VenomousReptiles.org Survey

Survey Question	Current Survey Question Should hobbyists ever free handle venomous reptiles with their hands? Recent Surveys Most venomous/toxic Naja species in the world? I have read that the Philippine cobra is the most venomous (mice, 0.2 mg/kg SC with the lowest reported value being 0.14 mg/kg SC) (Brown, 1973). I have recently, come across something in the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology (Vol. 30, (issue 12), pages: 1158-1162, 1992) which stated that the LD50 for Naja oxiana was the most toxic/venomous (mice, 0.18 mg/kg SC and lowest reported value was 0.10 mg/kg). Along with that, the mortality rate for untreated Naja oxiana bites are the highest among all Naja species (70-80%). N.oxiana also produced the lowest known lethal dose (LCLo) of 0.005 mg/kg, the lowest among all cobra species ever recorded, derived from an individual case of poisoning by intracerebroventricular injection. Following N. oxiana and N. philippinensis are N. melanoleuca at 0.225 mg/kg SC and then N. samarensis at 0.23 mg/kg. The water cobras (N. annulata and N. christyi also have very toxic venoms, but no SC values are listed. Only intraperitoneal (IP) values of 0.143 mg/kg for N. annulata and 0.12 mg/kg for N. christyi. IP values tend to be generally lower (more toxic than subcutaneous values, so it would be unfair to compare their IP results to the subcutaneous (SC) results of other Naja species. Then I have heard that (without solid evidence) that Naja nivea is the most venomous, although their murine SC LD50 range anywhere from 0.4 mg/kg (Toxicon, Vol. 5, issue 1, page 47, 1967) to 0.72 mg/kg (Australian venoms and toxins Databse). So which is the most venomous? To me it seems obvious that it is the Caspian or Oxus cobra (Naja oxiana), followed by the Philippine cobra (Naja philippinensis). What do you think or know? I've noticed that the Australian venom and toxin Database seems to have higher LD50 values for all snakes across the board. For example, for the black mamba IP value of 0.01 mg/kg is listed (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/004101018890219X) and Ernst and Zug et al 1996, list a SC value of 0.05 mg/kg for the black mamba. While the Australian venom and toxin Database listed much less toxic LD50's. So there seems to be a lot of variation. 2014-01-23 What's Your Favorite Venomous Snake? 2013-11-13 Deadliest Bite? 2013-09-16 IF the science of self-immunization for a snake envenomation was proven/perfected what is the least benefit(percentage) you would accept before practicing it on yourself? 2013-06-06 how did you learn to keep venomous reptiles? 2013-03-02 View All Survey Questions Have a good idea for a VenomousReptiles.org Survey question? Enter your idea!
At what age did you keep your first venomous snake? (feel free to post first venomous specie in comments section)   Posted: Mar 31, 2007   (150 votes, 43 comments) by Ptk   Below 18 years old   18 - 20 years old   21 - 25 years old   26 - 29 years old   30 - 35 years old   36 - 40 years old   Older than 41 years old     (150 votes, 43 comments)
Survey Results
Below 18 years old 41% (62) 18 - 20 years old 28% (42) 21 - 25 years old 9% (14) 26 - 29 years old 9% (13) 30 - 35 years old 8% (12) 36 - 40 years old 2% (3) Older than 41 years old 3% (4)
Survey Comments
first hot Pair of atrox at 16. been with hots since,along with numerous reptiles amphob, and mammals and turtles. Posted by 1viridus2 on August 28, 2007 First venomous I bought my first, an Eastern Diamondback from Thompson in Clewiston when I was eighteen. He threw in a moccasin for five more dollars, so I got two that day! I was frustrated that I hadn’t found one yet, and I started finding and catching them almost immediately after that, figures right? ~Upscale~ Posted by venominme on July 3, 2007 Got 1.1 Western Gaboons just after my 18th. Had been keeping non-hots since I was 7. Posted by terciopelodave on June 6, 2007 At age 12 I got to keep a copperhead that I had caught. I kept that snake for 1 year, great pet. Posted by copperhead74 on April 29, 2007 ...Of rattlesnakes and tarantulas I was 14 or 15 when I brought home a Red Diamondback and my father allowed me to keep in in a well secured aquarium. Shortly after that, I brought home a large tarantula, and figuring it was OK to keep the snake, it'd be OK to keep my hairy friend. WRONG! My dad had a litter of wild dogs about it and wouldn't come home from the airport (where he worked) until it was out of the house. The spider went back home but I had my snake for 8 years! That started my lifelong love for snakes. Posted by HaytiRebel on April 28, 2007 1st hot. had 1st hot at 20.(northern copper)kept it for 5yrs.it never bit me,however ironic as it is i was working on my back deck and got nailed by a northern copper.it hurt like hell.i havent been bitten since and im 32 know and keep a small variety of vens. Posted by jkfild on April 27, 2007 I was 10 and got my first copper. I now have 2 monocled cobras, and 2 coppers. Posted by EMT736 on April 23, 2007 Well i'm 14 and I keep 1.1 Northern Copperhead, 1.1 Pigmy Rattlesnake, 1.1 Prarie Rattlesnake, 0.1 Timber Rattlesnake, 2.2 Osage Copperhead, 1.0 E.A Gaboon Viper, 2.3 Gila Monsters, 3.3 Rio Furte Beaded Lizard, 1.1 Mexican Beaded Lizard. And Hopefully getting 1.1 Green Eyelash Viper. And I have never came close to being bitten. Posted by Aquafina on April 21, 2007 Took my time First snake was about 15yrs. First hot was about 26-ish I guess. It was a NC locale Copperhead. A particularly laid back one too. I keep coppers and pigmys. Been bitten zero times. Yay me. Posted by guttersnacks on April 21, 2007 i was 13 when i got my first cottonmouth withh in a year i had 3 cottonmouths and 2 copperheads and timber rattlesnake no bites yet ~Jay Posted by squints on April 18, 2007 Non-venomous at age 5; venomous at age 13...Sistrurus m. barbouri, Crotalus adamanteus and Agkistrodon p. conanti Posted by FlaSnakeHunter on April 17, 2007 first venomous when I was 25 my boyfriend brought home a baby Southern Pacific Rattlesnake for me. What a gift! No ones given me rattlesnakes before or since. It was so perfect Posted by shanana on April 17, 2007 first Hot age 12. caught my first Eastern Cotton. Posted by DustinDraper on April 17, 2007 I originally kept a nice Texas Coral at 13, got rid of it, and never kept anything else till I was 17. Posted by JeremyTMoore on April 17, 2007 i was about 11 years old, i had a copperhead for about 6 months. i told my mom it was a watersnake. Posted by Robb on April 17, 2007 At age 18, Northern Copperhead. Posted by elapidking81 on April 15, 2007 1st venomous snake A real beauty 10 inch Southern Pacific Rattler now 4 1/2 feet. Posted by FangTwo on April 15, 2007 I was 12, collected young and adult cottonmouths. I'm 37 now. Always cautious. No bites. Paul Posted by SimplySnakes on April 12, 2007 I was 29, and had been keeping other snakes since mid -80´s. Got a Vipera aspis as a gift from a friend.. Posted by MiqeMorbid on April 12, 2007 I was 17 with A.c.contotrix i caught at my farm kept in a 10 gallon for over a year without my parents knowing as it turns out my father brought me another one, he had found in the road,thought i might like to keep it Posted by pw on April 11, 2007 26 Atrox Posted by tatersnake on April 10, 2007 when i was twelve i stole 2 baby popes vipers from my brother who was breeding them, never got bit, never messed with them. when i was 14 i got two timbers 5 southern copperheads and a gaboon viper from a friend. i was a dumb kid Posted by cooper on April 8, 2007 I was dating a guy at 20, he kept hots so I got my first Dusky. Cutest little booger you ever did see!! Its scary to think some of you guys had such venomous snakes at such a young age. Posted by Viper-ess on April 8, 2007 I was fourteen (1966) when I bought a sidewinder from an out of state dealer. Within fifteen minutes of opening the box I was nailed. Posted by Pug on April 8, 2007 I was 11 it was atrox .IM 42 now . Posted by lep1pic1 on April 8, 2007 Eight , yes thats right, eight. I was in the third grade when I caught my first diamondback. I only kept it for a couple weeks though. (My parents didn't think it was a good idea for me to keep rattlesnakes) Posted by xvenomx on April 7, 2007 I was 15 I had my baby gaboon viper at 15. Good snake. Posted by YoungHerp1 on April 6, 2007 At 11 I started keeping local venomous. Western pygmys, timbers, western cottons, and osage and broadband copperheads. Posted by herpman05 on April 4, 2007 I'm keeping snakes since I'm 10, but I waited till 31 to have my first hot. I feel that I wasn't "mature" enough before,I mean I was partying, drinking, etc...way too much to keep hots. Non stop party, alcohol,etc... + venomous snakes = troubles (serious ones). Now that I settled down I finally got the snakes of my dreams. Posted by Atheris303 on April 4, 2007 1st Venomous Snake 22 years old found A. Contortrix on my front door steps. I was planning on relocating it but no one would let me release it on their property. Posted by Ptk on April 3, 2007 I was 17. It was a W/C Cottonmouth. Marty Posted by agkistrodude on April 3, 2007 I was 29. It was a 10 years old WDB (rescue). Still have him. Posted by petra on April 2, 2007 A matter of definition, I guess. I started volunteering, caring for the venomous colletion at a refuge at 34, claimed my first offspring (a saw-scaled viper) at 35-36 and finally got my own permit and started keeping at home at 38. Posted by LarryDFishel on April 2, 2007 I started at 18. My first venomous snakes were 2 gravid Northern Copperheads. I went from 2 to 20 in about 2 weeks lol I was 22 when I got my first, non Aspidelaps Elapids. Posted by Atrox788 on April 2, 2007 I started at 50+. Posted by garsik on April 2, 2007 I started much later than most people, was 43, and first hot was a Southern Copperhead. Caught him 7/4/2004 and still have him. My collection has grown quite a bit since. Best regards, Mike Williams aka Vampire Posted by vampire on April 1, 2007 “At Home or Work?” "LOL" As for keeping, I was 18 when I kept first Venomous and it was C. horridus. Two Snakes of this Species arrived at the Zoo I worked in by accident. Both were in terrible shape and it took me about 4 months to nurse them back into good condition, both were very badly emaciated, and both had open wounds on their bodies. As for the first Venomous Snake I kept at home, A. contortrix filled that spot. Be Safe Ya’ll, Happy Herping : Wally Posted by ALA_snake33 on April 1, 2007 I didnt vote, since i have never owned a venomous, but hopefully i will eventually live in a state where they can be legally kept by the public... Thanks Eric Posted by vanerka on April 1, 2007 At 14 I started with 1.1 Trimeresurus albolabris, followed by 0.1 C. h. atricaudatus and a few A. c. contortrix. Chris Posted by CFoley on April 1, 2007 Age 11, I started keeping Eastern Diamondbacks. Posted by Taipan_Man on April 1, 2007 Age 18, Northern Copperhead. Posted by elapidkeeper on April 1, 2007 At age 12. I was keeping a Southern Copperhead. Best Regards JohnZ Posted by Cro on April 1, 2007 I was 28 when I kept my first hot which was a 0.1 Coastal Plains ( Canebrake) timber . I had been doing relocations and removals since I was 16yrs. old. I had kept many nonvenomous species from early on in my childhood However this was the first hot I had kept in captivity. Even with my prior 12 years of experience of relocating and the removals of venomous snakes this first hot taught me many lessons on the vast differences between keeping a hot in a captive setting versus that of just removing or relocating one! Thankfully through my mentoring with experienced hot-keepers, use of proper tools/equipment/caging, and having secure hot room setup complete prior to obtaining my first hot I was able to succeed in this endeavor without incident. ~ Todd Posted by RepFan on March 31, 2007 To post a comment, you must be logged in. If you are not a member, become one now!