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!
Thanks for voting! Your vote has been included in the results below. How many years experience do you have handling venomous snakes?   Posted: Jan 29, 2002   (480 votes, 14 comments) by Charper
Survey Results
Less than 1 28% (136) 1 to 3 17% (82) 3 to 6 14% (65) 6 to 9 8% (40) 9 to 12 6% (29) more than 12 27% (128)
Survey Comments
Snake keeping as a way of life I grew up handling snakes. My father is an avid reptile enthusiast and we often had alligators, snakes, lizards and turtles of all kinds in the yard. Sometimes we would go see them in the swamps near my childhood home. Occasionally we would bring some back, but usually we just left them there. I caught my first hot snake at 11 years old, a 2 foot Eastern Diamondback. Since then I have been catching them with regularity, and I have not yet been bitten. I also do educational presentations at schools, boy scout clubs, and at the park where I work. It's something I fell in love with too early to quit now. Posted by StormSong on February 11, 2002 Well lets see.............. I started keeping venomous snakes about 11 years ago and have had a pretty good size collection of hots ever since. I some times cut down on the number of snakes I have but the numbers seem to go back up quickly. I started out with a baby gabby as my first venomous snake. I can remember a neighbor of mine that knew I was into snakes brought me over a price list of a reptile company her daughter had ordered a ball python from. That company was Tom Crutchfields. I could not belive my eyes when I saw that you could actually buy VENOMOUS reptiles. I was excited. I have wanted a Gaboon ever since I first laid eyes on one at my local zoo. I read everything I could get my hands on about hots and spent some time with a few real experienced handlers.Then took the plunge and bought a baby Gabby. Since then I have had hundreds of venomous snakes and love the hobby more then ever. Still up there on my list of favorites is the good ol gaboon viper right next to the Eastern Diamondback and the King cobra.. Well thats my story and I am sticking to it....... VaViper Posted by VaViper on January 26, 2002 How long? Lets see, I am 46 now, got first snake ( a Saw scaled viper, and geeze are they not a neat little snake ), when I was 17, and promptly started building a collection, was bit by small C. Atrox about 8 monthes later, but maintained collection includine the murderous little atrox, till I got married when I was 29, started back up in 1990, with a puff adder ( not one posted ), and have been building to what I have today. So if my math serves me, about 24 years off and on. With all that time do I know everything, haha not hardly, but I feel quite comfortable working with my charges, not cozy but comfortable in my level of skill, and ability to respond to a given situation--a must if you are to continue working them Barry Posted by Barrycressman on January 21, 2002 18 years old and now 29 I've been into venonous animals sense I was 8 (like blackwidows and sqorpions ). But for hot snake I was 18 with my first rattler and the little pigmy did very well in captivety.Now I have a young two foot diamondback rattlesnake. Andy Vanover (casabela28) My email address is lighterknot_2000@yahoo.com Posted by casabela28 on January 21, 2002 i only 15 but have been catching venomous snaks since i was 14 and handled them longer. Posted by lancehead on January 11, 2002 a long run As a little boy catching Vipera berus in the field, and bought at the age of 12 years old my first exotic venomous snake this whas a Crotalus atrox in a short period I kept copperhead and cottonmouths. From the age of 15 till the age of 20 I had my own collection of different viper, rattle and elapid species in this period I also worked in a reptile zoo. In 1998 I worked for a venom extraction lab in Australia, and till now I never stopped loving my venomous critters, and this will never stop. Posted by MrTaipan on January 10, 2002 In 1952.... I caught an Eastern Coral. I kept the miserable thing for a couple of months and, when finding a copperhead, I realeased it. It was soon followed by a Timber, a succession of Coppers, and finally, a couple of years later, an Eastern Diamondback. I was 12 at the time. f Posted by filthy on January 8, 2002 2 years ago I think it was 2 years ago when I have handeled my first venomous snake! It was a Tropidoleamus wagleri wagleri. After that time I was fallen in love with this interesting snakes! I have also handeled Bothriechis schlegelii, Crotalus lepidus klauberi,Agkistrodon contortrix, Vipera xanthina and Bitis arietans. In this years I learned so much of this "monsters" and I want to learn more!!! Greetings Bitis Posted by Bitis on January 8, 2002 I'm still alive I've been doing this for about 3 years, I remember the first time I picked up a deadly snake, it was a Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus). Ever since then people keep telling me "One of these days you're gonna get killed by them snakes!" Posted by The_herp_handler on January 7, 2002 UHHHH OK :) I started keeping Venomous at age 16 with a 4' Gabby. What a way to start out :) Since then I have had a Venomous snake in my Collection at all times and cannot live without them. I am now consentrating on Naja and Vipera as well as my Good Buddy the Eastern Diamondback. Posted by Cobra762 on January 6, 2002 Years of experience... It's all Badger's fault! Posted by Ambrosia on January 3, 2002 years involved Geez, I was born in 1976. I only have close to ten years dealing with those venomous critters. Posted by surucucu on January 2, 2002 Venomous experience I've been at it 20 years. Still have all my fingers and toes. And I'll be doing it as long as I can still hang on to them. Posted by badgertx on January 1, 2002 Who's been keeping for how long? I brought my first venomous snake home in 1976. I think it would be interesting to see who has been involved in this for how long. What do you say? Karl Posted by Buzztail1 on January 1, 2002 To post a comment, you must be logged in. If you are not a member, become one now!