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86014
I have one, and I don't think they are suitable as a starter at all.
Firstly, in the wild they are largerly lizard eaters. In captivity this ends up making them fussy feeders. They have to be weaned over to mice, and even after being weaned over, many have been known to hold out for lizards sometimes. It can be extremely frustrating.
Second, they are arboreal and require certain humidity and housing needs. Just like most people would not recommend a green tree python as a starter snake. Have you ever tried to get a green tree python off a perch when it didn't want to go? Try that with something venomous. They are extremely fast, but are workable if you are familiar with arboreals... but not something I would consider for a beginner who is still learning how to hook and control an animal. Especially when getting them off the hook can be just as difficult as getting them out of the cage in the first place. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] Not to mention, little things like, mine refuses to drink from a bowl - so I have to constantly have a drip system so he doesn't get dehydrated make them rather annoyingly fussy animals.
Next, their venom's subcutaneous LD50 is 12.75. That effectively makes them hotter than the eastern diamondback at 14.6. While they can't put nearly as much venom into you as an EDB could - trust me, you would definitely regret getting tagged. Especially when the local hospital tells you there is no antivenin available. (Very few places carry it, only zoos that have the species, or the Florida Antivenin Bank) Or worse... they give you something like Crofab out of ignorance - which happens all too often with exotic bites.
Dunno... I would seriously consider another species. After working with mine, I find myself truly appreciating the ease of care involved in most crotalid species. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
Rav
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