Keeping !!!!!! HOTS!!!!!!

Does anyone here have experiance keepings hots. I was reading in the new copy of Reptiles Mag. that they think monicale cobras, death adders and eyelash vipers are good hots to start a beginner out on. Personialy I think that those kind of snakes should never be handled or kept by a beginner, if you want to keep hots then you should spend time with someone that has them and learn from someone that know how to handle and keep these type of amazing creatures for your safty, their safty and anyone that happens to come with in 50ft of you and the snake. What do you think

Waay off topic for the forum section where posted. Moved to appropriate section.

um never had a hot and probably never will. i am scared of them and probably would never handle them if i owned one making it stressful for the snake during cleaning time so i will observe hots from afar.

I really think that anyone dealing with venomous snakes, should get experience hands-on from a VERY experienced keeper before buying their own hot snakes. It'd be awesome if someone gave classes on venomous snake ownership. Anyone who just goes out and thinks they can take care of a hot snake with no hands-on prior experience around an educated handler, is nutty IMO. I would not play around with inanimate objects that have the potential to kill, such as firearms or explosives, unless someone showed me how and supervised my first attempts! Let alone a not-always-predictable living thing.

If you r gonna try it, spend some time with a hot keeper. Try some copperheads, and work your way up from there. I was also taught that a tree viper, will stay on your hook better. But still have a broad strike range. They all do. I also believe in allergies, like if you have bad reactions to bee stings, stay away from hots. Keeping HOTS is exciting, but a BIG RESPONSIBILITY, for yourself, and everyone around you. It not like a bp gets loose. And check your laws too!

Agreed. I thought the last Hots issue of reptiles was extremely careful about this aspect of herp keeping though (at least the one 3 years ago was, I don't have this year's issue), and emphasized contact with experienced hot keepers for a long period of time before purchasing one. Perhaps what they meant was that they are good beginner snakes *for hot keepers*....not for herp keepers in general. I adore the looks of some hots, but I have scant experience with them, and refuse to get one until I've had at least a year under an experienced hot keeper's wing.
Also, a reputable hot dealer won't sell to an inexperienced keeper that doesn't know what they're getting into. I'm sure some people *will* because it's a quick buck, but the good tried-and-true breeders just won't do it.

why don't you watch VENOM ER then decide....lol

Yeah, but doesn't the doctor from venom ER own rattlesnakes? But of course he is very experienced with them.

i don't mean don't get um cuz of that....just food for thought. like i never got hit(knock wood) but have been struck at many times. i knew that taking a hit would suck, but after watching venom er...i realized WOW that could have been me if i got hit. its just unbelieveble what a litttle venom could do. some of those people were reallly messed up.once in a while when i watch it i think wow i am really lucky i never got tagged. just goes to show the conscequences to your actions or nonactions if you take a hit. andif you are willing to pay those conscequences if you take a hit, then go ahead and get one, just be carefull.

Yeah, usually the people on that show end up okay, but one time this guy didn't respond to the antivenom and he died. It was so sad. :cry: