Holding Gaboon viper

[bcr229]

I've followed this guy on Fauna and on RedTailBoas.com for a while. Would I free-handle a hot? Not just no but H-E-DOUBLE-HOCKEY-STICK NO.

That said, I do have to admit I'm impressed that he can settle some of these snakes down to the point where he can handle them. The process can take months and the methods used can be copied to help our non-venomous constrictors become more tolerant of handling as well.

But there's no way I would ever condone free-handling a viper.

[frostysBP]

I will try and find the pic but a friend of a friend has a bunch of hots and has big female gaboon (fluffy). He has freehandled it for over 5 years now.. He is crazy. Very smart guy but not for me. His hot room is top a notch setup and fascinating to walk through. The gabby is the only one he free handles and just fluffy not his other gabs.. Just crazy still

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[tbowman]

Here's another perspective since he keeps us native species as well. Let's say the hospital carries enough antivenom for one bite. Say he gets bit and a child gets bit on the same day. Is it fair that the child be denied antivenom because this guy chose to sit in a pen in his backyard and handle an eastern diamondback like its a ball python?

[tbowman]

Also the zoos antivenom is there for zookeepers. Not private individuals. They'll likely give it up in the event of a bite but it's not unheard of for facilities to get rid of collections after having to give up antivenom to private individuals.

[theoremofgoats]

That guy is a headline or a piece of legislation waiting to happen.

Yup. Absolutely this.

The viper is gorgeous, but the guy is an idiot. I'm sorry, this is not a risk ANYBODY should be taking-no matter how calm a snake is, chances are it will bite at some point. And if you've got a corn or a ball python, it's no big deal. If you've got a cobra or a viper…well, the irresponsible owners aren't going to be the only ones being punished.

[KMG]

I'm of the opinion that this is just stupidity in action which is the most dangerous of circumstances. Personally I could care less if there is no antivenom nearby. Let Darwinian Theory play its rightful role and remove this individual from the gene pool; hopefully before he breeds.

Im with you but it needs to be done in private. I don't care what you do behind closed doors....just close them.

When he gets bit people will be clawing at us "crazy snake people" and trying to take even more snakes away from us.

I don't keep hots but Im not against it. If you keep them and want to handle them don't post it online. It just gives the media more ammunition when something goes bad and will end up hurting the hobby as a whole.

The media knows nothing about everything but are an expert on it all. Then people swallow the pill without even asking a single question. We should not help them out.

[tbowman]

IMO if you want to own hots, you should at the very least be required to take the necessary steps to procure your own antivenom for the species you intend to work with. Relying on somebody else having it is irresponsible and incredibly selfish.

The herp community as a whole is against restrictive regulation, but this is one instance where some regulation be beneficial.

I am in favor of a realistic permitting system being put in place for venomous, and probably a similar yet separate permit for large constrictors.

I believe it would go a long way to protect ourselves from keepers like this. As well as the guy keeping a large Python in a 55 gallon aquarium with a blanket for a lid being held on by clothespins.

There needs to be something in place to separate us from the people who are so clearly doing it wrong.

[Reinz]

What a gorgeous snake!

Dont really have any positive words for the handler.

[chaples84]

This is why I don't have hots...they are to tempting to handle free handed...it all goes hand in hand people..he's just a dare devil that's all...if a guy buys a motor cycle and doesn't wear a helmet and dies do we all who own motorcycle are at fault..no he will be accountable for his actions... He has pictures of him doing what he's not..just let him be..its funny we see a guy like this and we say stupid..we see Steve irwin do it we think hero of wildlife... How do you think new steve Irwin's are made people...

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[tbowman]

This is why I don't have hots...they are to tempting to handle free handed...it all goes hand in hand people..he's just a dare devil that's all...if a guy buys a motor cycle and doesn't wear a helmet and dies do we all who own motorcycle are at fault..no he will be accountable for his actions... He has pictures of him doing what he's not..just let him be..its funny we see a guy like this and we say stupid..we see Steve irwin do it we think hero of wildlife... How do you think new steve Irwin's are made people...

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#1 If I kept hots I would not be the slightest bit tempted to free handle one

#2 There will never be another Steve Irwin

#3 Clearly you don't understand the way things work when it comes to the reptile world. We are ALL punished for the actions of the few.

I've never seen one person I have an ounce of respect for cupping a venomous snake in their bare hands.

Especially not a Gaboon.