Gila Monster

[DSGB]

Does anyone know if they are legal to keep captive? I always thought it would be super cool to have one.

[kjhowland]

You would have to check your state's laws. Some states require a permit for certain animals.

[karma279]

It is not legal to transport them out of their native state...
You cannot legally keep one in GA.
Why would you want to? This isn't a "cool" pet...
A friend of mine is an experienced handler and keeps hots.... he was keeping one for a guy and got bitten through a bag. It wasn't pretty....

[DSGB]

It is not legal to transport them out of their native state...
You cannot legally keep one in GA.
Why would you want to? This isn't a "cool" pet...
A friend of mine is an experienced handler and keeps hots.... he was keeping one for a guy and got bitten through a bag. It wasn't pretty....

i would want one cause they are freakin awesome. i think it would be an super cool display pet.

i've heard their bites arent deadly to humans, just extremely painful.??

[wolfy-hound]

I believe theya re considered venomous. So you would need to be permitted to keep venomous. I assume you would need to find a captive breeding of them also.

[MarkS]

It is not legal to transport them out of their native state...
You cannot legally keep one in GA.
Why would you want to? This isn't a "cool" pet...
A friend of mine is an experienced handler and keeps hots.... he was keeping one for a guy and got bitten through a bag. It wasn't pretty....

I disagree, I think it is a cool pet. I'd like to get one myself one day. I've never been that interested in venomous snakes, but I find venomous lizards extremely fascinating. The laws pertaining to keeping these vary from state to state and even town to town. They are native to several states actually, but I believe are protected though most of their range. However there are several breeders in other states where they are legal to keep from whom you can buy captive born offspring. They're pretty pricey though.

[cassandra]

Bob Applegate breeds and sells gilas, but you have to have all your paperwork: http://www.applegatereptiles.com/spe...ilamonster.htm

[MarkS]

Permits aren't required where I live. So I don't know if there is any other paper work needed.

[mrmertz]

Here in Arizona it's illegal to "harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect the Gila Monster."

We have seen several adults while out in the desert, not very often though. One night coming into the apartment complex here the headlights caught what we thought was a small desert tortoise - turned out to be a baby Gila Monster crossing right in front of the main entrance.

They do have THE attitude along with backward fanged teeth as they grind as they chew to deeply inject the venom and short of prying it off an appendage with a claw hammer, you won't.

We have had quite a few Western Diamonbacks here in captivity including one pretty good sized one. Caught them all at work.

Jeff

[cassandra]

If you live an area that does not require permits, honestly, call Bob. He's a very cool dude and an absolute wealth of information, especially about kings and milks, as well as gilas and related. At local shows, he talks your ear off =), so if you live somewhere where you can actually own one of these beauties or you are interested, give me a call. He's a really good guy. =)