im not bashing venomous snake owners but...

I hope to add in a Prairie rattler in my collection for display. Id love to get a Gabby or cobra again but the Cobra was a handful.

why do people have fish? you can't hold them either but a lot of people have them! why? because they are an add to a room! :) like a way to almost express yourself






lol sorry yes i know i sound insane! :P its just what i think :chew:

In the Montessori school my kid goes to, animals are a required part of the classroom. It is through this personal interaction with nature that teaches children the love and respect for all species of plants and animals.

This is the same for any of our pets. Be it fish, turtles, hamsters, snakes, and even our family dog. The beta fish in my 7-year-old kid's room (that he has 100% responsibility for) teaches my kid that he has the power to affect some other creature's existence. But more importantly, it allows him to experience the rewards of understanding the ins-and-outs of a beta fish so that hopefully, when he grows up, he can have this knowledge to better care for the beta fish as a wild population and even the world of fish as a whole.

I am scared of snakes. It comes from a cultural stigma growing up. We didn't have Steve Irwin then. Yes, it is irrational but even now, owning 7 snakes, I still can't shake it off.

My kids are growing up without that phobia. They have these snakes as pets and they love them and care for them. These will be the people who will grow up to affect change in the environment and in our legislature, etc.

Right now, they are happy to say they own a "venomous" snake - a western hognose. Sure, it's not a constrictor, it shoots venom to its prey, so okay, it's venomous. Of course, its venom is not deadly to humans. But, the interest they have on anything venomous is heightened because of it. They can tell you all about the western hognose and how it subdues prey. You should see their books - they have several venomous reptiles book among their other reptile books and they can recite the contents of that book. They love the zoo where they get up to the glass face to face with a cottonmouth, a cobra, all kinds of vipers, etc. They spend a lot of time at the reptile store who has a venomous reptiles exhibit.

All these is a good thing. I can guarantee you that these 2 boys (under 10 years old) will be strong advocates for the health and well-being of snakes - as pets or in the wild - when they grow up!

IMO venomous snakes are the most beautiful of all reptiles. Definitely doesn't mean I'll house them. I love to see them used for research, education, and medicine. People are are trained in the field to handle them for these purposes. I understand the desire to house them for the simple beauty and presence. People do place themselves at risk in daily life, but many of those are necessary risks that go hand in hand with supporting yourself and a family. Housing a venomous snake is an unnecessary risk that I would never like to place myself or those around me in. Comparing a horse to a cobra, just doesn't quite sync up for me. Now I would compare it similar to a firearm though, and many people do own them...

I understand the desire, I really do. I've housed reptiles for 20 years, but I can never come to terms with bringing anything venomous into my household or within any remote distance. Pretty neat tho to see them in the field though.. I also have the luxury of walking through the reptile house here at the San Diego Zoo when I please because my wife works there. :) I think I've seen just about all of them do their thing.

P.S. To all the venomous snake owners out there, I hope you have good health and liability insurance.

i dont dispute that some of the venomous snakes i've seen here are gorgeous but i was just curious as why ppl would own them as pets if thats what they're doing. i'm all for ppl using them to further medical research when antivenom is concerned...lord knows we need plenty of that, lol.

Same reason people own dogs and cats. Its what we choose to own as a pet. I feel that keeping venomous snakes really is not anymore dangerous then keeping other types of pets. As long as you know what you are doing and your not a moron. There not these evil little creatures that are out to kill you. Give them respect and you get that in return. Most hots calm down quite nicely. Learn how to handle a hook properly.

i dont keep hots (maybe someday) i really dont see any problems with people keeping them. i personally think that cobras are some of natures most fascinating and beautful creatures.

eh imo who cares lol

Because a ball python, no matter what morph, will never look like this:
http://imgur.com/HqmX7.jpg

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Originally Posted by mommanessy247

i fail to understand WHY people feel the need to own venomous snakes. is there a thrill factor to it? you know they can, at any moment of even the slightest carelessness, kill you & the snake wont even think twice about it!
ok this is coming out as a bash & i apologize. but im just having a hard time understanding this issue.
please feel free to correct me but first understand that im NOT AT ALL trying to bash anyone.
again im sorry if this post comes off as a bash. thats NOT what i intended.

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It really is no different from owning a non-venomous animal, however a larger feeling of appreciation and respect is engraved. Owners just want to admire their animals.

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Originally Posted by marbo

Because a ball python, no matter what morph, will never look like this:
http://imgur.com/HqmX7.jpg

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Is that a Gaboon? How beautiful!

I think first anyone who lives in a town house or apartment should not have that right to own a venomous snake. Because if it ever escapes, it now becomes your neighbors problem as well as yours. And if I was your neighbor with my two little girls and something happend to them in my home because your venomous snake escaped its enclosure...... lol good luck is all I will say.

If you own your own single family home on your own property and are expereinced owning hots (Experienced as in you were somebodies apprentice for awhile that owned them) I dont see it as a problem.

I dont see why everyone thinks having an apprentice is the key to venomous snake owning. Just by having a apprenticeship does not make you a better venomous snake owner. Common sense and a healthy respect for the animal does

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Originally Posted by Denial

I dont see why everyone thinks having an apprentice is the key to venomous snake owning. Just by having a apprenticeship does not make you a better venomous snake owner. Common sense and a healthy respect for the animal does

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Not to mention where do you think the top Venomous Handlers learned from. Not everyone had the option of working with someone to teach them. Most snake skills are learned on your own

Some of the most beautiful and fascinating snakes in the world are non-venomous. And some of the most beautiful and fascinating snakes in the world are venomous.

I don't own venomous snakes because I want to be able to touch my snakes and handle them, and if I get bitten it's no more grief than Neosporin, a bandaid, and quite possibly getting laughed at.

But I do understand the appeal. Years ago I cared for a handful of venomous snakes several times when their owner was on vacation. As you can imagine, it's pretty tough to get a babysitter for your gaboons. He had a great setup, went through how to care for them safely over and over, and it went off without a hitch. He lucked out because he got a vacation without worrying about the safety of his snakes or the danger of an escape. And I really lucked out--I got to spend time watching some almost hypnotically beautiful animals.

I might add that the gaboons were well behaved. Not a single one of them showed any signs of aggression. It made me wish that I could unlock the cages and just touch them. I know better, and I didn't. But those are some sweet snakes. I am afraid that eventually the careless, the ignorant, and the out and out jackasses who do not care for these snakes responsibly will make it impossible for those who love these animals and care for them responsibly to keep them.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Not to mention where do you think the top Venomous Handlers learned from. Not everyone had the option of working with someone to teach them. Most snake skills are learned on your own

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Learning on your own involves plenty of trial and error..... The goal of an extended apprenticeship is to reduce the error part of that equation. When keeping potentially deadly wildlife within close proximity to other peoples residences, the small inconvenience of the apprenticeship is worth the increase in public safety.

I have a few choice hot species that I plan on acquiring one day. Really I would be happy with just one golden eyelash viper, but until my children are grown it is not an option.

I disagree. When your dealing with venomous animals there is no room for trial and error. You have to do things right the first time around. Responsibility is the key to keeping these animals. Its not rocket science its truly no different then keeping any other snake species other then Safe handling and secure enclosures. You see alot of people that have kept these animals for years and in some peoples eyes are the "experienced" keepers that others would go to for guidance and they do things that would get a new keeper killed. Some people get comfortable with there animals and take short cuts that new keepers should not take. And I would hate for them to see it while they are under apprenticeship and think its ok for them. Venomous keeping is not for everyone but at the same time its also not very hard to be safe keeping them.

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Originally Posted by Denial

I disagree. When your dealing with venomous animals there is no room for trial and error. You have to do things right the first time around. Responsibility is the key to keeping these animals. Its not rocket science its truly no different then keeping any other snake species other then Safe handling and secure enclosures. You see alot of people that have kept these animals for years and in some peoples eyes are the "experienced" keepers that others would go to for guidance and they do things that would get a new keeper killed. Some people get comfortable with there animals and take short cuts that new keepers should not take. And I would hate for them to see it while they are under apprenticeship and think its ok for them. Venomous keeping is not for everyone but at the same time its also not very hard to be safe keeping them.

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I totally agree that an apprenticeship under a keeper who has picked up bad habits could do more harm than good. And that some keepers do begin to take short cuts after years of being around dangerous captives. I do however think that there is much to be gained by getting instruction from an experienced keeper. For instance I was “self taught” and it would have been nice to have someone around to teach me some things. Like “atheris can strike the entire length of there body, minus about 1 ½” of their tail” this is a lesson that I almost learned the hard way when a hooked squam that I thought was at a safe distance missed my knee by about an inch. But at the end of the day I couldn’t agree more that hot must be kept only by people who exercise by common sense and take every precaution. I think there are far too many keepers that keep hots because they are venomous not In spite of it.

I will gladly answer this question for you as my family has asked me the exact same question a billion times.

Firstly, why own a snake of any kind? This is the root of my family's issues with many of my pets. "They can't bond with you or recognize you, whats the point?" So if you think snakes are ok, but hot snakes are not, then I ask you the same question above....why would one be ok and not the other? Yes it is more dangerous, but so what? And not ALL venomous snakes can kill you...

For me, personally, I like to own snakes (and tarantulas, scorpions, and what have you) NOT because I like to display them but because I absolutely love animals. I genuinely study them. I don't breed my animals, and in the rare case I would attempt a breeding it would be to understand the processes the animals go through, not to make certain genetic babies. I try to understand why they act the way they do; what their behaviors mean; and whatnot. I don't see why any venomous animal is different in any way?

Do you feel the same way about tarantulas? scorpions? or really any other non-bonding non-display animal?

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Originally Posted by mommanessy247

i fail to understand WHY people feel the need to own venomous snakes. is there a thrill factor to it? you know they can, at any moment of even the slightest carelessness, kill you & the snake wont even think twice about it!
ok this is coming out as a bash & i apologize. but im just having a hard time understanding this issue.
please feel free to correct me but first understand that im NOT AT ALL trying to bash anyone.
again im sorry if this post comes off as a bash. thats NOT what i intended.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by mommanessy247

i fail to understand WHY people feel the need to own venomous snakes. is there a thrill factor to it? you know they can, at any moment of even the slightest carelessness, kill you & the snake wont even think twice about it!
ok this is coming out as a bash & i apologize. but im just having a hard time understanding this issue.
please feel free to correct me but first understand that im NOT AT ALL trying to bash anyone.
again im sorry if this post comes off as a bash. thats NOT what i intended.

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I too do not understand why people feel the need to keep venomous snakes. However, I would hope that all of us snake keepers are able to understand how it is to be criticized for keeping certain animals. I'm sure we have all experienced how difficult it is to explain our hobby to those who fear snakes. I have gotten all kinds of people telling me how stupid I am to keep snakes, and all of the snakes I keep are practically harmless. Simply because they do not share my interest and understanding of reptiles does not mean that I am unjustified in keeping reptiles.

While I share your views on the topic of venomous snakes, I am able to respect those who keep them, and understand that they have a fascination that goes beyond my zone of comfort.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mommanessy247

i fail to understand WHY people feel the need to own venomous snakes. is there a thrill factor to it? you know they can, at any moment of even the slightest carelessness, kill you & the snake wont even think twice about it!
ok this is coming out as a bash & i apologize. but im just having a hard time understanding this issue.
please feel free to correct me but first understand that im NOT AT ALL trying to bash anyone.
again im sorry if this post comes off as a bash. thats NOT what i intended.

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I can see why. Because they are the coolest looking of all snakes, and because it something that most people don't have. I might be getting a rattlesnake soon... something like a mottled rock rattler, or maybe a banded rock rattler.

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Originally Posted by FatBoy

Just keep in mind...90% of people out there say the very same thing about all of us..."Why would anyone want a SNAKE as a pet"...venomous or not :) To each his own, I'm not into hots but I have saw very few snakes that are prettier than a gaboon viper!! :O

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you are right that gaboon is marvelous.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_peZ...eature=related
if i didnt have a daughter,family and friends i would have a hot snake.
i guess each person that does have one or some has there own reasons.
i believe most is out of respect and and they worship them like gods.:gj: