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The learning experience
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by plainblain on September 20, 2005
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I read this forum every night before I go to bed. I read what most of you write, check the classified, then hit the other hot forum and read that classified. I have been doing this since I got back into hots last year. I do the forums first. I have I.D.'d several people who know what they are doing and freely share their information. I need their information. When I am blasting through posts, I look for Cro, Phobos, Tim Cole, Buzztail and three or four other people who are totally legit and post with authority. What they say, you can take to the bank.
I have not posted often because I have not wanted to be vunerable. I didn't care to have pious people busting my chopps because they felt I should have known more then I did before I got some hots. I think I can deal with it now.
When I was a kid, I had a couple of copperheads that I had caught and that was cool. When I entered adult life, it was impossible and not responsible to have them. I could not afford the facilties to keep them properly. So I forgot about it. Kind of, but not totally.
I have been reading the forums and know who is correct with their posts and I learn from them.
I collect Copperheads. I like them. I had not handled a hot snake in 40 years. But I found a guy locally who would sell me a couple of broadbands without to much hassle and I was able to start my hobby again. I felt as happy as when I had originally gotten my drivers lic.
I bought all the stuff you need to keep them secure and feed them and watched them and free-handled them whenever I felt like it. Because they were not more then 20" long, I noticed when I did pin them and pick them up with my big hands and fingers they would really try to turn and bite me. And I noticed that their yappy little mouths with those little 1/4" fangs where coming way to close to my index finger for comfort.
I realized that the snakes I had handled as a kid were adults with big heads and I had smaller fingers and they were easier to handle.
With this forum and the other, and with the dozen truly knowledgeable people who contribute, I have realized that the proper way to handle hots are with tools. So that is what I do. If something wierd happens where I drop a hot on the floor I can pin it and pick it up, but to routinely handle my Copperheads like that is not acceptable. This is good to know.
I enjoy a dangerous hobby. If I enjoyed jumping out of airplanes 2 miles high, or race car driving or scaling mountains, I could go to the yellow pages and find people who would teach me how to do it for a fee. Herps don't have that. We have this forum and the other one. We have each other and shared experiences. Very few of my friends even know that I collect snakes. In business I don't share it at all. Not that many people are even aware of the wild-life around them.
Sharing information is critical in our little world. The principle way amateurs know that you are an authority regarding your posts is your information contained in your profile.
The people who are truly academics in wild-life management and biology and zoology and all the ologies that exist propably get bugged with all of us who enjoy the hobby but are not academics in this field. Bear with us. We might not have the schooling, but we have the love and interest for sure. And we need your smarts.
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RE: The learning experience
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by ALA_herp31 on September 20, 2005
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10/4 on that last paragraph, we all need help at one time or another. I also see a lot of good work coming from the Members of SHHS, and I don’t see it ending anytime soon. I also appreciate all the help, that the more Knowledgeable Keepers have given me. The list of Members on this Site that have made a big deference in the way I Keep and Handle my Animals is too large to mention, but I would like to think you all for the help. Everyone keep up the good work and lets keep this interesting Hobby alive, it could become a large Hobby one day. .................Be safe ya’ll, Happy Herping : Wally
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RE: The learning experience
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by Frawgg on September 20, 2005
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Too often I attend snake shows/confrences and notice some experienced herpers who answer beginner herpers in somewhat of a condescending manner. These young herpers are the future saviours of reptiles & I would think it (to be) prudent to teach them well. It is our responsibility as reptile lovers to pass on as much information to the next generation so future reptiles don't have to suffer from past mistakes. It is the keeper who "knows it all" who is the most dangerous to their animals. I have been keeping non-venomous for 31 years and venomous for 23 years & I KNOW I still don't "know it all"! As we speak, reptile medicine is still in its infancy. Together, all of us can accelerate the medicine/husbantry learning process by working together & sharing information.
As for free handling copperheads (or any other venomous snake), I would advise against it. Copperheads just have too mant weapons at their disposal: thermoreceptive labial pits, solenoglyphous delivey system (hinged front fangs), and fairly keen eyesight. Even though your snakes fangs are 1/4", they are still capable of penetrating thick gloves. The reason why I am truly fascinated by venomous reptiles(as you found out), is they have this incredible defense mechanism and if held with a bit of caution,respect and gentleness, most species will not try to bite with malicious intent. If pinned,molested, mistreated, that same snake turns into Lucifer reincarnated. A venomous snake is the world's most trustworthy animal... No matter how nice you are to it, you KNOW it will ALWAYS bite you! Happy herping!
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RE: The learning experience
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by RepFan on September 21, 2005
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Blain,
Thanks for sharing your experience with the learnings, trials,and errors that go along with this inherently dangerous yet fascinating hobby. It is nice to know that the that hardwork that the sitemembers put into the site does not go un-noticed and is appreciated.
As far as good advice or rather legit postees/repliers; I always found it helpful to do a search on the experts section of the member names. It gave me a general idea about the person's character.
Happy Herping,
Todd
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