Snakes Incorporated

[Snakes Incorporated]

What is your opinion on keeping venomous snakes and what do you think should be mandatory if or when an individual does??

[FrogQueen]

MAN, this is one HOT topic...

I have friends that have bred Hots for several years.. I know a sweet old lady with a beautiful copperhead..wish I had the balls to keep, but I just get to admire them from a far.. far away..

Laws?? Whatever the local laws are fine with me. Maybe make sure there is a permit if you are a breeder. And if you are stupid enough to let it bit you..or someone else.. you should be fined!!! And smacked up-side your head!!!

[Snakes Incorporated]

Each country and or province has its own legal framework but in my personal opinion I think that most of this legislation is introduce by the ignorant.

[ReptileMan27]

I have a few freinds that keep hots and considered keeping them myself but glad I didnt. Hots are wild animals that can kill and will try to kill you if given half the chance. I feel their are very few people that should keep them because most really dont understand or are prepared to keep these amimals. A person needs really good cages that are as close to escape proof as possible, they need an escape proof snake room that is locked up. They need the equipment,knowledge,and experience to handle them. Also anitvenom should be kept for every species you keep. Most people cant afford or are not willing to take these precautions.

[Snakes Incorporated]

Yea, I agree that precautions are fundamental but this whole reptile room thing is somewhat over the top.
It reminds me of the 1950`s were people were building underground shelters for nuclear fall out.

[FrogQueen]

The folks I know that breed and keep several hots(including a burm size puff adder).. Keeps all cages individually locked. And most folks I know who breed any snakes have a separate reptile room.. I have only a few animals compared to most, and I have a snake room and a "other herp" room.

As for the wild animal.. ALL reptiles are wild.. and will forever retain wild behaviors. You can tame a snake, but it will still have its instincts. A Hot snake is just as likely to kill you as a large burm or retic python.. or even a large monitor lizard.. True, it may take more than ONE bite.. But it is still a real possibility for anyone owning such an animal..

 Anyone who takes the risk should also take the responsibility.. It is the HUMAN'S fault, NOT the snake. We know better, they don't.

Billie

[Snakes Incorporated]

I concur that if an individual wants to keep venomous he must be responsible no question.
I personally became a little over confident and found my complacency nearly cost me my life last year.  7 days ICU was enough due to a Cape Cobra sneaking a nibble.

I was handling a Capie yesterday were an old friend noted with a smile that I had rekindled my respect for these animals.   

[ReptileMan27]

Yea, I agree that precautions are fundamental but this whole reptile room thing is somewhat over the top.
It reminds me of the 1950`s were people were building underground shelters for nuclear fall out.

The reason for the room is very simple, if one of them escapes and is loose on your house or gets out of your house, not only do you have a loose hot but you put everyone else in the house hold and possibly neighbors in danger. The room is probly the most important things, to many people think its safe and okay to just throw a hot in a cage and put it in your living room. The fact is if you do that then in the case of an escape, you put everyone else in danger. If one escapes in the escape proof room then no one but you is in danger .

[Snakes Incorporated]

I agree that if one venomous critter escapes it can cause a potential problem for the residence so to avoid this the cage must be escape proof and beyond reproach even before introducing a potentially harmful animal into it.
I am not saying that a snake room is not a good idea but personally do not believe it to be necessary if the keeper takes the correct percussions in the cage design and choice.
In my opinion a bomb shelter is a little over the top but if it makes the keeper feel better go with it for your personal well-being.

The comment about a venomous snake getting out and tangling with a neighbour is a stretch because I believe that scenario has never presented itself any were in the world so indicating a very slim chance of this being a reality in the real world.   

[ReptileMan27]

Hots getting out and neighbors finding them has happened, their was one in Ohio(I think) that comes to mind, 2 kids found a gaboon viper in a garage, I guess recently their was a herp show and a bunch of gaboons were sold. The only thing is its not sure if it escaped or the owner let it go. I dont keep any hot snakes but keep many hot scorpions and they stay in my herp room which is a locked room. I suppose if you dont have any kids or anything and your sure the cage is escape proof, it could be fine.