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RE: Should I get a gaboon viper?
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by monstersnakesforever on March 21, 2014
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I could wait until then, especially if me getting a hot at the moment could possibly hurt the reptile community in any way I couldn't risk more bans coming in for a novice mistake. Even if I did decide to take her I do understand all the husbandry and how to treat RI's although I've never treated a hot, I believe I could do it, but if I came down to it I would definitely drive a few hours to the vet that treats venomous reptiles. Thank you all for your answers :)
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RE: Should I get a gaboon viper?
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by jparker1167 on March 21, 2014
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I wasn't trying to say you were dumb or wanting it to look cool, but getting one because you like them even thought you don't have the experience is not good either. If you do it right and take it slow you will be able to keep them someday. I'm glad to see you are smart enough to look past how bad you want one and take the steps to do it right.. I don't have gaboons now but I use to, they were one of my favorite snakes, I have kept rhino vipers and puff adders too. But a gabbon is tough to beat lol..
I also saw your question on yahoo answers, its not the best place to ask for advise on venomous keeping lol, if you have questions ask them here.
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RE: Should I get a gaboon viper?
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by monstersnakesforever on March 22, 2014
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Since I have been emailed and such I want everyone to know that I will NOT be getting this snake like I have stated above.:) once again thank you all for your answers.
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RE: Should I get a gaboon viper?
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by Carmai12 on March 22, 2014
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If you have additional questions do not be afraid to ask. My goal is to help the hobby.
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RE: Should I get a gaboon viper?
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by LarryDFishel on May 5, 2014
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Let me say two things to start with:
1) I haven't posted on this forum in so long that I was lucky to remember my password.
2) I didn't take the time to read all of this thread (but I see you've gotten some pretty good advice already).
That said, I'll give you some of the same advice I gave a few years ago to the guy who wanted to get the 8 foot Forest Cobra as his first hot, and hope this goes better...
This is NOT the place to start...
I'm not sure I would have taken this advice myself when I first started, if someone was offering me a free gaboon and I didn't have to go through a long permitting process first (you HAVE researched your local laws, right?). But, by the time I had finished my 1000 hours (actually more like 2000 in my case before I had a safe place to keep them), I had worked with 10 foot black mambas, 14 foot king cobras, a couple of gaboons and saw enough to know that I hadn't been ready for ANY hot when I started, in spite of having kept everything up to 10 foot burmese previously.
After the first few years I used to train new handler. One confided in me once that after his first day, he almost quit because I let him handle a pygmy rattler, and the fact that he was barely able to manage that had really shaken his confidence. In retrospect, pygmies (not all of them) tend to be some of most gawd-aweful snakes to control and if I had really been thinking, I wouldn't have asked him to handle one in the first month. With my experience, I'd rather handle some of those 14 foot kings...
I don't share that to scare you away from hots, or make you think you'll never get there, but to drive home the point that until you've spent some time with them, you don't know nearly as much as you think you do. (I was pretty apprehensive going into my first day with my mentor, because it never occurred to me that I wouldn't be pinning snakes and carrying them. That sounds ludicrous to me today. I don't remember the last time I laid my hands on a venomous snake, though I have had to at times.)
If you're even asking the question, whether you should use hooks for a gaboon, you should walk away from hots for a good 5 years now. If you decide to get him, don't EVER get your hands within 2 snake lengths of him unless he has a medical emergency AND you've had some serious experience (and preferably someone there to call 911 for you).
I put this page together years ago and had just about forgotten it, but you REALLY need to see it:
http://www.madprogrammer.com/snakes/gaboonstrike/
If you want some one-on-one, you can email me at lfishel@madprogrammer.com. Send me a phone number and I'll call you on my dime if you want (or I'll send you my number if you prefer).
Full disclosure: Last I heard, the guy with the forest cobra was still alive, but I haven't checked in a while.
Sorry, I didn't expect this reply to take the form of a novel when I started...
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RE: Should I get a gaboon viper?
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by Online on May 9, 2014
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You probably aren't ready for it if your asking if you should. If I were given the opportunity to get a free gaboon from a friend I would ask myself why do I want it? They are real beautiful snakes and generally tolerate being molested with out biting. On the other hand they can and do strike out with little to no reason except visual queues. If you take proper planing and set up guidelines when you interact with it that keep you safe it shouldn't be a problem. Go read a few books such as Venomous Snakes in Captivity and Venomous Snakes: Snakes in the Terrarium. Also realize most vets won't see venomous snakes so your on your on with treating them if they get sick. Just do a lot of thinking before you make your decision. Good luck which ever way you choose to go.
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