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!
How long have you been keeping venomous reptiles?   Posted: Nov 29, 2004   (202 votes, 19 comments) by Nightflight99   Less than one year   1-2 years   3-5 years   6-8 years   9-15 years   More than 15 years   I do not keep venomous reptiles.     (202 votes, 19 comments)
Survey Results
Less than one year 6% (12) 1-2 years 12% (25) 3-5 years 20% (41) 6-8 years 14% (28) 9-15 years 11% (23) More than 15 years 21% (42) I do not keep venomous reptiles. 15% (31)
Survey Comments
hots I used to keep hots, I loved them there is nothing like them, but my wife made me promise her [no more hot reptiles] so here i am with several lizards, and one cornsnake. Posted by varnyard on May 10, 2005 5 years and counting... 5 years and counting... Might I add that I can also count the years on either hand with all digits still intact.Lol. No, seriously I consider myself blessed and fortunate not to have had any mishaps in my venture into this hobby. I did snake removal long before I finally took the next step into captive care. However I still got a mentor and worked with their snakes and the chores that go along with the proper caring/housing for these amazing creatures before ever obtaining my first hot. ~Todd Posted by RepFan on January 8, 2005 Washington rattlesnakes i had my first rattler when i was about 10 Posted by The_Herp_Boy on December 14, 2004 also... ...first venomous encounter in the wild.....7 or 8 years old.....massasauga under a row boat...... Posted by Crotalus75 on December 12, 2004 I do not keep Hots...Yet, I'm Definitely NOT old enough for it (14) Posted by CJReptile on December 12, 2004 Started with snakes in -86, got my first "hots"(Vipera aspis) as a birthdaygift in -98.. Posted by MiqeMorbid on December 10, 2004 keeping venomous since.... I have been keeping venomous for about 14 years,since 1990 (I an currently 27)however I caught my first rattlesnake(a mojave) when I was in the third grade. The teachers weren't amused when I brought it to school. Posted by xvenomx on December 9, 2004 I Started keeping and field collecting reptiles and amphibians at around 2 or 3 years old....first snake at about 3 or 4 (Heterodon platyrhinos).....been keeping venomous reptiles since my early 20's....about 6 to 8 years.... Posted by Crotalus75 on December 8, 2004 keeping hots I have been wanting to keep hots every since I started keeping snakes and other reptiles but there are so many laws in NY and it makes it really hard to keep hots. Posted by CopperHead17 on December 6, 2004 Here is my story. I have kept snakes for three years. When the wife was here she said no venomous. She left back in March of this year, needless to say the day she left I got my first hot a northern copper. I have a mentor and taking it slow as I go. Posted by new2hots on December 3, 2004 I don't currently keep any hots, since my brother (who I rent from) doesn't want them in the house and they're illegal in the particular city (Mpls.) where I live. My experience comes from my mentor's animals. Bill Huseth Posted by KingCobraFan on December 3, 2004 venomous I had my first copperhead when I was 8 years old. Posted by bush_viper17 on December 2, 2004 Many folks who have actually met me already know these tales. I brought home my first snake at the age of four. My parents were mortified. They were concerned since other children in the neighborhood had been bitten by the Eastern Diamondbacks that seemed so abundant back then. They did not believe me that I could tell the difference. My mom tells of how I taught myself to read before I was able to go to school so that I could read ... snake books! I brought home my first venomous, a double header - adult Canebrake Rattlesnake and gravid Southern Copperhead - the year I graduated high school. I took them away to college with me and took over supervising the venomous reptiles on display at a college across campus from mine. Since then I have been active in giving presentations to schools, scout groups, wive's groups, public utilities engineers, herp organizations and/or anyone else who would listen. So, 4 for first snake and 16 for first venomous. Thanks for reading, Karl Posted by Buzztail1 on December 1, 2004 Legality I would love to keep hots but alas, California laws being what they are...... Posted by toddg on December 1, 2004 Hots I`m sorry, it`s not Daboia lebetina but Macrovipera lebetina. I forgot to say in my post that I also handled a puff adder and a small gabby once. Posted by Snake17 on December 1, 2004 OXYUMAURUS HI, I HAVE KEEPING VENOMOUS SNAKES SINCE 5 YEARS A GO. I ONLY WORK WITH SEVERAL MEXICAN RATTLESNAKES AND CAN SAY THAN IS WONDERFULL THE LIFE WITH THIS TYPE OF ANIMALS, THIS LIFE AN THIS JOB. REGARDS FOR ALL REPTILES LOVERS. Posted by OXYUMAURUS on November 30, 2004 Keeing Hots I've been keeping snakes since I was 10 (1967) or so, then kept/ breeding hots since I was in my 20's. I've spend time as professional "reptile curator" at small zoo's and science centers in the 80's. The only time I did not have and snakes was when my kids were too small to have them around. Posted by Phobos on November 30, 2004 Hots I`ve been keeping venomous snakes since I was in the 7th grade, and now I`m in 11th grade. I`ve only kept 5 species of veomous snake so far: VIpera berus, Vipera ammodytes, Vipera ursinii, Vipera renardi & Trimeresurus popeiorum. In this time I have also handled: Agkistrodon contortrix & piscivorus, Crotalus atrox, basilliscus & durisus, Daboia russelii, Daboia lebetina & Naja naja. All of theese belong(or belonged) to a friend of mine who has a reptile expozition. Posted by Snake17 on November 30, 2004 I dont keep venomous reptiles at this time, but I worked at a small local Zoo and was the Head Curator of Reptiles & Amphibians for 3 years. Here is a small listing of the Genus I worked with (Bitis, Akristodon, Crotelus, one species of Naja, and about 30 species of non-venomous). Thats the extent of my expereance with venomous Reptiles and I have so much more to learn, its the learning that is the fun part in my mind.....Thanks for the survey question Nightflight99, gives me a chance to tell my history "LOL" not much to tell thoe......Happy herping Wally Posted by ALA_herp31 on November 29, 2004 To post a comment, you must be logged in. If you are not a member, become one now!