need advice

so i've been wanting to get into hots for a couple of years now and i want to know what steps to take before getting my first hot. any advice or recomendations will be appreciated. btw i am looking to get a gabby and/or a rhino viper.

my advice...get lots of antivenom. for the "just in case" times during handling, if there is any.

In Florida there are lots of hot owners. I would first contact some and see if they can mentor you. If I am not mistaking you have to have some many documented hours under a mentor before you can get a venomous snake permit. That is the first step. They will teach you what you need to know. Try contacting Matt Crew at Victory Reptiles.

you need to find a mentor that wil let you work with them. Or else they wont allow to get the permit for hots. And dont get careless that leads to very painful bites and very very expensive hospital bills.

Florida has one of the most interesting systems for venomous permits. I don't know much about it, but I know you have to have something on the order of 1,000 hours under the supervision of someone who is licensed I believe.

http://myfwc.com/RULESANDREGS/Rules_Captive_index.htm

I hope that helps.

Thank you all. I will be starting on my 1000 hours of training with the Army Rangers this summer and I can't wait.