Reptile handling course or house visits

[orsm]

Sorry if this has been discussed before. I tried doing a search on this site but couldn't really find the information that I wanted.

What I am really after is information on reptile handling courses especially those involving snakes. It would be great if someone could also show/provide some tips on keeping snakes. Obviously invitations to your homes for personal demonstrations are most welcome.

Thanks for your input.

[pugsly]

were are you based (state / area)

[salebrosus]

If your in NSW there are courses done through the Reptile Barn at St. Mary's. WIRES also do courses but you have to do their basic handling course first which is stuff other than reptiles.

Simone

[pugsly]

also places like kellyville pets do courses for about 70 bucks i think it is

[Bouncer]

TAFE in QLD does em

[PilbaraPythons]

Doe's any body know if that big tosser Jim Stotford is still running the WIRES snake handling course?
No offence to the course as IT is worth doing.

In Victoria www.snakehandler.com.au (Simon Watharow) does a variety of snake/reptile handling courses.

From another post of orsm', i have gathered that he is in sydney.

That is all.

[salebrosus]

PilbaraPythons i think he still might be. They get different people to do the courses due to the different branches. I did mine through the Southern Highlands one as i use to get newsletters sent to me advertising courses for my own branch you can do two months earlier. They put bags of Eastern Browns out in a field to warm them up as it was overcast then stirred them up so we could practice on angry browns. A few nearly got bitten. Since i did the course though i met John Cann and he asked me not to and i promised him i wouldnt ever handle eastern Browns. I haven't either.

Simone.

[dobermanmick]

I never knew they did them at tafe up here Bouncer
Is it basic training or do they offer advanced as well ?

[drapes11]

I am also looking for a course but I am in brisbane. I seem to be having a bit of trouble finding one, does anyone have any information

[Bouncer]

The ITHACA college of TAFE does a Basic Handling and Care of Reptile and Amphibians. It is compulsory to do the course to get the commercial licence but anyone can do it. It's a 3 day course at the TAFE across the road from the Bronco's Leagues Club at Red Hill. And yes you can go on to do the Advanced course that involves handling venomous. I think there's another one after that too.
You can call ITHACA on 131248. The courses are run depending on the numbers interested.
My hubby has done it and he said it opened his eyes to a few things. Well worth the $200 odd bucks.

[tourett]

A Pet Shop owner I know says the TAFE course is a waste of time, he only did it so he could sell reptiles.He comments were that it was very very basic and you do get to handle a snake once to show that you can do it.
Just what he said.
Tourett

[Bouncer]

Hubby has done it & learnt heaps. Out of 18 people doing the course, only he and one other had even owned a reptile. He handled craploads more than one snake, plus monitors and more. He also noticed that those only there so they could sell them didn't seem all that interested in learning anything other than how to pick them up and from my experience in Brisbane Pet shops, most of them didn't take to much notice on that either. I personally think, from what he told me and what I've seen, most of them are only doing the course because they have to, They can claim it on tax and make themselves a bit more money.

[drapes11]

thanks for that do you know what the advanced course involves and whether they teach sexing at all