im not bashing venomous snake owners but...

Years ago I kept a juvenile rattlesnake because I wanted the thrill. I was young and foolish. I now would like to own a venomous snake or two as they are extremely gorgeous - copperhead and eyelash viper - but I'm not ready yet. It won't be for the thrill or power of saying I own something that's deadly or dangerous.

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Originally Posted by MKHerps

I keep both hots and balls. I dont keep them at all for a thrill. The thrill I get is going out a 2am and crawling around in the mountains looking for rattlesnakes.

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Yep, herping for hots is exhilarating!! Herping in general is a hoot!

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Originally Posted by MKHerps

You mentioned that the snake could kill you at the first bit of carelessness, and you are right. That is why you follow the rules and dont get careless. If you are in a hurry and cant take the extra time it takes to handle hot carefully, then wait till you have time to it right.

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I believe that's exactly the mindset that one should have when keeping venomous reptiles. No exceptions to that rule and that'll help ensure the best safety.

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Originally Posted by MKHerps

I love my eyelash vipers.

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I loves eyelash vipers!! :sweeet:

I absolutely love hots. I dont have any and the only thing keeping me from having any is not being able to handle them. Being a reptile enthusiest I can fully understand why some people own them. I like to be able to hold and handle all of my reptiles and therefore would not own hots but I think they are amazing and have no problem with those that do keep them.

I think if i had the option of keeping a venomous snake I would theres such a nice variety of colors, sizes, and behavior. Just a thrill

-Payson!

Personally, In the past year I have found myself more and more drawn to hots. I find them incredibly fascinating. Some of their behaviors are so much different than a lot of the non-venomous snakes we are all used to. I currently only own a few rear-fanged snakes in my collection, but will be getting a sexed pair of Crotalus cerastes (sidewinders) later this summer from a guy in my area when his gravid female gives birth. :) Yes hots are a much greater risk of course, but I don't subscribe to the "its not if, its when you get bit" mantra. I am a firm believer that with proper handling and not getting careless or "comfortable" with them you can avoid problems. If you get bit, it was your own fault for doing something stupid 99% of the time.

Even though this might be a late post to this,

It's like saying why would snake owners own pythons or boas or colubrids. We like them, we like owning them, we like their style, attitudes, coloration, morphs, etc. Same goes for venomous snakes. I honestly wouldn't mind owning a venomous species. It's just a part of the snake hobby.

When I volunteer I'm around venomous snakes all day and they are fascinating. Of course I don't touch them, but I see them face to face right through glass. They are really cool and seem like a joy to own, you just have to take those extra precautions to avoid being bitten.

Some people prefer to keep other things, just as we do. Like how some people like keeping dogs, others like keeping cats. Some people keep fish, others keep hermit crabs. Some people keep tarantulas, others keep scorpions.

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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'm not going to read all the posts, but I will sum this up very quickly.

Some of your venomous snakes have the most extraordinary personalities, and being that reason a lot of people keep them.

However, yes some people may keep a venomous snake because it's "dangerous".

My opinion on it, is as long as they have a good amount of experience with snakes, and have done a lot of research on what could possibly go wrong, and have taken the necessary steps if something should go wrong, as well as show the utmost responsibility for these animals, then I support their decision.

EDIT:

What other snakes besides certain venomous species have a rattler on their tail?
What other snakes besides a Cobra that can actually hood up identically?

A responsible keeper never worries about the possiblity of death because you have to get bitten to die and you have to get careless to get bitten. Dont get careless follow the rules. Never get in a hurry with these animals. When there kept right its not really any more dangerous then keeping any other type animal

I don't keep venomous snakes, and I don't know that i would ever take the risk, but I absolutly love copperheads. My college had two of them when I worked there (not with the hots, just with everything else). They were the most beautiful thing there. There are very few snakes that I think are more beautiful than a well colored copperhead. I would love to have one if it weren't for the danger. I have looked and talked to alot of people, and there's really not anything that looks even close to them that is not a hot unfortunatly.

unless you are doing venom extraction or research, it's a cool and/or ego factor.

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Originally Posted by redpython

unless you are doing venom extraction or research, it's a cool and/or ego factor.

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and unless you breed balls or research them its a cool factor.... ;)