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Perfect trainer snake.
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by camoyeti on April 15, 2010
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Most of us older/wiser distinguished herps have giving the advice, that new herps should start off with something non-poisonous, but aggressive to learn with. If you can keep an aggressive, bad tempered snake for a long time without getting bit, you'll be well on your way to becoming a really good Herp, but no matter how good you think your becoming, get a mentor. I came across the perfect trainer snake, I thought it was a cottonmouth in the leaves, and boy was it pissed when I tried to hook him, hissing and striking and showing wide open mouth, but no bands. It was (Nerodia erythrogaster flavigaster), a Texas yellow belly water snake. Thats right Y'all, he was BIG, mean and fast and he didn't want to be messed with at all. So to all you new comers to the Herp world, before you go straight to a HOT snake, try out one of these guys first, because they look like, act like, strike like a HOT, just no fangs. Still get a mentor before you step up to HOT, because you won't have to worry about the step down, they'll carry you out. Have fun Y'all and be safe.
Charles.
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RE: Perfect trainer snake.
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by agkistrodude on April 15, 2010
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The only problem I have with this is that no matter how hard you pretend it's a cottonmouth, you still know that it's harmless. I will agree though that being around a lot of different species can get you used to handling with hooks, tongs, and that sort of thing.Work with them as much as possible without using your hands, only tools, and that is good practice for learning the feel of a hook or a pair of tongs. Take care, Marty
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RE: Perfect trainer snake.
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by pitbulllady on April 15, 2010
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Here I am, sitting here with a big fat ole' Red-Bellied Water Snake on my lap, and can't help but have a good chuckle over this. I breed Nerodia, and I've been bitten by ONE, a baby Northern that got freaked out by a dog coming up and sniffing it. I have yet to see one that wouldn't become puppy-dog tame in less than an hour, so I can't relate them to venomous snakes at all. I'd be deader than a doornail(or at least missing some limbs) if I approached "hots" the same way as Water Snakes. Now, I have a CORN snake that will be happy to chew you a new one, with no warning whatsoever. He'd be a good snake to remind someone of the risks of getting too comfy and trying to free-handle a venomous snake. He will be just calm as a cuccumber, and haul off and start chewing on you out of the blue. Coachwhips and Water Snakes I have no problems with, but Corns seem to have it in for me, lol. The biggest "attitude problem" snakes I've dealt with have been a Ball Python and a big female leucistic TX Rat, both of which would actually come out of their cages to bite me, and the absolute worst was a 14-foot Papuan Python I once had, who would have made a good trainer snake for someone wanting a King Cobra.
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RE: Perfect trainer snake.
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by agkistrodude on April 15, 2010
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Yeah, the pissiest one I have right now is a 6 foot bullsnake. And he would probably calm down if I handled him more, I just don't. But when you open his cage, he's comin at ya, mouth open.He's got me several times.
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RE: Perfect trainer snake.
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by camoyeti on April 15, 2010
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Well I don't know what it was about this one, but he was really pissed, most of the time they take off, he stood his ground, thats one of the reasons I first thought it was an Agkis pic. Marty, my main concern on this post, is that new Herps, start with a mentor like you, John Z and picigaster, someone who's got alot of experience with " HOTS" and other species.
Have a great night.
Charles.......
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RE: Perfect trainer snake.
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by pictigaster1 on April 16, 2010
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If I had ,had the chance as a kid to have a mentor that would of been great.Now I have all of you guys.One thing is I can always learn I think that remaining teachable is the key to doing better and growing in this hobby.No one person has all of the answers but some think they do.The truth is at one time I thought I knew it all then I turned 18..lol.There are some guys on here that forgot more than I will ever know.
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RE: Perfect trainer snake.
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by puffadder7 on April 16, 2010
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there is no perfect trainer snake. if you have to force your self to want to keep a venomous snake then you should not be keeping them, like Archie said i wish i had a mentor, but i grew up doing this all by my self, but i can depart from one thing Archie i still don't know it all and still take any advice someone gives me unless they bash me when they do it, you should never have a state of mind, should i be doing this because thats when trouble starts. when i was catching venomous snakes at a very young age, i thought jeez i must be the only person that does this and has a place for it in my heart, because i was never on ''FORUMS'' i was just doing my own thing, it was just me and a snake hook and 40 acres, and there are many people that are doing the same thing i did right now, and cant explain why they have a love for this wonderful hobby :)
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RE: Perfect trainer snake.
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by pictigaster1 on April 16, 2010
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I agree arin if you have doubt you do not belong in this part of the hobby at all.Garters and boas are not the same as a bothrops atrox.I wish every one would keep reptiles but I am glad every one does not keep venomous reptiles as not every one can do it.If you are unsure about cleaning a cage or working with an animal you should not own it.Tom Crutchfield recently said in a post on another site that he gives no thought to cleaning any cage it is like brushing your teeth .You just prepare for what is going on.I feel the same way.It is a no brainer.But the fact is not every one who owns a venomous snake is able to even handle one if it was to get out of its trap box or cage.We now have so many people in this hobby that do not have a clue and it is our job to help bring them along.Arin you are now legal age you now have your permit you are trying to do things right.You are seeking knowledge and listining to the elders around in this hobby so you have grown and learned.You do have mentors that have tried there best to stand by you and up for you.And I am not talking about anyone who showed you how to handle a snake you did that on your own but those you have given respect and listened to.I agree that no non venomous snake can make any one bothrops ready ever.But it is those who are comeing up now that need the most help as we are under so much pressure to not make mistakes.So if we all learn to lean on each other trust each other and be honest with each other we might come togather as a community and over come all of these attacks that are coming our way.As this process continues we should see some pritty good new keepers come along as well.And that is cool.
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RE: Perfect trainer snake.
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by camoyeti on April 17, 2010
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I agree that no one person has all the answers, thats why I count myself fortunate to have many mentors in here, just about everyone has given me some great advice at one time or another, so I have to thank Archie, John Z, Marty and many others.
Thanks Y'all. Charles
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