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Longevity record for venomous snakes in captivity
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by ChuckHurd on June 25, 2008
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I will really be surprised if anyone can top John Z on this one, but I was wondering, what is the longest any of you have maintained a venomous snake in captivity. I wasn't able to keep for a couple years due to living in college dorms, ect. But I got back into it about 2001 and I have two KY timbers now that I got as babies in 2002. I guess that is my record.
Chuck Hurd
www.ChuckHurd.com
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RE: Longevity record for venomous snakes in captiv
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by Cro on June 25, 2008
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Chuck, I have had good luck keeping some venomous snakes alive in captivity for long periods of time.
This is probably due to the fact that I do not feed my animals as much as many folks do. A calorie-reduced diet, that does not overfeed, but also does not let the animals get thin, and temperatures that are cooler than what many folks use, is what I normally use.
There are exceptions though, I will provide additional food and higher temperatures for female venomous snakes that are developing their young. This in some way simulates the "basking areas" that gravid female snakes, like timber rattlesnakes use in the wild. I will also feed new born snakes and young snakes more often than adults, so that they grow normally, without being "pushed."
I would encourage herpers to obtain a temperature gun, and start shooting temperatures of forest floors, roads, basking areas, etc., when they find snakes in the wild. Even when the air temperatures are 90 or 100, the ground temps where the snakes live are usually quite a bit less. This applies in the tropics also. I see many, many herpers keeping snakes at temperatures that I think are too hot. But that is just my opinion. There are of course exceptions. A temperature of 105 degrees F is fatal to most snakes.
Anyway, if you want to know how long that Zoos have kept snakes alive in captivity, take a look at Frank Slavens website. For years Frank kept Longivity Records for reptiles in many zoos, and in some large private collections. I had the pleasure of working with the Central American Bushmaster at the Atlanta Zoo (Lachesis muta stenophrys) that holds the Lachesis longevity record of over 31 years.
Frank stopped keeping records in the year 2000, so some of the snakes that were alive then, are probably still alive, and 8 years older.
Anyway, his Longevity Site is :
http://www.pondturtle.com/longev.html
I have many records of keeping animals alive in captivity that are longer than many of the zoos have kept those same animals alive, that are listed on Frank's site.
I am sure there are many other private keepers who have done the same. Hopefully, they will chime in here with their venomous longevity records, as this could prove to be a real interesting list.
Best Regards John Z
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RE: Longevity record for venomous snakes in captiv
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by PitVipers on June 25, 2008
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I don't know if this is a record or not.
But the zoo I work for has a male Cottonmouth that is 31 years old. I know the guy who caught it as an ADULT!
I have kept this snake myself at the zoo for 15 years and it's still alive and thriving. It is a little thin, and I feed him as many small rats that he will eat. He usually eats 3 at a time. I think this guy is pretty amazing.
Randal
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RE: Longevity record for venomous snakes in captiv
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by ChuckHurd on June 25, 2008
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John, what has been your record? I seem to recall you telling me about a timber you had personally been keeping for 22 years or something like that. For years I feed my snakes pretty heavy and kept them at a captive girth. Long about 2003 I met Carl Ponder. Carl, for those that do not know him, has worked at both the Atlanta and Birmingham Zoos. He has been keeping snakes longer then most of us have been alive. He has several rattle snakes that he had been housing 20 plus years. Of course I asked how, and he told me the key was to feed lightly. I have been ever since, so I think you are on to something with your line of thinking. However, to look at the other side. Brad Hudson had a cane and a cotton that were both well over feed. They had girth much like a python. He had been keeping that cane 26 years and the cotton 19. The cotton is now in my collection. He was the only 20 plus year captive cotton I knew of until now. 31 years is the longest I have heard of for a North American Pit Viper. Unless anyone else knows something I don't, I would accept that as the record. This cotton, however, is far from skinny. One of the biggest I have ever seen. I have reduced his intake since I got him from Brad, but he is still huge.
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RE: Longevity record for venomous snakes in captiv
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by agkistrodude on June 26, 2008
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Hey Chuck,The oldest venomous snake in my collection would be a southern copperhead I caught as a neonate in 1989. Marty
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RE: Longevity record for venomous snakes in captiv
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by Rob_Carmichael on June 26, 2008
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Mine is a 25 year old southern copperhead. I have quite a few specimens (crotalines and elapids) in our collection that are in the 10-15 year old range and some that came to us as older animals (in their 20's) that we've had for over a decade. As Randal mentioned, its really amazing to see some of these records - a 30+ year old cottonmouth that was caught as an adult - impressive.
My oldest snake that I've had is a 40 year old ball python - nearing a record and he shows no signs of slowing down.
John hit it on the button about what it takes to keep animals long term - you just can't cut corners if you want your animals to do well (but that also doesn't mean you have to break the bank doing it).
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RE: Longevity record for venomous snakes in captiv
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by jared on June 26, 2008
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I have some copperheads from Will and Phil outta Kentucky that are cb 01 northerns. I have some cb allan hunter line C.d.cumenensis that I have raised since 01 and we are just now working on there first litter. I guess that would be the oldest so far...
Jared
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RE: Longevity record for venomous snakes in captiv
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by swampwoogie919 on June 26, 2008
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Mine is a female Dusky Pigmy that I caught as a sub-adult in 1991.She is a 30 inch beast that averages about 15 babies a litter.
Trey
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RE: Longevity record for venomous snakes in captiv
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by BigBend66 on June 26, 2008
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I have a couple timbers that have been in my collection for 15 yrs and better and by all acounts are still thriving......
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