im not bashing venomous snake owners but...

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.

I don't own any venomous snakes, but I can certainly see why people would want to own them. I'm sure some of them own them for the "fear factor", but the majority of them probably appreciate their beauty and the type of snake. There are some gorgeous hot snakes out there!

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

The patterns and colors on my rhino viper aren't seen on any non-venomous snake. Theres no thrill factor that I may get bit and die but I get a kick having this beautiful specimen.

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. Talk about excitment. But no, I keep the snakes I like venomous or not. I know a lot of people that have kept hot snakes for more then 40yrs and never been bit. Then you get people that are just asking for a bite. 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. I hear all the time" I was in a hurry and the snake was on the other side of the cage, so I just tried to grab the water or poop and got bite." If you dont have the time leave it till tomorrow.

I love my eyelash vipers. They are amazing, so much different form ball pythons. If you have not experienced keeping hots you will never understand why people keep them. They are much more advanced then your nonvenomous snakes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by xdeus

I don't own any venomous snakes, but I can certainly see why people would want to own them. I'm sure some of them own them for the "fear factor", but the majority of them probably appreciate their beauty and the type of snake. There are some gorgeous hot snakes out there!

---

Sooo true broski! 90% of my friends are like why do you have snakes?! To each his own is right. BUt some choices are clearly smarter. Buh what is a sexier than a monocled cobra?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jzoot3d

Buh what is a sexier than a monocled cobra?

---

A spectacled cobra :P

These guys pretty much hit it on the head.

Herpetoculture is all about experiencing reptiles and amphibians. It's about caring for, raising, keeping, and propogating these creatures. Just because an animal is dangerous doesn't make it no longer worthy of experiencing, it just means those experiences must be much more controlled than draping your corn snake across your forearm.

There is no difference in the questions:
"why would you keep reptiles?"
"why would you keep snakes?"
"why would you keep venomous snakes?"
"why would you keep monitors?"
"why would you keep frogs?"
"why would you keep caimans?"
"why would you keep alligator snapping turtles?"

The answer is all the same, even if some pose various degrees of danger, or are less suitable for handling than other species.

Technically you could say the same thing about many animals that we keep as pets. Horses are a good one that comes to mind. More people are killed by horses than pet venomous snakes. Yet no one goes "You're CRAZY! Owning a horse! Those things could kick you in the head and you'd just DIE or be crippled!!"

People ride dirt bikes or motorcycles, jump out of perfectly good airplanes, keep venomous snakes, own horses, drive cars on the HIGHWAY!!!!

Many things we do, and many animals commonly kept are technically able to kill you. It's how you handle it, how careful you are and what you love. Keeping venomous snakes should be no more dangerous than keeping a horse, when you think about it. And TECHNICALLY you put yourself at far mroe risk walking around a horse than if you're properly handling a hot, with hooks/tongs etc. Yet people walk around horses all the time, because they are 'tame' and 'domesticated' and 'beautiful'. They still kill folks, sometimes just because something startled them.

It's all different strokes for different folks.

I am a fan of Venomous herps and one of my first forays into the snake world was a Bothriechis schlegelii or Eyelash Viper. I though it was just the bees knees and had her for almost 5 years before she went to live out her days at the Nashville Wildlife park at Grassmere. I find one of the most beautiful animals in the world to be the Bitis nasicornis (Rhinoceros Viper). I mean do a google search on the Rhino Viper and you will see all sorts of color. You do have to know that at any moment there can be a lack in judgement and you could be hurt or worse killed. Hence why the boss says we cant have any at all.

thanks you guys! all your responses were helpful. im grateful no one got defensive...yet. as i said before i'd been taught to believe that venomous snakes were somethinhg to be greatly feared & left alone but then i recently discovered via this forum that people actually own them! i was like "whoa! venomous snakes? really? why?"
i thought there was a thrill factor there...like people would be like in a coversation of, i own a dog...i own a horse...i own a ball python & then someone goes "yeah well i own a freakin' cobra!"
ya know what i mean? is it really like that?
or am i just spinning up weird concoctions in my head?

Of course there's SOME owners of hots that just own them for the thrill of saying "I own a cobra", just like some snake owners, even if it's just a "lowly" cornsnake, will own it just to be able to brag "I own a snake!". Some folks will own a pit bull so they can look big n' bad. Some girls own horses just because they feel special by owning a horse(there's a whole psychological thing behind young girls loving horses BTW, I've totally ticced off some ladies laying all of it out to them too!), and some people feel a thrill owning a large monitor like a Nile or Blackthroat.

But in general I think most folks own pets because they genuinely love the animals. Venomous reptiles are every bit as gorgeous and facinating as the nonvenomous species. Owning a horse vs owning a pony? Owning a motorcycle vs owning a minivan?

Just like some people only own a snake in order to get to see a rat die every week, but it's not necassarily the "norm" for snake owners. Most people who have owned hots for more than say... a year.. seem to be genuinely a lover of the animals for themselves, not for any status or thrill of owning a dangerous animal. I think the ones that are just thrilled at thinking they gain status by owning something considered "dangerous" are the ones that get tired of them and get rid of them eventually. Sort of like people owning a tiger for the big thrill... vs those that love tigers and want to have and care for them because they love the species for itself.


** No offense to any cornsnake owners, I love corns too. Just using them as a classic example of a "totally harmless" snake. Don't get the pitchforks and torchs, I'll just hide until you get bored and stop looking for me.

I want two, for the beauty of the animals.

But respectfully, I won't get any until I move to my own place.

ah i see, so it can be a thrill seeking thing for some. i think the irresponsible venomous snake owners are stupid. im not gonna say they deserve to get tagged cuz i would never wish that kind of pain & agony on anyone.
now the ones that are using them to milk the venom for antivenom for hospitals - thats a noble cause. my hubby was reading what i was saying & brought that up, thanks dear.
im bashing the irresponsible venomous snake owners in this post NOT all snake owners, so please read this post again carefully if you think im bashing you.
thanks to all that have responded with the intent to educate me. i appreciate it.

Well, by that, all irresponsible snake owners in general are stupid, whether it's venomous or non. Hot owners are really no different than any other owner.

And if the person isn't milking for venom, that doesn't need to mean they aren't responsible owners, which I don't think you're trying to imply, but your post kind of seems to say. Plus, if they are milking venom but being irresponsible at the same time, it's still bad.

i wasnt trying to imply that if they arent milking venom then they're irresponsible...that was not my intention. i was just making that milking venom statement cuz my hubby brought it up to remind me that some people do that. thats all.

I was always curious about whether or not hots can be "handled"? I know that they can moved with a hook and all, but do keepers ever get to actually lay thier hands on anything other than their hots' tails? I have great respect for people that successfully keep hots. I know I could probably never do it, but thanks to them, I get to see beautiful pics and possibly even get to admire them at shows.

i know they get handled when milking venom. other then milking venom i highly doubt hots can be handled like a non venomous snake. i just dont think anyone who owns a hot would think twice to do it cuz of the high danger risk it poses, unless they have backup, alot of antivenom & several emt's standing by.

just wondering, not to highjack but why, are hots, wilder than normals, if they were handled since birth, but i wouldn't take the chance, even a puppy dog tame bp, can still bite,

I know a handful of people who keep hots and of them the only one who ever lays a hand on their animals is the Carl and he extracts the venom for medical purposes.

I know that one day I would like to own two types of venomous reptiles, a gila monster and a LA phase copper head. I love the look of the gila monsters and I think the LA phase copper head is the most beautiful snake on the planet. But if I do ever own a hot I will NEVER touch it.

I've kept many reptiles over the last 20 years. I've always loved the venimous snakes too, particularly the Albino Monocled Cobra. But I don't feel as if I have the technical knowledge or ability to own these snakes. It is a really big commitment. One that I'm not sure I have. I'm not sure I will ever feel like I'm ready for a venomous snake, but I love them.

But I would hope that anyone looking at owning one of these snakes, look long and hard before making that purchase.

Jim Smith

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.

Quote:

---

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.

---

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

Quote:

---

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.

---

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.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MKHerps

I love my eyelash vipers.

---

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.

Quote:

---

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.

---

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.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by redpython

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

---

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

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by redpython

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

---

Ummm... not sure I follow your logic... So we are only allowed to be fascinated and enjoy observing/the husbandry involvement of non venomous snakes? But the minute that our fascination falls into the realm of hots, its only because we are trying to be cool/have an ego? And I'm not asking that rhetorically. Seriously, do tell what your logic is behind that statement.

Pretty sure there is quite a large community of keepers who are incredibly knowledgable and passionate about hots that would disagree with you..

oh..no no no that's definitley NOT what i intended to sound like. if keeping hots suits someone then more power to 'em but i was just ASKING if that was the reason behind it...it was a question...did i forget to put a question mark there? oops my bad, lol.again it was meant as a question...
please forgive my poorly phrased post.

People keep hots for the same reason people keep non venimous snakes... because they are amazing animals and it is a pleasure to work with them. Some, like me, want to avoid the risk (at least at this stage) that comes with keeping venimous snakes, but hot keepers are just like you and me (for the most part, lol).

Justin

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mommanessy247

oh..no no no that's definitley NOT what i intended to sound like. if keeping hots suits someone then more power to 'em but i was just ASKING if that was the reason behind it...it was a question...did i forget to put a question mark there? oops my bad, lol.again it was meant as a question...
please forgive my poorly phrased post.

---

I wasn't directing that at you. If you'll notice, I quoted redpython and was replying to him directly. Your initial question was fine.

Quote:

---

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

---

I dont own hot or want to for safety sake but some gaboon morphs are some of the most amazing looking snakes i have ever seen.

This is just one reason we keep hots.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...ylori_jpeg.jpg

Those are some really nice taylori! Agkistrodons are definitely some of my favorite hots

The one one the left is actually a hypo. These are not my snakes. These belong to a very good friend. His bloodline is the only pure hypo taylori. The colors are amazing and I thought the photo would be a good representation of why we keep hots. It has nothing to do with a thrill. They are just another snake, with different physical characteristics. If any of the people on this thread( that have bashed hot keepers) would take the time to learn more and work with hots they would have a hole new outlook on the topic. But by no means am I asking inexperienced people to just go out and start working with a venomous reptile to see what I mean.

thank you all for educating me. im thinking a little bit differently now about hot keepers and hots. im still fearful of venomous snakes but its more of a respect-fear. i thought my way of thinking about this issue was wrong and its been proven here that it was, so i appreciate the educational info i got. thanks again.

Quote:

---

I think the irresponsible venomous snake owners are stupid.

---

I think irresponsible owners of any animal are stupid...

I agree with a lot of people, I don't think it's about the thrill. I have a lot of reptiles just because they are pretty. If my barred tiger salamander was venomous, I'd still have him cause he's just soo adorable, with what and his permanent smile and all :D

Quote:

---

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

---

I have to agree gaboons are gorgeous! and well the owning of hots well the responsible owners more less respect admire and love everything about them sigh

I don't own any venomous snakes...yet...but I thnk the main reason why people keep them is because they are simply BEAUTIFUL animals to watch, keep, feed, breed and take care of. Soem epople own hots for medical purposes, supplying venom to medical facilities.

Not that I would ever keep one...but most I've seen have been kept in gorgeous naturalistic setups. I think that really adds to their beauty. Not to mention you can observe their behavior and beauty.

I can see why some people (breeders, research, etc) have to keep snakes in tubs, but I LOVE to see them, and I find them much more attractive in a somewhat naturalistic setup.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zina10

I LOVE to see them, and I find them much more attractive in a somewhat naturalistic setup.

---

Not only that, but I find that bio-active substrates keep required interaction much less frequent.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jzoot3d

Sooo true broski! 90% of my friends are like why do you have snakes?! To each his own is right. BUt some choices are clearly smarter. Buh what is a sexier than a monocled cobra?

---

rhino viper has to be hands down the most amazing looking snake out there there a few other vipers too that are prety inpresive. i dont know im not really a cobra fan on the look side they need more color , i will say the first time i heard a king cobra growl i was very impresed with that.

One thing I hate is those that put their HOTS under the knife to better suit their needs.

If you cant handle a HOT then you shouldnt have one period. Were not here to alter wildlife to better suit our needs, especially their body which is natural to them.

When i kept my Cobra never once did making her a venomoid come cross my mind EVER.

They are not for everyone and should be left way they were meant to be. Especially not all venomoids are 100% free from venom to where some still can produce small amounts.

Some keep them and milk them to make anivenom some keep to admire then each to his own. But if i had a choice of owning a venomous snake id get getting trained by a experianced HOT keeper. id love to own a gaboon and a king cobra. Gaboons are just s beauty, and the king cobra is just a pure amazing snake very calculating and intelagent speciman.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dundee

Some keep them and milk them to make anivenom some keep to admire then each to his own. But if i had a choice of owning a venomous snake id get getting trained by a experianced HOT keeper. id love to own a gaboon and a king cobra. Gaboons are just s beauty, and the king cobra is just a pure amazing snake very calculating and intelagent speciman.

---

2 reasons why most dont get king corbas and gabbys is they are more reluctant to eat rodents. Their diet consists of other snakes but they can take rodents here and there. As for Gabbys i believe its due to their larger fangs and having the fastest strike of all venomous.

I would be all over a baby king if I could find one that is one a rodent diet. BUt as rich stated there very hard to come by that are on a rodent diet. It justs costs a bit more for a snake diet then a rodent diet

And also with gabbys that seems to me on of the more popular venomous animals people own. Almost every collection I see posted usually has either a rhino or a gabby in it. And 90 percent of all the posts from keepers that dont keep hots usually say one of those are there favorites. I cant wait to add some gabbys and rhinos to my collection. Im hoping to start adding to the hots in feb/2011.