who has about ten years experience with a LOT of different species, and they look for somebody who is safely able to handle very fast and very aggressive animals.

Great advice, although I wouldn't consider a boa constrictor "immediate" I would class them as novice/beginner.

[snake man12]

Great advice, although I wouldn't consider a boa constrictor "immediate" I would class them as novice/beginner.

I would assume it depends on which genus of boa constrictor. Wouldn't you?

[BarelyBreathing]

I'm classifying them as beginner intermediate, because of their size.

[bushsnake]

Venomous were some of my first snakes simply cuz thats what i was passionate about, people will tell ya you need to do this or that but you are the only one whos knows if you could handle a venomous snake or not...good luck to you and dont get bit;)

[SSSSnakes]

Venomous were some of my first snakes simply cuz thats what i was passionate about, people will tell ya you need to do this or that but you are the only one whos knows if you could handle a venomous snake or not...good luck to you and dont get bit;)

Great advice from someone who would free handle a Rattlesnake.(Sarcasm intended.)

[knox]

25 + years of keeping snakes, and I still have no desire to keep venomous.

If I can't hold it, I don't want it ;-)

[bushsnake]

Great advice from someone who would free handle a Rattlesnake.(Sarcasm intended.)
i was kind of being sarcastic myself...see the winking smiley face or did you not get that?

[Dehlida]

15 years of snake keeping, I've been bit a total of 4 times. 2 of those were anaconda bites while handling and working with them, 1 was a king snake yearling trying to eat my finger, one a corn snake that was super jumpy.

I do handle and work with hots from time to time, because I'm extremely confident with my snake handling techniques. The snakes who have bitten me- I knew where going to bite me before I handled them. I never had a mentor, I just kind of learned and worked on it myself.

Certainly I would not recommend you go play with a copperhead after only a few years of species a 8 year old can properly keep. Keep some stuff that will keep you on your toes. Sit and watch hot snakes and get an idea how they act and move, it's a bit different than a non hot.

It can be done, anyone saying it can't is rather dim. You just need to know full on that you are good at what you are doing and very confident in your ability.

[MDT]

Venomous were some of my first snakes simply cuz thats what i was passionate about, people will tell ya you need to do this or that but you are the only one whos knows if you could handle a venomous snake or not...good luck to you and dont get bit;)


Dude....you have nuts of steel. I've managed hots when I was in undergrad at Ok State Univ (3 western diamond backs, copperheads and water moccasin)....I've kept snakes for over 20 yrs. I still have zero desire to keep hots in my collection. I'm with Knox on this one, if I can't hold it, I don't want it.

I will tip my hat to you though, free handing a rattlesnake. Foolhardy, but impressive.

[botis]

Come on, man. How you handle your hots is of no concern to me, but don't post a picture like that on a public forum, where someone who doesn't know any better may try to copy you. Very irresponsible. Most serious keepers view those that freehandle as fools, and a detriment to the hobby.

[SSSSnakes]

Come on, man. How you handle your hots is of no concern to me, but don't post a picture like that on a public forum, where someone who doesn't know any better may try to copy you. Very irresponsible. Most serious keepers view those that freehandle as fools, and a detriment to the hobby.

Well said.

[Will0W783]

Apps567, as others have said, your best bet is to get a mentor and do lots of research. Also, have in place a solid bite protocol. You must fully understand and accept the risks involved. Many people say, "oh it's just a copperhead, it won't kill you." While fatalities from American copperhead bites are rare, they are still a distinct possibility. There is no telling how your body will react to the venom. Also, many hospitals are lax with the bites, because they are believed to be so mild, and will not give you antivenin. Without antivenin, there is a lot of local tissue damage. In fact, because so many bites are not treated, copperhead bites currenlty have the highest morbidity of any venomous bite in the US.

Now, on to your experience. I don't want to appear mean or harsh, but you are NOT an intemediate keeper - the species you have listed are some of the easiest beginner species to keep. I kept lizards for 20 years, and snakes for 8 years, before I thought about hots. I also worked up with aggressive colubrids, and rear-fanged species before getting into full-on hots. I also had a bit of mentoring, and am fortunate enough to have an opportunity for ongoing training with a local, quite famous, keeper.
I would highly recommend that you keep a wider variety of snakes before taking the plunge- there is no going back and it is a deadly serious decision. A false water cobra (Hydrodynastes gigas) would be a good choice. They are strong and muscular, get medium size, and are rear-fanged. A bite will not be good, but not as bad as a viperid bite. Before dealing with a copperhead, or any venomous for that matter, you want to become very skilled and agile with a snake hook. ALL venomous will need to be hooked or placed in trap boxes for handling. They cannot ever be picked up, so you need to become so used to a hook that it is like an extension of your hand. The best way for this is to keep a wide variety of pythons, colubrids and such. A variety of snakes will give you skills with a range of snake weights, lengths and hooked behaviors.


You should also look into finding a mentor in your area. From your post, I gather that you are not looking to go out right away and get a copperhead. You're putting out feelers and asking questions, which is admirable and you are going about things right, as long as you continue to take it slow and build your experience.

[bushsnake]

Come on, man. How you handle your hots is of no concern to me, but don't post a picture like that on a public forum, where someone who doesn't know any better may try to copy you. Very irresponsible. Most serious keepers view those that freehandle as fools, and a detriment to the hobby.
yeh maybe your right, there are alot of people who may think they can free handle a rattlesnake like me....those venomous snakes man all they wanna do is KILL YOU....right?:no:

[shaunyboy]

Come on, man. How you handle your hots is of no concern to me, but don't post a picture like that on a public forum, where someone who doesn't know any better may try to copy you. Very irresponsible. Most serious keepers view those that freehandle as fools, and a detriment to the hobby.

^^^^^
well put mate,i agree entirely

some people are saying you can learn yourself as you go along,and no doubt there are a few people out there,that have got away with it

but any RERSPONSIBLE snake keeper would suggest getting a MENTOR,before entering into keeping hots

they do have the ability to kill if you get bitten

cheers shaun

[RandyRhoads]

I disagree with posting that pic being stupid. "Maybe" a disclaimer just to keep the flaming down would have been good. If someone looks at that and thinks, "Hey that's a good idea having never been near a hot before." They are the stupid one and deserve a darwin award. That's like any other of the billions of pictures on the internet that depict an extremely dangerous act. If you accept risking your life doing something that is extremely dangerous because it's how you want to live and makes you happy, that's your deal. If you need someone to tell you picking up a rattlesnake and holding it is a bad idea, well there's not much hope for you anyway....

[bushsnake]

"responsible snake keeper" whats that?? Every reptile in captivity is there for our selfish reasons(keeping herps in captivity makes you feel RESPONSIBLE, responsible for keeping them alive and thats it, if herps could talk what would they say to that)....how many of you field herp? do you keep your catches? If i had to choose between field herping and keeping herps in captivity id choose field herping but yet id hate to give up my captive herps. Thats what you call being selfish. you cant be selfish and resposible at the same time but thats just my opinion.
"the resposible slave keeper" the slave was so happy to have a responsible keeper
@shaunyboy...i see you like diamond pythons, a species that has been illegally smuggled out of australia...i dont see you being responsible, that photo may inspire someone to smuggle reptiles lol

[bushsnake]

Come on, man. How you handle your hots is of no concern to me, but don't post a picture like that on a public forum, where someone who doesn't know any better may try to copy you. Very irresponsible. Most serious keepers view those that freehandle as fools, and a detriment to the hobby.
pass your judgement onto me, thats all you can do:tired1_2: thats something we all deal just for the fact we keep reptiles in the first place and your no different, i dont need your acceptence

[Roadtrash]

Please listen to all these folks advice before even considering to go hot. As a person who has caught a lot of copperheads and rattlesnakes over the years I have to tell you you never know how one will react when you come around. It may be docile today and very aggressive tomorrow. And it only takes one mistake to maybe change your life forever or even end it. Like they said get a mentor and learn and take into consideration that not only are you responsible for your own life but now you will be responsible for the lives of your family, friends and neighbors if one of these ever gets loose.