How did retics get so popular?

[YungRasputin]

I can see where it seems like merely needing stitches is far better than dying from a sting. On the other hand, I can remember hearing (on another forum, it's been quite a while since) about a long-time highly-experienced keeper of big snakes that ended up getting out of them after he suffered a deep bite that caused serious nerve damage to his hand/wrist. And hopefully I don't have to point out that constriction can be just as fatal as venom?

of course it is possible but i think this largely comes down to maintaining strict protocols and learning how to properly read the animals - the only envenomation i have ever received wasn’t from my collection but from a wild adult female black widow because i stupidly didn’t shake out my outdoor shoes - it’s entirely possible to go through your whole keeping career without ever being tagged by arachnids if you observe strict safety protocols that i assume would be similar to that of hot/big snake keepers

also comes down to not doing stupid stuff imo eg: putting a big snake around your neck, purposely creating negative experiences to get “cool” striking pix, etc - the more i go on this journey and the more i think on it - a lot of negative things i think could be avoided