Hypothetical

[razeraze]

First let me say I am terrified of hots and will never own one. I admire anyone who can work with these beautiful creatures safely and responsibly but that will never be me. Now another thread about giants brought up and interesting question and I would like to pose it here. Hypothetically if no laws were in place regulating hot ownership answer this question:
What advice would you give that person (with no experience) that is dead set on getting a hot?

[spike06]

have fun at your funeral lol

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[Stargazer]

"It's been nice knowin' ya."

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[snakehooked]

Here in FL we have a permit system that requires 1000 hours of documented experience and TWO letters of recommendation. Even if those rules weren't in place I would STILL suggest being mentored by an experienced keeper. I'm lucky enough to have two very good friends that are giving me the benefit of their years of experience and I have to say if I didn't have them to learn from I probably wouldn't be doing this.

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[LooseAFur]

Dont!!!

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[morti]

Originally Posted by razeraze

What advice would you give that person (with no experience) that is dead set on getting a hot?

I would recommend that said person get training from a responsible hot keeper. I have made that recommendation before.

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[LdyDrgn]

... as well as have (lots of) money in the bank IN CASE of emergency (such as an envenomation), make sure your local hospital/zoo carries anti-venin for whatever you decide to keep (AFTER training), notify police/fire departments of what you keep...

Hang signs, have a binder with proper bite protocols handy, make sure your hot room is secure....

And so much more.

FOLLOW PROTOCOL!!!! This is important no matter what one keeps, be it hot or giant.

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[reticguy69]

practice common sense handling. use caution, but dont be so afraid that you will make a mistake being too overly cautious and nervous. thats when most mistakes are actually made, being too careful and so afraid of making the very mistake one makes. use just as much common sense as when you get behind the wheel of a few thousand pound piece of metal you drive, as you would a retic, a burm, a rock, a gabby, a death adder, etc. ask questions, lots of questions too other keepers in person, on forums, and just learn about them. eventually, youre gonna have to get your feet wet, you will either be responsible, careful keepers, or do not get said animal

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[Samhain]

5+ years of mentors working with them and showing them the ropes. I have Kept Hots for 30+ years. I never recomend them I just let them know whats involved. A snake like this can take all you have....and all you are ever going to have.....

A Female Naja of Mine Nightmare....

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

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[reticguy69]

that is one of my farvorites in your collection, harry. absolutely gorgeous snake

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[STausch]

I think Florida's regulation is a really good idea. Not sure how well it is enforced or if people can BS their way through it, but in theory it seems like a great idea. I don't have any desire to own a HOT but I know my boyfriend will one day have several. My plan is to never handle them myself, but to be fully prepared to handle a bite to him. I think it's a good idea for the authorities and nearby hospital to know you keep a HOT (though I doubt they would do any thing except tell you you're crazy). Anyway, we both agree they can't be purchased until a totally secure snake room is set up, and we plan to design a cage with sections so that panels can be slid in to corner the snake while the rest of the cage is cleaned. I have great respect and awe for the species, but prefer my boas personally. I think if someone is dead set I would tell them to spend at least a year actively learning and spending time around them and that if after that time they weren't deterred then maybe it's right for them.

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[LdyDrgn]

Originally Posted by reticguy69

thats when most mistakes are actually made, being too careful and so afraid of making the very mistake one makes.

A lot of mistakes are also made by being over-confident.

One of my favorite quotes from a nefarious character in a series I have read is, "Confident, cocky, lazy, dead."

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[reticguy69]

oh fo sho, im a huge believer that over confident and cocky are also dangerous metalities. you have to find that common, stable ground between, being so afraid and nervous that you mess up, and being over confident and cocky that you mess up.

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[snakehooked]

Originally Posted by STausch

I think Florida's regulation is a really good idea. Not sure how well it is enforced or if people can BS their way through it, but in theory it seems like a great idea.

I don't personally know anyone who's managed to BS their way through it. Hours can be fudged if your instructor is willing to throw a couple "free" hours your way but you can't just make up a fictional person to sign off on your hours, it has to be someone with a VR permit already on file with FWC. And I know that mine don't just give hours away, if I'm not moving snakes or cleaning snake poop I'm moving rats and cleaning rat poop or moving various items around with hook and tongs.

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[SUAD]

I would advise said individual to just wait, be patient, and allow myself or someone else who had the necessary experience mentor and train you. Starting off with basic nonvens/colubrids and moving your way up to faster, more aggro nonvens (with tongs) to understand and view future scenarios the correct way.

When I had my hots, the police department know about it (mainly because I had several police friends, and worked out with half the department at our local gym), and we had several places locally that stored antivinen here. My wife and I had a "game plan" if a bite were to occur.

The main thing, is just learning and being taught how to handle hots. Then the individual should be taught how to gather necessary protocol info and steps. Formulate a plan for anything that may go wrong, but do everything in your power to make sure something DOESN'T go wrong. Make your keep's caging and room as secure as Fort Knox, absolutely escape-proof, preferrably with a landline phone set up in there. Avoid cleaning or doing any necessary maintenance with snakes if you are tired, intoxicated, or angry/upset. Your focus must be 110% when working with hots, I found this out the hard way, unfortunately.

Primarily, before doing anything else: listen to as many people as possible who have experience with the animals, so much so that you could practically write a book of things you have learned.

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

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