Just curious

[hunters327]

O.K. I just wanted to ask what is your reason for keeping hots?
I only have boas and pythons but have been gaining interest in hots as of late. At this point I do not see myself keeping any hot due to the possible risk. Of course as I gain knowledge and interest that could very well change.
So, please let me know your reasons and also am I just retarded for being concerned with the possible risk?
Thanks

	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

[FLVenom]

Well, I can attest my interest in just their beauty and natural history. They are some of the most fascinating animals on earth, and have evolved remarkably. Also, the captive breeding of species that haven't been bred much here in the US is also a challenge.

[Gregg]

Originally Posted by hunters327

O.K. I just wanted to ask what is your reason for keeping hots?

Well I keep them because I enjoy it... It is not for the rush or to look cool... Infact, after you have kept hots for a while it is just like keeping any other species of non-hot...When you are properly educated and experienced in keeping these animals, the risk factor is reduced dramaticly... It is a big risk if you do not know what you are getting into or know what you are doing when it comes to venomous reptiles...

Originally Posted by hunters327

At this point I do not see myself keeping any hot due to the possible risk.

It is good that you see this and are not jumping into something that you are not ready for... There would a lot less problems if everyone thought first before acting on an impulse....

Originally Posted by hunters327

am I just retarded for being concerned with the possible risk?
Thanks

Not at all... To some people the risk is not worth it, but to others like Joe and my self the Joy and reward far out-weighs the risk...

	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

[GaryO]

I love every aspect of keeping herps. Hots are just another page in my book. I do not do it to be elite. I do not do it for the wow factor. I do not do it for anyones respect. I do it becuase i love hots.

Mangroves got me into hots. I found a species that many think is a good first hot. Or that is a easy hot to care for. But yet not many breed it and not much info is out there. So I went in head first. lol

But I would say i keep hots for the same reason most keep nonvenomous. the love of herps

	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

[JuliusSqueezer]

For years...many years, I enjoyed them in the wild and left them there. It just never occured to me that a rattlesnake would make a fine household pet Copperhead calls are a pretty common thing here and I've been relocating them since about the early Reagan administration days...and finally just decided to keep a few for educational reasons but got lazy and that excuse kind of just never really much panned out. On the occasions I ever did a program, I didn't take them anyway so they were pets for awhile. Now I develop handling equipment and I think it's pretty crucial in my business to actually test and use the tools I'm developing. I couldn't with a clear conscience tell someone that this is a great little hook for rattlesnakes if all I ever picked up with it was a ball python. I did however use a coachwhip to develop my elapid hook. I don't do elapids or anything exotic for that matter. All of my venomous are native to Georgia...except for a couple of the copperheads. Honestly, I have no greater love for them than I do say...a ratsnake. They are just snakes to me same as anything else. But they do keep me on my toes and pretty much everytime I open a cage, a new tool of some sort is born.

[FLVenom]

Originally Posted by JuliusSqueezer

a new tool of some sort is born.

Well, would you care to try to design larger size trap boxes? I would like to see what you come up with, as I am very limited with my handy work..lol

[hunters327]

Thanks for the replies.
So where would be the best place to start if I am wanting to gain
the best possible knowledge on keeping hot's? I would like to learn as much as I can so that if my interest grows beyond my control I will be ready to handle them.

[JuliusSqueezer]

Joe...the cool thing about boxes, is you can make them any size you want. Any design is the same just bump up or down the measurments. I need to make a couple myself. Take a road trip up to atlanta one day and we can go hit lowes and then come here and fire up the table saw. There's not much to making a box.

[GaryO]

Where to get started.

I say Buy BW book! Really great info for a person wanting to get into hots and also great info for the vets in the hot keeping world. I myself am really a rookie only keeping hots for a few years.

And then just ask questions. Really there is not a dumb question. Ask anything. I had a person ask my the other day if I keep all my snakes in one cage lol.