Elapid Experience.

[-Matt-]

This is aimed at the elapid keepers on this site.

I am looking to get into keeping a few elapids but honestly wouldn't know where to start with getting experience. What I would like to do is get hands on experience with a knowledgable keeper and then do a course to refine and add to the skills that I have learnt, however I don't know anybody in the Sunshine Coast area that keeps elapids...so what I'm asking is how did other ven keepers start out? How did you learn your skills if you didn't know anybody else that kept the animals that you were interested in?
I personally don't believe that just doing a course gives you the ability to safely maintain and handle potentially lethal species and according to the EPA this isn't enough anyway..

What I'm asking is how did you get started and any tips?

Cheers
Matt.

 

[bkevo]

i also have thought this. and with the only elapid course i have known to take place in nsw i was unable to attend.

 

[markars]

it was easier when i was young as i could go and catch animals and start off that way, we caught yellow faces and swamps and kept tham as kids, then i caught a juv red belly and secretly kept it from mum, then just slowly graduated from reds to copper heads(highlands) then tigrs and the weird in between snakes like pale heads and death adders( i say weird cause i dont believe that any other snake gives experience in handling them) , i guess as we caught them in the bush our confidence grew enough to confidently handle them in a caged environment

These days it would be harder as it is hard to find these smaller less venemous items in the hobby.

I dont like those snake courses cause vens tend to quiet in captivity. There is nothing like a "fresh" brown on a thirtyfive degree day in a paddock.

 

[percey39]

I have found the best way to gain experience is just by doing it yourself. Courses can help with the confidence side of things and as a basic introduction to handling some species, but in the end you have very limited time handling them any way.
As you live in queensland i believe you have to attend courses and have people sign some forms.

 

[DanTheMan]

Trouble is you can handle all the wild elapids all you want, but in QLD you need references from people who already hold a their specialist permit to keep elapids. Plus just handling them in the wild doesn't teach you the husbandry requirements for them unfortunately.

 

[-Matt-]

I have found the best way to gain experience is just by doing it yourself. Courses can help with the confidence side of things and as a basic introduction to handling some species, but in the end you have very limited time handling them any way.
As you live in queensland i believe you have to attend courses and have people sign some forms.

I could go out and play around with wild elapids all day (much to the EPA's disgust!) but this will get me nowhere when it comes to keeping them... I need references and to learn what needs to be done in every situation that could potentially arise.

 

[percey39]

Im sorry i was not very clear in my post, what i meant to say is if you know someone on here who does keep elapids or is a relocator in your aera try to get some experience with them. Also take a husbandry course for elapids. I had sessions with a mate and his elapids, he told me i was competent enough and the only thing left to do was get my license and experience it all on my own ( the best experience is your own ). I understand things are a bit harder up there with their systems on keeping elapids, but surely there are people out there that are willing to help others start out.

 

[-Matt-]

Yeah mate I understand what your saying and thank you for the advice.. However what I'm asking is what do you do if you DONT personally know anybody that keeps elapids and believe that a course just isn't enough?
Also relocators in the area are a bit funny about giving others experience as they think that you are then going to take their work.

 

[Kurama]

Matt if there is a herp society in your area would be a good start to ask around there.

 

[Poggle]

Jonno from ERD does courses for elapid reptile husbandry and also elapid relocation courses. Might be worth contacting him.?

 

[waruikazi]

You can handle as many wild vens as you want but it wont teach you how to care for them in captivity. All that will teach you is handling, not husbandry.

 

[-Matt-]

Jonno from ERD does courses for elapid reptile husbandry and also elapid relocation courses. Might be worth contacting him.?

According to the EPA that will get me nowhere as the snakes used are captive and 'calmer' and more 'predictable' than their wild counterparts.

You can handle as many wild vens as you want but it wont teach you how to care for them in captivity. All that will teach you is handling, not husbandry.

Exactly what I have said.

 

[imported_Varanus]

I have recently aquired my Cat:1 Vens licence (NSW) through the generosity of others on this site (and their references), and am booked in for ERD's Vens husbandry course. If you can't find any local referees, try Jonno's vens relocation course and then your eligible for the Vens husbandry course, afterwhich, you will recieve two written references to obtain your vens licence in QLD. Try others on this site in your area, even if you have to travel a bit, as I'm sure many would be willing to help, as I have found!

Cheers, and good luck; it'll be worth the effort, I promise!!

 

[DanTheMan]

According to the EPA that will get me nowhere as the snakes used are captive and 'calmer' and more 'predictable' than their wild counterparts.

That was for a damage mitigation though, might not be the case with a specialist permit. And it wasn't a done deal that the courses wouldn't get you that, she just recommended going to a few local catchers rather than the courses.

 

[-Matt-]

That was for a damage mitigation though, might not be the case with a specialist permit. And it wasn't a done deal that the courses wouldn't get you that, she just recommended going to a few local catchers rather than the courses.

Ah ok, I've misunderstood then. My mistake.

 

[Jonno from ERD]

According to the EPA that will get me nowhere as the snakes used are captive and 'calmer' and more 'predictable' than their wild counterparts.

I'd love to know who you spoke to, as this has been discussed with the Senior Ranger at EPA and he knows the facts. We purposely use as many wild caught, cranky elapids as we can. Email me the details if possible - [email protected]

 

[Ozzie Python]

myself and others have got our venomous licence through ERD's courses. And i can tell you when the heater is turned on there are some cranky snakes you will work with.