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Originally Posted by I_know_stuff_about_stuff
I went to the Reptile Ranch and saw a cobra that they offered to sell me. I do want to get the cobra but I don't think that it would be a good first venomous. I was thinking I should start with something a little easier. Maybe a copperhead. Does anyone have any suggestions about what would be a good first venomous snake? I don't want it for breeding, It would be a showcase in my collection. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. I would like to learn all I can before just going all willie-nilly on a shopping spree.
I would like something that is just as fast of a striker, and smart, but not quite AS deadly. Just so I can get used to the temperment and the speed before I move up to a cobra. I figured that a Copperhead would be a good place to start but I don't know how that would compare to a cobra.
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1) you can't put yourself into situations where you're avoiding strikes anyway.....you are about 1/10th as fast as the slowest snake, so those odds aren't good
2) elapids (cobras, corals, etc) don't usually strike as fast as pit vipers (rattlers, copperheads, etc)....pit vipers usually throw their heads at you and are FAST....elapids aren't usually as bad about striking from my experience, but they seem more apt to strike from any position.....when fully extended, they will still attempt one.....they don't "load up" and therefore can't do it as fast, but they can catch you off guard.....a pit viper will usually be in a deceptive "sleeping position" or just be coiled up and ready to nail you, but you should know that the chance is there......sorry if it's confusing
3) people say that there is "no good first hot" but that's insane.....i'd recommend a copperhead before i'd recommend a mamba for a first.....
a) being a local/indigenous snake is good because if you're bitten and need a/v, it will mostly likely be there
b) having milder venom is a plus, and a smaller yield is nice....a copperhead may give you 35mg of venom, whereas a western/eastern diamondback may nail you with 500mg.....that does matter a LOT...copperheads' venom is potent, but they just don't pump you full of it....you can find the bite yield on different sites for most snakes
c) the snake being between 3-5ft as an adult is a plus...large enough for a regular hook, small enough for a regular cage, small enough to be manageable
a copperhead is a great place to start, but they can be finicky eaters.....most of mine usually quit eating around this time of year because in the wild, they're getting ready to breed and that's all they can think about....not ALL, but most of mine...they'll usually eat another few meals and then stop eating to get ready for brumation/hibernation....they're easy to care for as far as temp/humidity goes.....room temp and humidity will work fine.......they'll eat f/t mice usually and will take cold blooded if they have to....not the pickiest eaters, but if they don't want to eat, they simply won't.....my female didn't eat for 8 months, then ate 2 meals before brumation, then come out in the spring eating like a pig.......they're hardy
a
cottonmouth wouldn't be bad either, because they're usually a little bit more defensive and that will help you get used to making them do what you need them to do.......just remember though, a bite from either could be very bad, i.e., lost finger, lifelong pain in the joints, and death is possible although unlikely.......
something else to keep in mind is that pit vipers' fangs are as mobile as your fingers.....if you were to have to pin them and hold their head for any reason (no need to do it for fun), you have to remember that they can slide their fangs out of the side of their mouth and get you that way...just takes a scratch......they can move them independently, straight out, etc.....this usually happens when force feeding, but even then, being in control and being careful are all that it takes to avoid being bitten......
if you are bitten, you can't freak out either, things happen...just know the exact process you are going to take....keep in mind that the papers will find out about your bite if you have to go to the hospital and they'll blow it out of proportion and there could be legal ramifications.......one bad incident could mean new laws in your state, the fire is burning and everything like this is fuel.....
good luck, i love my copperheads and i think they're REALLY pretty animals.....
