how do u guys...

remsin76 · 06-05-03, 11:07 PM

hey i dont have experience with venemous creatures but do you guys handle your snakes, liek a person would do wiht something liek a boa??? or are they mostly for show ?? are there any venemous snakes that make great pets?? thanks

unBOAlievable · 06-06-03, 12:51 AM

No!
Responsable venomous keepers do not handle there snakes like a boa. There are certain procedures and specialized tools for working with venomous reptiles.

When the reptiles are handled it should be for medical reasons not for show.

There are no venomous that should be termed as pets. I do become attached to them and care greatly for there wellbeing but they are not my pets. They are treated with great respect, I like having all of my fingers and the use of my arms and not to mention living.

Matt · 06-06-03, 06:51 AM

i think eveyone would agree that hots are alot different than non venomous snakes, they are absolutely not pets....you cannot interact with them like you could a cornsnake

BWSmith · 06-06-03, 07:24 AM

Alot of patience, respect, and handling equipment. The second you trat it like a boa, bad things happen.

Mustangrde1 · 06-06-03, 03:15 PM

well that about covered it all. they are beautiful animals and wonderful to look at but handling one without the tools could be a fatal mistake.

Gregg M · 06-06-03, 06:21 PM

Anything that can kill you would not make a good pet........ I think it is safe to say that most if not all of us here use the proper tools to handle our venomous snakes....... Tools used are hooks, grabbers, clear tubes, rubbermaid containers, pinners(in some cases), face shield( for spitters), Heavy work gloves, Shin gaurds, and so on........ I may have missed a few things....... It would be pretty much suiside to treat a venomous snake like a boa....... One bite from some species is enough to kill someone pretty quick...... And if you do not die you will be missing a finger or two at best........ Is it worth it to free handle hots???? I dont think so....... But there will allways be a few ignorant people out there that think its cool to do it......

remsin76 · 06-06-03, 11:53 PM

so what domost of u guys do with ur snakes? use them for medical research? show?

Mustangrde1 · 06-07-03, 06:59 AM

Remsin76

very few people actually do medical research.Most of that type of work is done with high quality labs. As you need to have very clean and steryl conditions to be assured you that there are no contaminates in your venom. It is called "VENOM PRODUCTION" this is done for medical research and to make antivenom but again it is normally done in a controled clean area.

I think most the keepers on here keep them for personal enjoyment , others keep them for educating the public and some sell them some breed them for sale also. Venomous keeping is is a hobby like keeping non-venomous . God I know im asking for it for that. { Disclaimer/Warning} " Keeping of venomous snakes require many years of traning and time and patents and not for a begginer or enexperianced person and should only be done after qualified instruction." think that should save my butt from a few people's comments lol.

Maybe Cobraman or Brian can get more into the educational and venom production aspect of keeping Hots.

Ok now i have to get coffee before I keep typing on and on lol

SCReptiles · 06-11-03, 03:31 PM

There are hot keepers who believe in free handling venomous snakes. It’s mostly frowned upon in public forums, but it’s a part of the venomous sub-culture. It kind of breaks down like this. Herpers are a sub-culture among the general population. The general population thinks herpers are insane and often casts dispersions on them. Venomous keepers are a sub-culture among herpers. Normal herpers think venomous keepers are insane and often cast dispersions on them. Free handlers are a sub-culture among venomous keepers. Free handlers are considered insane by normal venomous keepers and they often cast dispersions on them. Do you see the cycle here? There was some very interesting pictures of freehandlers and discussion on the SHHS speakout page last month. If you are interested in the subject, check them out at http://www.venomousreptiles.org/speakout/opinions/59

SCReptiles · 06-11-03, 04:08 PM

Claims freehanling is better for the snake. Says his gabbys are over 15 years old.

I need to give a disclaimer that I do not promote freehandling. I am just simply letting you know it is out there.

BWSmith · 06-11-03, 05:56 PM

My opinions on free handling hots has been well documented. Too tired for a rant tonight

Mustangrde1 · 06-11-03, 06:25 PM

Hmmm wouldnt want to be the receiving end of that venom. Or for that matter any, i still think the right tools are the best way for my safty. I know someone who free handles certain hots well umm he knows who he is lol. Stick to my guns err hooks

Gregg M · 06-11-03, 06:38 PM

I really dont want to get into this but I am forced to do so because it is in my face....... The person doing the handling in that pic is either real stupid or that snake is a void....... In either case you should not have posted that pic....... I am suprized you did not jump all over this one BW....... Again another fool trying to ruin what I have worked for....... He will get bit some day and it will be soon if that how he handles hots....... And a bite from a gaboon that big will take a few fingers without a problem....... Even if he started a drip 10 minutes after a bite he is loosing something....... I am willing to bet that snake is a void...... Too bad that snake didnt get to me before it went to a hack....... Please do not post anymore pics like that if it is possable....... I understand you put the disclaimer and all but it is still not a good idea to post stupidity like that........ Thanks.....

Gregg M · 06-11-03, 06:44 PM

If that gaboon is over 15 years old why is it so small...... My 5 yearold is over 5 feet........ 5ft 4in to be exact..... She is pictured in a couple of post below.......

BWSmith · 06-11-03, 08:34 PM

Now I have known several people that have freehandled. I have NEVER met one that freehandled all the time. They still used a hook or tongs on occasion if not most of the time. My question is WHY FREEHANDLE when tools are there? It is not logical. Is it the fact that the handler is loser to death and it is a rush? Is it to show off? (The pic is simple showing off to drunken buddies it looks like to me). Freehandling islike Russian Roulette, you may get away with it for a while, but eventually you will lose. While on that image (which is not new to me), what happens if that Gabby gets nasty? No handling equipment and a pissed off Bitis? Sure don't sound like fun to me! How would that creature be secured? His buddy with the dumb grin gonna pick it up after it bites him?

The bottom line is that venomous husbandry is dangerous enough. Why would anyone take 10 times the risk by free handling? Think of it this way: Being on a SWAT team is VERY dangerous, people thinkthey are crazy. But they have the right tools. Does it make sense for a SWAT member to raid armed coke heads with no weapon? Even in the most dangerous professions, there are safety measures to lessen the risk and there are proper tools for the job. Not using proper procedures or proper tools or, worse yet, HAVING them and taking unneccisary risks is not logical, tough, or impressive. It is unneccesay and a stupid risk that begs the question of common sense. I have yet to hear ONE remotely viable reason for freehandling.