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cottonmouth or copperheads???
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by levi3 on June 3, 2004
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I have kept copperheads as well as cottonmouths, however I like the cottons much better. They dont hide all the time they seem to eat better and I think there easier to handle. The coppers sometimes try jumping off the hook and making a run for it while the cottons are fat and lazy and content to ride a hook all day long. Maybe I just have a good group of cottons and got really lucky. I also don't think the cottons deserve there reputation for being so nasty while I do believe they would love to sink a fang in me at the first oppertunity!!
Whats your expierinces??
RB
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RE: cottonmouth or copperheads???
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by Phobos on June 3, 2004
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In my experience with field herping as well as collected snakes that Cottonmouths are easier to deal with for the same reasons you stated. Wild Cottonmouths seldom (my oppinion) make a "run" for it but stand their ground but are not prone to striking unless they think they can get ya. I have also caught some juvs that are strangly calm and showed no agressive moves while I hooked, posed, photographed them. I them released them where I found them when I was done.
Copperheads are flighty and put up a more vigorious defence. They were not good feeders and were always very secretive.
Al
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RE: cottonmouth or copperheads???
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by elapidking81 on June 4, 2004
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I agree with you on that the cottonmouths seem to me to be calmer but bolder.just the other day i photographed 2 cottons and they did very well wouldnt even gap for me they were great to take pics of but coppers are flighty and pissy but unlike the cottons i have found them to be less bold coppers wnat to run but cottons usally stand there ground to see what your going to do, but what i've said applys to most the snakes i have worked with but theres always that one
shane
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RE: cottonmouth or copperheads???
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by TAIPAN78 on June 4, 2004
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Cottonmouths can be very calm and laid back animals and even when they are squirmy seldom preform the frantic acrobatics that I have seen contortrix do in the wild. However, in captivity my experince has been slightly different. I have had coppers for years now and all always calm down extreamly! I agree with you on their somtimes picky feeding schedual but thats just what some do (in pirticular A.c.mokasen and neonates of any ssp). I have one copper now that goes off feed every year for about 5 mounths at a time. He always has and never because of any aliment. Thats just all he needs to eat apparently.
Anyway back to cottons. The reasons cottons will always be more of a handfull then coppers in captivity IMHO is their god awful feeding response! Though slow and clumsey compared to elapids standards, for a Crotalid they are truley impresive. Countless times I have had captive individuals launch all of the way out of their cage in persuit of a meal. Though WC specimens definately can mellow extreamly, captive borns seem very aggresive and almost cocky at times with their antics.
Dont get me wrong, there are coppers out there which make cottons look like slugs with their aggresive feeding response but as a general rule cottons seem to carry this trait mnore frequently. Atleast that what I have noticed.
Interesting subject. Look foward to hearing other opinions.
All the best,
Jeremy
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RE: cottonmouth or copperheads???
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by GREGLONGHURST on June 4, 2004
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Cottonmouths, in my opinion, are among the best captive venomous snakes. Always demand respect, but are manageable & will breed. Only knock on them (by some) is their lack of good looks. One thing that most here may not be aware of: Cottonmouths kept in a pit, rather than a cage, calm down unbelievably after a week or two. I worked the herps at Lion Country Safari in Florida for 48 months in the late '60's, early '70's. I noticed while in the big center pit where I kept a large number of cottonmouths, that they would feed on smelt oblivious to my presence. I messed around a bit, seeing how close to me one would take a fish, & before long had 'em taking smelt right off my boot. I eventually could hand feed quite a few of them. No nasty feeding response on their part, just gently grasping the proffered fish & crawling off to swallow it. This is not the sort of thing I recommend, nor would I do it again..I was much younger & dumber then, but they did not show any fear or aggression towards me after they'd been in the pit for a reasonable period of time. One other note: I had young of the year in the pit twice a year. I doubt the same females dropped young twice a year, but the birthing was obviously done both Spring & Fall.
~~Greg~~
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RE: cottonmouth or copperheads???
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by Fabian on June 4, 2004
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I have had many of both of them. I really do not think there is a hole lot of difference between the two in aggression. But cottons will eat anything any time. I have two cottons right now that are great and feeding them is the best ever. Cottonmouths are one of my favorite snakes. The ones I have have a lot of pattern on them so they are nice looking snakes. They are very calm and ride a hook great. While reptile hunting here I have noticed several times that most cottons will just lay right where they are and not move if they are in any cover at all. I have came so close so many times of stepping right on them. You rally have to watch your step around them. I feel they really rely on there camouflage and not there bites to protect themselves. "What a great snake"
Fabian
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RE: cottonmouth or copperheads???
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by snakenate on June 18, 2004
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I have caught both in the wild, the Cottonmouths always seem to be more agressive and less likely to run, however I have caught a few Copperheads that have been so docile I even held them in my bare hands mid-body. But it really all depends on the particular snake.
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