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RE: help
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by j914_99 on March 8, 2003
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This is a tough question to answer. It depends on what experience you have, what you have had, who has taught you, what they taught. how comfortable you are around hots and if you know your limits. what type of hot you want to keep is also a factor. If you want to keep an arboral I would have to say start with I green tree python. This is one of the fastest striking constrictor's and will give you a nice kiss, But NOT DEADLY! Rear fanged would also be one of my other choices. Such as a mangrove, Vine snake or even a cat eye. Not everyone will agree but thats ok. Please add on to this thread.
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The way I see it....
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by TomT on March 8, 2003
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I always advise thinking this through very carefully and then picking the animal(s) that you have a real passion for keeping instead of "settling" for something "less." I know that it might seem to be bad advice, taken on face value, to recommend "starting" with an Eastern Diamondback (as an example), but I figure that if a person is REALLY interested in keeping Eastern Diamondbacks, that he/she'll be much more inclined to study up on the husbandry and natural history of the snake(s) before getting them, and the novice keeper will be much more inclined to take GREAT care of the snake.... Beginning your "career" as a venomous keeper with a "starter" snake means that you plan to move on to something bigger and better, in your mind at least, and that the "starter" isn't really what you wanted to get from the beginning, it's just a stepping stone in the road of life to get to where you want to be (keeping you're "target" species). So, I recommend thinking this through VERY carefully and making a decision based on what it is that you really WANT to keep.... you know... the snakes that you have a BURNING DESIRE to keep.... if there aren't any, then you aren't interested in the animals.... you're attracted by the romance of keeping dangerous animals and that should never be the motivation.... it should always be about the animals. So, think it through and pick THE ONE you REALLY want to work with... then study everything you can get your hands on and find someone to whom you are willing to trust your life, because that is afterall what you are trusting a mentor with, and learn from that person or persons. Prepare for the absolute worst thing that can happen, build or purchase secure enclosure(s) and construct an escape-proof room, check with your local law enforcement to ensure you won't be breaking any laws and then get the animal you dream to keep. I ALWAYS have time to respond to sincere requests for help, so I will do everything I can to help you. There are MANY others that read these boards who are much more experienced than me who are willing contributors to the advancement of the keeping of reptiles in captivity.... You'll find what you need if you seek it out, and this is an excellent place to begin.
Tom
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RE: help
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by spanky on March 8, 2003
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Ya" you could get a black mamba. becouse it is your favoret snake. And you also could die larning snake handling 101. Most of us do not know someone close, To larn from. Start with a nice rear fanged snake, like a mangrove snake,or one that will not take your life. If you want to get a snake that takes a lot to handle, and chances are will not kill you. Get a large copperhead. good luck. Spanky
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RE: help
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by chewwy on March 8, 2003
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I would have to say that a pigmy or a mangrove would be ideal for a beginner. I have had hundreds of coppers and find most to be very hard to keep eating if at all.So many times I see people posting for help with getting their new copper to eat.
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RE: help
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by Chance on March 8, 2003
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Chewwy, if you have found copperheads to be difficult to get to eating, you probably shouldn't be recommending a Boiga like mangroves for a beginner hot keeper. True, if they are wanting to keep hots they should be fairly well versed in getting problems eaters to eat, but just incase, I would find mangroves to be 10 times more difficult than copperheads to get to eat. You can get many c.b. coppers that eat excellently, but c.b. mangroves, or even mangroves that eat with any real frequency, are at best few and far between.
As for this whole thread, I tend to agree with Tom here. My philosophy has never been to start with a snake you deem "safe" or beneath what you are wanting to keep. You most likely won't take very good care of it OR learn proper handling techniques. However, if you do your homework well enough, there shouldn't be any problems. Now that's certainly not to say that any old Joe Schmoe should go out and buy himself a black mamba as his first hot. But then again, any sane person wouldn't do that anyway. If Dendroaspis is your love, then you know you can't go from corns to mambas, so you'll want to know how to handle snakes like that before you get them. If cobras are your favorites, you might want to "start" with something like Aspidelaps (coral cobras) which are small, yet still very neat elapids, or even a baby or juvenile N. kaouthia (monocled cobra). With the latter, at least you'll be able to grow with it.
Now just as a little disclaimer here, I'm certainly not recommending anyone to go out and purchase a monocled cobra as his/her first snake. I guess my post is assuming interested parties are both halfway intelligent and clinically sane :)
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RE: help
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Anonymous post on March 8, 2003
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I agree with chance and chewwy, I have delt with both species and find the copper and mangrove to be hard to feed at times, but the pigmy seems to the best choice. Great little snake!!!!!! Gary Hauser
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RE: help
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Anonymous post on March 8, 2003
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You guys are right! I catch so many coppers, but very seldom can I get them to eat. I think I might make that the next Expert Question. Puff-1
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RE: help
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by richard on March 9, 2003
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I would like to say that I respect all advice from hot keepers. And I by far am not the (all-knowing) I have kepted 10-12 southern coppers, And all have eat fine for me.(just luck I guess)But I found that thay were good handling exp. There is lot's of good advice here. and I'm sure it will get Richard started. Good luck Mr. Kissinger. Fabian
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RE: help
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Anonymous post on March 9, 2003
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Through my experience with mangroves (mainly Boiga d. gemmicincta), I have noticed that they give a good amount of warning before they strike. Mouth open, standing up in an S shape, laterally flattening the neck, and they lean back quite a bit right before they strike. After spending a long time breeding and dealing with nippy tree boas, the mangroves were great, and a lot of fun (though they do put off a slight musk). I think they are one of the best rear fanged snakes for someone who has a good amount of time spent handling angry non-venomous snakes. As far as a "hot training snake" goes, I think they are good hook practice, and that's it. I wouldn't go ahead and think I'm ready for a Mamba after keeping a mangrove, but you're one step closer. Keep in mind that they are not labeled as highly venomous, but I have seen one put a friend in the hospital due to an allergic reaction. Have fun and be safe, good luck.
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