im not bashing venomous snake owners but...

[FatBoy]

Just keep in mind...90% of people out there say the very same thing about all of us..."Why would anyone want a SNAKE as a pet"...venomous or not To each his own, I'm not into hots but I have saw very few snakes that are prettier than a gaboon viper!!

[gp_dragsandballs]

The patterns and colors on my rhino viper aren't seen on any non-venomous snake. Theres no thrill factor that I may get bit and die but I get a kick having this beautiful specimen.

[MKHerps]

I keep both hots and balls. I dont keep them at all for a thrill. The thrill I get is going out a 2am and crawling around in the mountains looking for rattlesnakes. Talk about excitment. But no, I keep the snakes I like venomous or not. I know a lot of people that have kept hot snakes for more then 40yrs and never been bit. Then you get people that are just asking for a bite. You mentioned that the snake could kill you at the first bit of carelessness, and you are right. That is why you follow the rules and dont get careless. If you are in a hurry and cant take the extra time it takes to handle hot carefully, then wait till you have time to it right. I hear all the time" I was in a hurry and the snake was on the other side of the cage, so I just tried to grab the water or poop and got bite." If you dont have the time leave it till tomorrow.

I love my eyelash vipers. They are amazing, so much different form ball pythons. If you have not experienced keeping hots you will never understand why people keep them. They are much more advanced then your nonvenomous snakes.

[CA cowgirl]

Years ago I kept a juvenile rattlesnake because I wanted the thrill. I was young and foolish. I now would like to own a venomous snake or two as they are extremely gorgeous - copperhead and eyelash viper - but I'm not ready yet. It won't be for the thrill or power of saying I own something that's deadly or dangerous.

I keep both hots and balls. I dont keep them at all for a thrill. The thrill I get is going out a 2am and crawling around in the mountains looking for rattlesnakes.

Yep, herping for hots is exhilarating!! Herping in general is a hoot!

You mentioned that the snake could kill you at the first bit of carelessness, and you are right. That is why you follow the rules and dont get careless. If you are in a hurry and cant take the extra time it takes to handle hot carefully, then wait till you have time to it right.

I believe that's exactly the mindset that one should have when keeping venomous reptiles. No exceptions to that rule and that'll help ensure the best safety.

I love my eyelash vipers.

I loves eyelash vipers!!

[Dragoon]

Just keep in mind...90% of people out there say the very same thing about all of us..."Why would anyone want a SNAKE as a pet"...venomous or not To each his own, I'm not into hots but I have saw very few snakes that are prettier than a gaboon viper!!

I dont own hot or want to for safety sake but some gaboon morphs are some of the most amazing looking snakes i have ever seen.

[MKHerps]

This is just one reason we keep hots.

[anthonym]

Those are some really nice taylori! Agkistrodons are definitely some of my favorite hots

[MKHerps]

The one one the left is actually a hypo. These are not my snakes. These belong to a very good friend. His bloodline is the only pure hypo taylori. The colors are amazing and I thought the photo would be a good representation of why we keep hots. It has nothing to do with a thrill. They are just another snake, with different physical characteristics. If any of the people on this thread( that have bashed hot keepers) would take the time to learn more and work with hots they would have a hole new outlook on the topic. But by no means am I asking inexperienced people to just go out and start working with a venomous reptile to see what I mean.

[mommanessy247]

thank you all for educating me. im thinking a little bit differently now about hot keepers and hots. im still fearful of venomous snakes but its more of a respect-fear. i thought my way of thinking about this issue was wrong and its been proven here that it was, so i appreciate the educational info i got. thanks again.

[AkHerps]

I think the irresponsible venomous snake owners are stupid.

I think irresponsible owners of any animal are stupid...

I agree with a lot of people, I don't think it's about the thrill. I have a lot of reptiles just because they are pretty. If my barred tiger salamander was venomous, I'd still have him cause he's just soo adorable, with what and his permanent smile and all