whats the point of keeping deadly snakes?

[02SXViper]

you can't ever hold them, like you can a boid or somthin'....so why risk your life?


p.s. oh yah, and i just got a pair or black momba's







p.s.s. just kiddin, lol

[JuliusSqueezer]

Not all pets are supposed to be lap puppies. People keep fish. I never see anyone sitting around with a gold fish in their lap

Venomous snakes should not be kept as pets. It's a whole different thing that has nothing to do with companionship. It's all about learning and teaching...research...understanding...respect...Most of what is known about these animals was learned through hobbiests keeping them. Without the knowledge gained from keeping them in captivity by hobbiests, zoos would be in the dark ages and have no idea how to keep them alive or how to work with them. Venom research would be set back light years. Handling techniques would still be waiting to be discovered. It seems logical that highly educated herpetologists and zoologists would be the best bet for making these discoveries but these people have a lot on their plates as it is and no time to specialize in specific species husbandry or at least figuring it all out from scratch.

[BWSmith]

Very well said Brett. It is difficult to explain the draw of these animals to some of us. Think about it this way. How many people think you are crazy for keeping a boa? Theycan't understand why anyone would keep snakes just like it is hard for many nonven keepers to understand hot keepers. But venomous is not like keeping boids. it is not a hobby, it is a lifestyle. You have to alter the way you think, housing, handling, and LOTS of research. Most responsible venomous keepers have at least a working knowledge of clinical toxinology and envenomation treatments. There is so much to learn and more every day. Sorry, I am not vey articulate this morning

[JuliusSqueezer]

LOL...It is a change of lifestyle, no doubt. I can no longer walk into my snakeroom in the dark. Even after carefully removing any venomous snake from the cage to clean, I still have to be careful to check for unexpected babies before just sticking my hand in there. You find yourself taking a lot of precautions that may pose about a billion in one chance of ever even being an issue.

[chrispaine]

ya i mean come on.. where would we be if we wernt interested in somthing that could kill us!!!!!!!!!

[louise]

a burm can kill you and so can many dogs

[chrispaine]

ya or you could slip and fall down your stairs going to your living room... so.. its a very difficult thing to talk about ha.

[JuliusSqueezer]

Usually less than a dozen people per year die in the US from snake bite. Over 100 people die in the US each year from choking to death on ball point pens...go figure. Ink pens are 10 times more dangerous than a rattlesnake.