Man Dies After Being Bitten By Pet Snake

[Zoe]

While like Marisa I don't believe anyone deserves to DIE, I do stand by what I said in that if he thinks feeding with tongs is something special to be doing with hots, then there was something seriously wrong in his keeping methods, and it does not make me feel that bad to hear about it. It was an accident waiting to happen - everyone should learn from it. Unforunately, though, he cannot.

Of course, as stated, the press is not the most accurate thing in the world. Mroe information is always appreciated.

And relax on the name calling. Just because I'm not crying after hearing about a 50 year old dying after being bit by a venomous snake he thought he was being carfeful by feeding with tongs, and was obviously a mess waiting to happen (excluding the possibility of misinformation, of course), I DONT think that gives you the right to me scum. <i>I'M</i> not the one wishing death on people, I'm just facing the fact that some people take stupid risks and will pay for them sooner or later.

Zoe

[Mustangrde1]

Zoe , ANYONE dealing with hots that is responcible knows the risk they take anytime they inneract with them.However saying he gets what he deserves is highly insulting and very imature.If he was using tongs and an accident happened its a shame and horrble thing for the gentlemans family.As none of us at the time of this posting knows the circumstances behind it other than what was reported to say he gets what he deserves is flat out wrong.He may have been taking every care and precaution possible and the snake pushed off from the back of its inclosure and made a longer then normal strike and bit him, then it would have been a freak accident .I can list numerous things that may have happened but i won't. I am sure if he died in the line of duty of his job you would be praising him for his life saving abilities and hard work.So please if you cant find it in yourself to show some respect do not post here, even in the most heated debates in this forum we all still try to show respect to one another.I personally find your comments Insulting , Demeaning and immature.You have no clue what happened to this gentleman.

[BWSmith]

if he thinks feeding with tongs is something special to be doing with hots, then there was something seriously wrong in his keeping methods

And you would do what? Dangle it with your fingers? Tong feeding is a widely accepted responsible venomous husbandry practice. These are not 6 inch hemos. I would tread lightly when you start debunking time tested methods as irresponsible. But i will keep looking out for when you post "Venomous Husbandry basics".






And if in some way you are referring to the word "special", keep in mind that was not said by him.

[unBOAlievable]

A man is dead, regardless how he died it is sad.

But aparently some people do not know what "special tongs" are so I will post a pick,

Tongs A are what I use for venomous they aren 40" long
Tongs B are what I use for non venomous

Regardless whether he was using tongs A or B he did not deserve to die.

[BWSmith]

Good illustration Anthony. Perhaps this little SNAFU is just differences in connotation.

[unBOAlievable]

Thanks B.W.,
Just wanted to make sure I was using the right tongs.

That was some mighty big words you used for such a little guy

[Gregg M]

LOL Brian..... Actually I believe Zoe read the post wrong....... The person that was talking about the man who died, said that he even used special tongs to feed his snake...... But I think we are all guilty at one point of jumping the gun when we have not fully read or understood something......

[marisa]

Yeah it was his buddy. That's the part I found humourous and why I shared it with you guys. Aside from the sadness of someones death can't you just see some friend who knows nothing of snakes thinking its "special" to feed with tongs.

LOL it just made me laugh. I don't know why.

Marisa

[Yness]

So in response to reading all of these posts I too am sorry to hear about this unfortunate event. My heart and thoughts go out to this man's family and friends. But a safety question arises, one that I feel would be an appropriate reaction to this event. I do not keep hot snakes but would be very interested to know where one would aquire antivenoms and bite protocol sheets. I think anyone who uses this websited could benefit from that knowledge so if you know I strongly encourage you to post it.

[SCReptiles]

I am sure this guy knew the risk involved when he decided to keep such a snake. If he is anything like the rest of us, he will admit it was his own fault and not the snakes. I met several hot keepers from OH at the venomous show I worded in VA back in June. I can’t say for sure if I knew this guy or not, but it’s always a shame to lose another hot keeper. We are a small enough group as it is. Zoe, I usually back you 100% and you know this, but on this matter you are out of your field. Venomous herpiculture is a whole new world. It’s more then keeping snakes, it is a life-style. Reserve your judgment until you make the switch to venomous. You will be more enlightened then. I can see why the man would say special tongs. He was speaking to the general public. If he had said only tongs, then it would give the illusion that the man was feeding a giant viper with salad bar forks.

[TheRedDragon]

Here here SCReptiles. Well said :thumbsup:

[Zoe]

Ahh yes, I did misunderstand the special tong part. I thought it was meaning that it was "special" to use tongs at all, as opposed to using special tongs.

Thanks for the pic!

[Delighted2b]

Assumptions are being made but the only person who knows what actually happened is the man that unfortunately took the ultimate price for loving his snakes. There is going to be enough uproar in the public about this that we as herp keepers shouldn't be fighting each other and assuming how this happened but should be saying R.I.P to our fellow herp keeper. I'm sure that this doesn't help the situation regarding the keeping of exotic pets. So, instead of nit picking the article and each other... we should learn, respect, and teach the public that "special tongs" can belong to a very experienced keeper.

Danielle

[lordkovacs]

that's right Danielle... nicely put.

[SCReptiles]

that's right Danielle... nicely put.

Lordkovac, have you ever disagreed with anyone? =)