Western diamondback pics.

[Rob]

Yep, of Siri does not know what it is, it must not exist.

I get in a fight with her on a daily basis.

[Skiploder]

Do you always act like a child?

It happens even to the best, like George Van Horn: http://youtu.be/_Gmlc1-d3QQ
Who may I add, has pinned 1000's of venomous snakes.

I'm not giving the OP advice, for me to sound as if I'm knowledgeable. I'm giving him advice, so that next time he doesn't put himself in a dangerous situation, as he's already admitted he is not experienced with venomous snakes.

Apparently giving advice isn't appreciated these days. Looks like some people forgot to take their Pamprin this week.

Later today I will post a pic in which I am holding a boa constrictor with my pinky wedged in it's cloaca. I will post it under a thread called "Boelen's python pics" and will get pissy when people inform me it's a boa constrictor and that holding a snake with my finger jammed in it's orifice is not a good practice.

[jason_ladouceur]

Maybe you should give that advice to your friend! Hope he is ok. I have no idea what an atrox is either. Neither does Siri so it must not be a real species of anything. Is there a common name you can use for us slow folks.

Slow, probably more accurately lazy or ignorant. As has already been stated google is your friend. Perhaps if you spend more than a year in this hobby and your interests grow to more than just what the next exciting ball python morph is you'll begin to understand that common names for different species are a lot less useful than you might think and can often lead to confusion. This thread is a prime example." Western rattle snake", am I talking about crotalus Oreganis, crotalus viridis, crotalus atrox? What if I was to say copper head? In North America most people would think of agkistrodon contortrix, but I could just as easily be talking about Austrelaps superbus. Same common name, VERY DIFFERENT SNAKE.

Your advice is solid - in this case there was no need to pin the snake.

Yep I'm going to have to agree with both skip and crotalus on this one. Pinning a venomous snake is the very last resort for handling hots. It puts the keeper at the most risk, and it's the reason that hot keepers have developed dozens of techniques to avoid doing it. It's good that the op didn't get hurt doing it, but I think it's important for people reading this thread especially those that don't work around hots regularly; understand that there is a bunch of safer ways to manipulate a venomous snake. If for no other reason than in the interest of keeping people safe in this exact type of situation.

[Seanjackmc]

Slow, probably more accurately lazy or ignorant. As has already been stated google is your friend. Perhaps if you spend more than a year in this hobby and your interests grow to more than just what the next exciting ball python morph is you'll begin to understand that common names for different species are a lot less useful than you might think and can often lead to confusion. This thread is a prime example." Western rattle snake", am I talking about crotalus Oreganis, crotalus viridis, crotalus atrox? What if I was to say copper head? In North America most people would think of agkistrodon contortrix, but I could just as easily be talking about Austrelaps superbus. Same common name, VERY DIFFERENT SNAKE.
Lol! I love "google is your friend" I wish more people would say that! Great point on the western rattlesnake confusion. When I read the ops original post I pondered exactly the same thing you did for hours on hours. Not for a second did I think he was just trying to share a neat picture.

Yep I'm going to have to agree with both skip and crotalus on this one. Pinning a venomous snake is the very last resort for handling hots. It puts the keeper at the most risk, and it's the reason that hot keepers have developed dozens of techniques to avoid doing it. It's good that the op didn't get hurt doing it, but I think it's important for people reading this thread especially those that don't work around hots regularly; understand that there is a bunch of safer ways to manipulate a venomous snake. If for no other reason than in the interest of keeping people safe in this exact type of situation.

As Crotalids pointed out already the op was trying to look "macho!" That's the only reason, you don't need to repeat this over and over. I've never handled hots, obviously you have a lot of experience with it. Maybe you can share your hot handling experience with the op instead of simply jumping on the anti pinning bandwagon which was never the intent of this thread in the first place.

[Seanjackmc]

I get in a fight with her on a daily basis.

Siri and auto correct love to mess with me too!

[babyknees]

Awesome pictures!

[jason_ladouceur]

As Crotalids pointed out already the op was trying to look "macho!" That's the only reason, you don't need to repeat this over and over. I've never handled hots, obviously you have a lot of experience with it. Maybe you can share your hot handling experience with the op instead of simply jumping on the anti pinning bandwagon which was never the intent of this thread in the first place.

I think that posts 16,19 and 24 clearly show what the response to offering unsolicited advice as to the proper way to do things would be. As far as band wagon jumping goes. This is not an opinion I just acquired today, and I would say 15 years of keeping hots and still haveing all 10 fingers is a testimate to doing things the safest way possible.

[Skiploder]

I think that posts 16,19 and 24 clearly show what the response to offering unsolicited advice as to the proper way to do things would be. As far as band wagon jumping goes. This is not an opinion I just acquired today, and I would say 15 years of keeping hots and still haveing all 10 fingers is a testimate to doing things the safest way possible.

Let's clear this up:

This is not a bandwagon thing.

While handling a snake causes some stress in general, pinning is extremely stressful for the animal. It is also potentially harmful to the snake and dangerous for the handler.

There is no need to pin a venomous snake in the field. If you need to get a closer look or to gather data, then the best method is to use tubes to restrain them (and protect you).

Period.

[Seanjackmc]

I think that posts 16,19 and 24 clearly show what the response to offering unsolicited advice as to the proper way to do things would be. As far as band wagon jumping goes. This is not an opinion I just acquired today, and I would say 15 years of keeping hots and still haveing all 10 fingers is a testimate to doing things the safest way possible.

Do you not understand when a poster shares pictures of an event that happened a few years ago in which he has pinned a snake and a fellow forum member comes on here and says "the only reason to pin a snake is to look macho" where the abrasive feelings come from? That is a legitimate question I believe. The problem I see on many forums is people want to point out what they perceive as a wrong doing then add a little jab at the end. The macho comment was pointless and in no way could be deemed as helpful advice. Im all for advice on here, heck I've posted a bunch of questions and got great help in response. I just wish some people were more tactful in the way they present advice ie: no need add comments such as "trying to be macho" or "next time you handle a snake you might want to know the scientific name."
but that's me and I don't expect everyone to see it my way but I will point out when I think someone uses poor taste in a response.

[Crotalids]

Do you not understand when a poster shares pictures of an event that happened a few years ago in which he has pinned a snake and a fellow forum member comes on here and says "the only reason to pin a snake is to look macho" where the abrasive feelings come from? That is a legitimate question I believe. The problem I see on many forums is people want to point out what they perceive as a wrong doing then add a little jab at the end. The macho comment was pointless and in no way could be deemed as helpful advice. Im all for advice on here, heck I've posted a bunch of questions and got great help in response. I just wish some people were more tactful in the way they present advice ie: no need add comments such as "trying to be macho" or "next time you handle a snake you might want to know the scientific name."
but that's me and I don't expect everyone to see it my way but I will point out when I think someone uses poor taste in a response.

My first reply to this thread was just one of simple advice:

"Good job.

But in future, don't bother pinning a venomous snakes for no reason.

1. You aren't experienced in pinning venomous snakes, you are presenting yourself with an opportunity to get tagged.

2. It's needless stress on the animal. Just get a stick, and move it. End of story. "

To which the OP replied in a defensive manner, saying he didn't ask for my advice etc. At the end of the day, i am the one with experience with venomous snakes, not him. For HIS safety i merely pointed out that he should not be pinning a venomous snake, if he does not have the necessary experience. Like Jason has previously stated, venomous keepers only pin their snakes as an absolute last resort. I don't understand why you think we are saying this to seem 'more knowledgeable', if the OP won't take heed of the advice, fine, but hopefully someone else reading this thread might do so in the future.

If you think Jason's comment about knowing the species was off handed, it isn't. You obviously do not understand the implications of a venomous snake bite. Just because they use the same antivenom for rattlesnake bites, does NOT mean it's a good idea to know nothing about the species you are trying to relocate etc. It is very important, rattlesnakes venom is very different to one another (From mild local effects, to life threatening systemic symptoms), and can be very different even amongst the same species dependent on the locale. e.g Crotalus scutulatus (Mojave rattlesnake)