Man bit by illegally owned Gaboon in Tampa, FL

-HERPaholic- · #1 (**permalink**) 08-27-2010, 11:14 PM

Chalk this one up as more bad rep. from Florida....

Man bitten by venomous pet snake faces charges

kgfernan · #2 (**permalink**) 08-27-2010, 11:49 PM

I'm pretty ashamed to live in this state. What a moron not to have a lid on the tank and away from the kids..

Sakara · #3 (**permalink**) 08-28-2010, 12:00 AM

REALLY??? *sigh* idiots don't need to breed....

-HERPaholic- · #4 (**permalink**) 08-28-2010, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgfernan

I'm pretty ashamed to live in this state. What a moron not to have a lid on the tank and away from the kids..

I feel ya.... Yea I can't believe he wouldn't have them locked up with kids in the house!! Granted the story doesn't go in to details about their cages. And instead of taking the time and spending the little bit of money to get his permit, he now faces jail time for being a retard!!!!! Stupid price to pay just to have a gabby.....

louise · #5 (**permalink**) 08-28-2010, 03:48 AM

did you see the comments on the page? ones like 'only good snake is a dead snake' why do i even bother reading them?

Rachel SS · #6 (**permalink**) 08-28-2010, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by louise

did you see the comments on the page? ones like 'only good snake is a dead snake' why do i even bother reading them?

Louise, for as much as we love our snakes, there are 3 times as many that hate them.

I give up trying to change peoples minds. People just don't care. It breaks your heart for a while because you feel like you're doing an injustice to the hobby and animals you love, but it's an uphill battle while dodging huge boulders rolling downhill at you.

louise · #7 (**permalink**) 08-28-2010, 04:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachel SS

Louise, for as much as we love our snakes, there are 3 times as many that hate them.
I give up trying to change peoples minds. People just don't care. It breaks your heart for a while because you feel like you're doing an injustice to the hobby and animals you love, but it's an uphill battle while dodging huge boulders rolling downhill at you.

i couldn't agree more. for a while i left all the reptile sites cause i just got so depressed with all the bans and all the people doing stupid stuff to make it harder on us responsible owners. i use to try so hard to change minds and fight the bans and stop live feeding and the list goes on. but this is surely a fight we cannot win. it wont stop till all snakes are banned and people like the guy in this thread just keeps giving them more ammo.

Overseer420 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-31-2010, 06:51 PM

It's true, that most people are scared of snakes. I thinks it's been kinda drilled into most people since they were little and that kind of conditioning is hard to break. I actually try to get Princess out as much as I can, even used to take her to a local tavern i went to and got a mixed, though mostly posative responce. because I keep her social she is calm and easily handled by most anyone and her small size (for now) makes it easier for people to accept. I'm still floored by how many people ask if she's poisenes!?

Coffee Succubus · #9 (**permalink**) 08-31-2010, 07:12 PM

At this point, they should just make the ban for Florida, or have the special permits and leave the rest of the states who are not filled with retards out of it.

I know accidents happen, especially with hots, but come on!
((And don't all the horror stories come from there anyway?!))

On a different note, I'm glad you do what you do Overseer.

I've been taking Tristin out and about to meet people, usually that's to Petsmart or if I have people over. But I think it really makes a difference! I have people who will pet him and go, "Whoa! I thought he'd be slimy?!".

I'm fairly certain that he'll keep his wonderful disposition when he gets older. And hopefully I'll be able to take him around for educational purposes.

Rachel SS · #10 (**permalink**) 08-31-2010, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffee Succubus

At this point, they should just make the ban for Florida, or have the special permits and leave the rest of the states who are not filled with retards out of it.

I know accidents happen, especially with hots, but come on!
((And don't all the horror stories come from there anyway?!))
On a different note, I'm glad you do what you do Overseer.

I've been taking Tristin out and about to meet people, usually that's to Petsmart or if I have people over. But I think it really makes a difference! I have people who will pet him and go, "Whoa! I thought he'd be slimy?!".

I'm fairly certain that he'll keep his wonderful disposition when he gets older. And hopefully I'll be able to take him around for educational purposes.

Unfortunately taking your snake out to stores and in public is just asking for trouble. I used to do this as well, take my snakes to PetSmart.

If someone gets bit, even by a non venomous snake, it's going to get blown out of proportion. HUGELY. It's best to let all the legislative issues with reptiles die down before wanting to "help" people see how there is not really anything to fear.

B-Spec · #11 (**permalink**) 08-31-2010, 08:21 PM

LoL I know the breeder of this west african gaboon...

He has like 20 of them and a new litter too...

When I saw this post I thought BOB got bit I was like... NNOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

But ya, I am sure he had a top on its cage but when he got bit he dropped everything and went straight to the hospital.

That same hospital saved my life on april 17th... and that was for a motorcycle accident. Good to know they have west african gaboon viper antivenom

Aaron-Insular · #12 (**permalink**) 08-31-2010, 08:24 PM

I'm not even going to comment on this guy a he's not worth the time.. , but on a side note, I take my snakes (usually one at a time) to parties/cookouts, fairs , get-to-togethers, and even drawing classes. And it's definetly a mixed bag out there, and I have converted my fair chair of skeptics. But, you always have the super excited, love snakes people, then the super scarred terrified by snakes and can't even explain why, but believe me even they are constable, my girlfriend was one of them, and now she will ask me to take out Azriel so she can hold her. And finally the middle is a range of the skeptic yet curious and the indifferent, wich is actually where I would say the majority of people tend to fall into. Just my 2¢

HERPHAPPY · #13 (**permalink**) 08-31-2010, 08:46 PM

Incredibly stupid guy, keeping & under-securing a gaboon viper...just what the public needs to fuel more restrictions! (hope they throw the legal book at him!)
But I agree with Overseer, Coffee & Aaron-Insular...changing people's fear to fascination is something we can all have a hand in, & SHOULD! Besides it's so much fun, seeing someone really open their eyes to the real world of snakes! The people who run a local organic produce/health food store all want to meet my snakes! Actually they want me to bring one in....but I told them we have to be careful about that & they understand...I am looking forward to it! Remember that when you change a few minds, it has a ripple effect!

Rachel SS · #14 (**permalink**) 08-31-2010, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HERPHAPPY

Incredibly stupid guy, keeping & under-securing a gaboon viper...just what the public needs to fuel more restrictions! (hope they throw the legal book at him!)
But I agree with Overseer, Coffee & Aaron-Insular...changing people's fear to fascination is something we can all have a hand in, & SHOULD! Besides it's so much fun, seeing someone really open their eyes to the real world of snakes! The people who run a local organic produce/health food store all want to meet my snakes! Actually they want me to bring one in....but I told them we have to be careful about that & they understand...I am looking forward to it! Remember that when you change a few minds, it has a ripple effect!

In florida, taking a snake out in public only produces more criticism. Maybe i'm jaded because of the bans here, but I just feel like right now I'd rather "hide" them and wait till everything calms down :/

HERPHAPPY · #15 (**permalink**) 09-01-2010, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachel SS

In florida, taking a snake out in public only produces more criticism. Maybe i'm jaded because of the bans here, but I just feel like right now I'd rather "hide" them and wait till everything calms down :/

.....keeping quiet didn't make the Nazis go away either....???

I'd rather try to be part of the "solution" than part of the problem!

(I do understand...it's not easy...but we all have to be heard/seen/and likable! It takes a while for the masses to accept new things, but they NEVER do if unchallenged!? They stay in their "comfort zone"!)

joejoe · #16 (**permalink**) 09-02-2010, 02:02 AM

We try to get our snakes out as much as possible to let people see that they are not as bad as they thought. A lot of people are scared of them but are curious and come up to pet her tail. Yesterday when we got out with the 7ft rtb we had a biology teacher come up to us and ask if we minded bringing a couple snakes to her class next year when they get ready for their reptile lessons, which i will be more than happy to do with the hope that it may help even just 1 person see that things a not as bad as they thought.

dave7205@att.net · #17 (**permalink**) 09-02-2010, 02:25 AM

I agree "REALLY" This guy should have had to pass an IQ test to own a pet, don't even get me started on kids. In the words of Jeff Foxworthy, There's your sign.

HERPHAPPY · #18 (**permalink**) 09-02-2010, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joejoe

We try to get our snakes out as much as possible to let people see that they are not as bad as they thought. A lot of people are scared of them but are curious and come up to pet her tail. Yesterday when we got out with the 7ft rtb we had a biology teacher come up to us and ask if we minded bringing a couple snakes to her class next year when they get ready for their reptile lessons, which i will be more than happy to do with the hope that it may help even just 1 person see that things a not as bad as they thought.

That's excellent!
I visited a college biology class with rattlesnakes years back...what fun that was! But any & all ages are important...we are more likely to change younger minds. But you never know, and since I am not so young, sometimes I can reach other ages better (like our local Audubon club)?
Hope it goes well, you may get more requests?

TammyJamaica · #19 (**permalink**) 09-02-2010, 10:27 PM

This is really too bad for everyone concerned including all of us reptile keepers, but speaking of Florida in particular where it getting HOT HOT HOT, I was lucky enough to be visiting my daughter in Coconut Creek, South Florida, and went to a brand new just opened Reptile Store called "Reptiles", and I asked the owner if he had any venomous, and he shook his head very emphatically and said "no, we don't do venomous!"

Maybe stuff like the gaboon incident is one of his reasons for that.

Monkey · #20 (**permalink**) 09-07-2010, 05:13 PM

We don't know if he had a lid on or not to be honest. Or was that stated somewhere and I missed it? You take the lid off to handle the snake, and as I read it, the snake probably went back in where he felt secure after what happened. BUT due to him taking the snake out, they could not feel sure of where it was. I can't see someone be THAT stupid that he has a snake with no lid on of that caliber. I think it was more that he did not have time to secure the snake, probably dropped it as it bit him, and just left the house. Thus the evacuation. The snake probably got himself "home" cause he was tired of humans. I know I saw that snake catcher on animal planet, a huge albino boa had been harassing the neighborhood. Showed up that it was a guy's petsnake that had a hole in his cage so he came and went as a kitty through a kitty door. But he always went back home too, he knewed where he lived. So this one probably knew too and went back in himself. Just a thought for food.

However, we dont need more idiots having reptiles or animals that are prohibited. I am not the biggest snake lover, I think they are pretty but they do scare me but I love my lizards and I know the monitors are threatened to be put on the list as well cause of their capabilities we are already stopped from owning the komodo I love so much.

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