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

[jason_ladouceur]

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.

up here in canada health care is free (althought i'm not sure it would cover any anti-venin you might require). that being said i friend of mine took a hit from a large naja nigricollis years ago and in addition to 12 vials of juice it cost him a finger. in b.c years ago a man who was bitten suffered from anaphylactic shock and payed with his life! i agree that experience with even the meanest rat snake ever born does very little to prepare you for hot snakes. experience gained under the supervision of someone with experience is by far and away the best way to learn. when it comes to hot snakes even speices that are "not leathel" can and do kill people. take care
Jason

[pilot511]

up here in canada health care is free (althought i'm not sure it would cover any anti-venin you might require). that being said i friend of mine took a hit from a large naja nigricollis years ago and in addition to 12 vials of juice it cost him a finger. in b.c years ago a man who was bitten suffered from anaphylactic shock and payed with his life! i agree that experience with even the meanest rat snake ever born does very little to prepare you for hot snakes. experience gained under the supervision of someone with experience is by far and away the best way to learn. when it comes to hot snakes even speices that are "not leathel" can and do kill people. take care
Jason

Well said...any bite to a vein is the end of you.