What is a really mean nasty snake I could keep, before trying to keep a hot?

[Bellabob]

I read that if you want to get a hot, first buy a really mean nasty snake, keep it for a year, feed it, and take care of it. And every time it sinks its teeth into you, write a note saying "This snake could have been venomous, and if I survived, I would owe the hospital 30,000 dollars plus".

Any suggestions?

[SK_Exotics]

Large ratsnake like the king rat.

[Sammy412]

Your best bet, if you want to keep hots, is to apprentice with a hot keeper, one who is responsible. I did that for 6 months before I was told by him that I was ready. Best thing I could have done, I knew I loved it before I put any money into it, and by the time I got my own I was ready. I also knew how to do it safely and responsibly. I'm not perfect, no one is, but at least if you apprentice and get some experience, you learn the right way to do things. If you start on your own.......one mistake is all it takes. And $30K? My friend got tagged by a wild hot in his yard, not by anything he kept......try $250K. You can still make mistakes if you apprentice, but at least you have a little experience under your belt. Working with a mean, nasty nonven is NOT the same, because you know in your mind it's not the real deal

[xxxLIGERxxx]

Your best bet, if you want to keep hots, is to apprentice with a hot keeper, one who is responsible. I did that for 6 months before I was told by him that I was ready. Best thing I could have done, I knew I loved it before I put any money into it, and by the time I got my own I was ready. I also knew how to do it safely and responsibly. I'm not perfect, no one is, but at least if you apprentice and get some experience, you learn the right way to do things. If you start on your own.......one mistake is all it takes. And $30K? My friend got tagged by a wild hot in his yard, not by anything he kept......try $250K. You can still make mistakes if you apprentice, but at least you have a little experience under your belt. Working with a mean, nasty nonven is NOT the same, because you know in your mind it's not the real deal

agree!

[llovelace]

One of the guys in my Herp Society got tagged by his hot, ended up costing him close to $1M, when all was said and done.

[leper65]

One of the guys in my Herp Society got tagged by his hot, ended up costing him close to $1M, when all was said and done.

Holy Crap!! What tagged him?

[Denial]

Try a coachwhip. Its still not going to be the same but it will at least get you to learn to handle a hook well. Although a coachwhip doesent make me almost pee my pants coming up the hook like my cobra does sometime.

[pilot511]

in FL we need 1000 hours before you can get a permit, and it was a great experience to apprentice someone... a lot of people have said to get a crazy colubrid before getting a hot, but its just 100% not the same.

[Denial]

its not the same but it is nice to know how to properly handle a hook with a fast snake before ever going into venomous.

[anthonym]

I've definitely worked with some colubrids that were far more nasty than any hots I've worked with. One thing I might recommend to, is start out hook training with something like a Boiga. Rear fanged; can potentially do some damage, but the risk is far lower and they can be pretty nasty little beasts