Dozier the super reduced pattern reticulated Gila progress thread

[Sauzo]

Aren’t those highly venomous....? Did you need to obtain a permit or anything? How do you handle him, thick gloves or do you like to live dangerously? lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Venomous, yes. Highly venomous, no. There has been no recorded deaths from one since i believe 1920s or 1930s and i think that was from a child. While their venom i hear hurts like no ones business and might make you wish you died, a healthy adult should be ok. Still need to go to the hospital though or at least i would. Also should have a bite protocol folder that you can take with you to the hospital as a lot of doctors arent familiar with their bites or venom. You can pick one up from the Florida Snakebite Institute from Joe Pittman. He also has others for all sorts of venomous reptiles.

As for a permit, not where i live. They are legal but i did get paperwork with them stating they are CBB and who bred them and when they were born as they are protected in the wild and collecting or keeping a wild one is a federal offense.

As for handling, right now i use a single leather glove as they are youngsters only about 3 months old and can be unpredictable even though they are laid back. Once they get bigger, I might start freehandling but who knows.

Oh also, the breeder i got Dozer from, Steve Angeli, has taken bites from them and even one from an adult beaded lizard on his side. He says it hurts but he was at the gym working out the same day. What he told me was a lot of people overreact and the key is to get them off you asap as their delivery system is poor and they only get it in you by chewing on you. He also told me gila venom seems to hurt more than beaded venom even though beaded grow to around 3 feet where as gilas grow to about 1.5 feet.

And i do find Coyote's videos entertaining but the thing i dont understand is he doesnt sweat much when in THAT much pain. Maybe its just me but the one time i had to deal with a gall stone, I was doubled over and in so much pain, i actually cried which i never do. During that i was sweating so much, it looked like i was fresh out of a shower. The doctor at the hospital was amazed i drove myself there and that it took 2 full vials of pain killer before i could un fetal myself and talk to the him and the nurses.