Venomous Category?

[Ginevive]

I found it kind of amazing to find out about "venemoid" snkes. They are hots that have had their venom-releasing capability "shut off" surgically. I guess thay block their venom ducts or something. It seems like a harsh thing to do to a snake, just so that some human can have it as a pet.

[Marla]

Eddie, you were wondering if it escape dinto general population? Thats not the issue. Hot s are in the general population in most places. And in most states, the only Hot you can legally have is one that is native to that state. Permits are required for exotic hots in most places. The issue is escaping and endangering you and your family in your home.

However, since you are in Georgia like me, the only hots you can keep without a permit are those that are native but are not pit vipers. That only leaves eastern coral snakes. For copperheads, cottonmouths, edb rattlers, etc., as with exotics, you have to get a permit.

[Eddie_Z]

Very interesting indeed. I would love to hear about this issue from the person(s?) that house hots on these forums. Being that I am native to the Western New York area, we don't have venomous snakes around here. There are venomous snakes in New York, but not in the western new york area. In fact, the only snakes we really even have in WNY are garter & I think rats. The idea of housing a venomous snake is just scary as hell to me!

[freakoverdose1]

Marla, I was going by what this website had stated

http://www.coastalreptiles.com/venomous_laws.htm

it says native are legal, and didn't mention pit vipers at all. BUT... the state of georgia website (http://georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga....nt=6&txtPage=3)
states that coral snakes also require a permit as well as all otehr venomous. I did send the department of wildlife (permit sector) an email regarding this issue. I will post when i hear more.

http://georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga....nt=6&txtPage=3

[Ginevive]

Yeah Eddie, the only snakes I have seen around here (Arcade) are garters and a few brown snakes. Unless you look in our house; then you'll find ball pythons and a boa. But nothing venomous.

[Marla]

Let me know what they say, Freak, because I was going by what I understood from the DNR web site and a local hots keeper, but for all I know he's not fully in compliance.

[JLC]

Ginevive, the issues of venomoids is quite a hot one. (Pardon the pun!!) It seems that people are either very for it...or very against it...and very passionate either way. Personally, I agree with you, it seems far too extreme just to keep a particular animal as a pet. If a person wants hots that badly, they should learn how to deal with them as God made them, or just admire them from afar like most of us do.

[Eddie_Z]

OK Ginevive, if you are in Arcade then we really are not THAT far from each other, all things considered. So yeah, there isn't much in this region outside of the garters.

JLC, I totally agree with what you are saying. If you must have a hot snake as a pet, then learn how to handle & control them as they are. I would not want to take the fangs off of Hissy just because she was a biter. It just isn't right.

In my opinion the keeping of hots in a region where they are not local is irresponsible even if you know what you are doing. It just doesn't seem right to take that kind of a risk. In a zoo where everyone is in the animal control business it is one thing, but for some one to have it in their house is just takin too many chances in my opinion.

[freakoverdose1]

Ok I dont' know what to think of this, but on Animal Planet I just seen a comercial promoting "Venom ER" airing this tuesday at 8pm. The narrator came in with "Venomous snakes, now Homes to thousands of families, this devasting trend is causing devastingly high population in hospitals."

I am gonna watch it because it is very informative of venom and its properties. But, it sounds like its just adding more fuel to the anti-herp society to me.

[freakoverdose1]

im angry now