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Posted by Francis on February 25, 2002 at 22:38:54:
In Reply to: i have kept them and... posted by Andy on February 25, 2002 at 19:35:22:
Dear Matt
I think Andy has put into words convincing reasons why you should reconsider your adamant intention to own a hot snake.
Yes, you have experience with giant centipedes and having known a friend's wife who was bitten by one, I'm aware of the severe pain and trauma it can caused. But let me point out certain differences between centipedes and snakes:
1) You can put your finger 6 in from a centipede and still be able to pull back in time. Do that with ANY snake and you'll be nailed 9999 times out of 10000(It's probably more). Centipedes run onto their prey whereas snakes strike out and that's a world of difference.
2) ALMOST EVERY beginner sooner or later will get bitten at least once if they ever handle a snake. That's part of experience and part of the reason why we all should respect the potential harm if you are at the receiving end of a venomous snake.
Even my friend who has had years of experience breeding and handling snakes made a slip and almost died. He lost part of his finger as result. Fortunately, the hospital was 20 minutes away. If you REALLY have to rear a venomoid, are adequate medical facilities at hand so that you at least come out in one piece. Compared to a venomous snake, NO centipede can caused that kind of damage unless you are allergic to its bite.
Conclusion: It doesn't hurt to acquire more experience and there are people like Andy who are more than willing to share their knowledge with you. When dealing with venomoids, there's absolutely no room for error.
Now, are you really 100% sure you will not make any mistakes? It's also not okay to say that if you learn that you're not up to it, you will just pass the snake to someone else - A snake is not like a kitten or puppy!
: so have many people on this board. they are extremely common. first of all, have you ever handled quick or dangerous snakes? i would help you out if i could, but unless you live in houston texas where i can actually SHOW you how to deal with them for maybe a year or so before starting you out i cant. You cant learn about how to deal with them from books, you have to be right up there experiencing it for yourself. Copperheads are great snakes for beginners IN HOTS, not beginners in snakes.
Don't get me wrong, im all for people being able to keep hot snakes. But i just dont see why you should start with one. It is like someone starting out with a wild caught emerald tree boa. You would be way over your head. i think when you finally got that copperhead home, realized what it was and that you have an animal that is, im pretty sure, more venomous than that centipede, you would feel like that.
I have felt it before dealing with some snakes. You think it will be no different than you see on tv or at a zoo or reptile show. but then you actually get in there and you realize you are over your borders. I really think the best road to travel is get somethink like a large watersnake who are very agressive and are also hardy in captivity.
Try to handle, move it, feed it, as if it were a venomous snake. When you have to transport it, try not to get bit. If you do get bit, think of what could happen if it had been a copperhead. And about venomoids, which you have seemed to mention, the procedure does not always go right. It is not a falseproof plan, as you could find out if freehandling the snake. Im not saying if im for or against venomoids, just saying its not really of any concern whether it is or not. You have to treat it with the same respect.
If you did get the water snake, racer, or other aggressive snake first, you could afford to make mistakes and learn from them. There is little margin for error with a copperhead. Think about if you had a reaction to the venom/antivenom. It could become something lethal. I dont mean to vent, or sound like a jerk or a snob, I just think its really not the best idea if you have never handled ANY snakes to get a copperhead.
If you want to talk more email me or my AIM screen name is AndyM1986. Good luck~Andy
