keeping venomous

[basketcase]

im the kind of person that needs to experience something to find out if i like it or not

im not sure about keeping vens, i dont know if id get satisfaction out of keeping a snake i couldnt really handle. so my q is to people who keep vens...

what part of keeping venomous snakes do u get the most satisfaction from ???

also a q for those who dont/wont keep them... why dont u ?

cheers, jono

 

[Greebo]

The only venemous snake I keep is a Tiger Snake.
The novelty wears off after a while but they are fascinating creatures to observe first hand.
A Red Belly Black or a Collets would be I good introduction to venemous snakes. I would not reccommend a tiger though.

 

[marc]

for me its the same with all my herp, to collect them, I find that all herps are great, being vens is however is a down side, I know people keep vens because they are vens, its an ego thing. But there is something different in keeping them, cant pin point it but there is.

 

[Robert]

The ven owners i know own a few different types and say they keep buying vens to observe their different behaviour.
I think one of my fav snakes would be the adders.

 

[hey_im_sam]

Someone said recently (it may have been this site :?: ) that you should ask yourself a question: would you want these same snakes if they were non-venomous? I think that's pretty good advice! There are some incredible vens out there that'd be amazing to keep and observe, but if you think you're doing it for the rush of keeping vens then you're doing it for the wrong reasons
Personally, I'm gunna get some in a few years... start with rbb (loved em since i was 5, and first saw one in the bush lol), and some death adders. they're so cute lol

 

[wattso]

The fascination of keeping vens would be for me largly the ecitement of being up close and personal with something that could kill you, much like the thrill of adrenaline from skydiving only with skydiving you can do it and experience it over and over. having a ven, the the thrill would wear thin after a while [you get used to it] then its no longer a big deal. Personally i perfer the thrill remains, every time i handle my python, its a thrill, i enjoy it alot, and I can do that [safely] any time. I'll stick with non-ven and visit vens at reptile shows, reptilepark etc.

 

[zoe]

the fact that they're venomous actually puts me off getting one...i luv the look of rbbs's (and the bf wants one BADLY lol) but i wanna be able to handle them without risking death lol. plus i dont like the escape risk - we would all like to think that our animals will never escape but it's always a possibility, and im not all that keen on having a rbbs roaming around my house lol.

after saying that maybe one day the bf will be successful in convincing me to get one but not any time soon!

 

[Tommo]

i think that u should work your way up the snake chain. start with non vens then move onto docile vens like red bellies then keep on going

 

[marc]

Someone said recently (it may have been this site :?: ) that you should ask yourself a question: would you want these same snakes if they were non-venomous? I think that's pretty good advice! There are some incredible vens out there that'd be amazing to keep and observe, but if you think you're doing it for the rush of keeping vens then you're doing it for the wrong reasons
Personally, I'm gunna get some in a few years... start with rbb (loved em since i was 5, and first saw one in the bush lol), and some death adders. they're so cute lol

most defenately, I for instance look at the Inland Taipan coloration (The one with the back heads and orange body) not much different than some black headed pythons, I have both and both are really beautiful.

 

[Tommo]

dont inlands change color every 6months?

 

[luke]

for me i would have to keep the hands on appeal so vens are out of the question for me

 

[kevyn]

Keeping hots requires a whole new set of skills. It's very challenging and it requires you to be on your game when ever you work with them. There is no margine for error. Everything needs to be planned out. Even the smallest task like changing the water dish, you can't just reach in. Keeping hots requires alot of safety protocols, it's not like a spotted where getting bit is no big deal. My Temple Viper has some very specific needs, and they challenge my abilities as a keeper. I'm looking at adding a Gaboon soon and that is whole other story. What was said is true-would you want it if it wasn't venomous? If you can't answer yes, you shouldn't get it.

 

[varanus]

First off, keeping venomous snakes should not be taken lightly.
Please, before considering adding elapids to your collection, get good advice and lots of it from an experienced keeper.
What Kevyn said is spot on.
There is no room for errors and the keeper has both a moral and a social responsibility to provide proper housing to ensure the safety of others as well as him or herself.
This encludes escape proof enclosures (top opening are safer) with the possibility of adding trap boxes and customising an escape proof room.
Preferably with the cages raised from the floor in the event one did manage to escape.

For feeding time, you must be on your toes. For most snakes, once the scent of prey is detected, anything that moves is a potential target.
You really don't want to push your luck unnecessarily. A large pair of BBQ tongs or lengthy hemostats are good for offering pre-killed prey.
Also watching elapids feed gives a whole new meaning to the word respect. Our female black killed a live adult mouse within 10 seconds and she did not let go once she bit.

All in all, our blacks are beautiful and charactable snakes. Our hobby certainly won't stop here with just a few. We're looking forward to expanding our venomous collection.

 

[kevyn]

I seriously suggest if you ever get the chance to see a Gaboon Viper eat take it. Adults can have 2 inch fangs. They are a very intimidating snake. Great stuff Varanus, actually what everyone has said is great. You too Marc. I always get alot from your posts.

 

[sxereturn]

8 and a half months until my specialist is here, than I'll be getting Red Bellies, Yellow Faced Whips, Death Adders, and Inland Taipans.

 

[africancichlidau]

sxereturn, why?

 

[africancichlidau]

I don't keep hots and that is for the same reason you are wondering about basket. I don't think it is for me to own a reptile or any other animal that I can't handle easily when the need arises.

 

[marc]

dont inlands change color every 6months?

mine retain the same colour thoughout the year