More venomous:

amercnwmn · #1 (**permalink**) 02-14-2010, 06:01 PM

Northern Copperhead from J&M Exotics

Juvenile Hognose showing me who is boss

Male Atheris chlorechis

The Purp..well, I have a FEW names for this snake, none are forum safe.

This is the most aggressive snake I've ever had the pleasure to work with. I love when people try to tell me that snakes will just slither away if given the choice..Obviously they've never ran into a purp.

Female Atheris chlorechis

Naja haje (the one-eyed snake)

My deceased female Western Diamondback "Kyle's Mom" for all you South Park fans.. I loved this snake. She was very unusual in color.

Male Western Diamondback also deceased

Eyelash Viper RIP* I really should look into a pair of these. They are neat little snakes

E. African Gaboon Viper RIP*

[/URL]
Speckled Rattler *RIP

Female Sunglow Monocled, love her colors

E. African Gaboon Viper, cried when this one died

Female Sunglow Monocled cobra, yearling, lost her mate

Male Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, 1 yr old

Anyways sorry this was so long, but some of my most beautiful snakes passed away, and I had to include them.

SUAD · #2 (**permalink**) 02-14-2010, 11:28 PM

Beautimus snakes!!!

Now now, you know that hoggie is not on the level with the rest of these.... weirdo.

I freaking love your amel Naja Kaoiutheiaieoai though.

amercnwmn · #3 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 12:31 AM

Yeah neither is my Corn snake, and I managed to accidentally leave her out..lol
At least the Hognose is a rear fanged venomous. Now those the venom IS mild..lol
I let my kids handle the baby hogs. They are the coolest little snakes.

RayRay · #4 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 12:35 AM

They're all beautiful... you know I like the Purp!
If you don't mind me asking, how did you lose so many of them? That's got to be so devastating.

amercnwmn · #5 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 12:50 AM

The purp is the absolute worst snake. It was supposed to be a WAGLER'S. lol I was told it was a "nice snake" and I'd really like it.

They are FAR from nice. They are aggressive.

As far as the deaths:
A lot of them were purchased together at a show, so they were exposed in close proximity to snakes that were obviously sick and we didn't know about till later. I got a Speckled Rattler & Canebrake that came from the same seller that never ate, and showed severe RI signs. The Speckled we pithed and put it down almost immediately. I'd lost quite a few by that time, and when the RI started there was nothing you could do, and they were dead within 24hrs.

My friend lost 80 snakes out of 100 within 3months. His deaths were linked to paramyxo.

Not sure what the main cause in my collection was/were. It is possible I had more than one thing going on.
I had 2 necropsies done out of all my deaths. I should have had more, but many of my deaths occurred over night or on weekends. I was initially told the tests would not be effective if they were not immediately done, which is not necessarily true.

The WDB was said to have RI, while the male Sunglow monocled died of "Level 4 salmonella poisoning" That threw me.
The only conclusion we could come to was the possible contamination of feeder rodents. That COULD account for the loss of 4 of my snakes as they all ate the same size. The Eyelash, Pigmy, Juvie Atheris chlorechis & Sunglow male monocled all died and were all fed pinks from that batch. Of course I had my Hognose and they didn't die.. and the female Sunglow was fine?

After that was determined, I tossed that stock of pinky mice.
I still lost my WDB female to an RI and that was the last death that wasn't suspected to be food related.

I'm still leery, every thing my snakes do makes me nervous. If they don't eat, aren't gaining weight right, open their mouths to hiss, yawn, or even look at me funny I worry.

RayRay · #6 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooChile

The purp is the absolute worst snake. It was supposed to be a WAGLER'S. lol I was told it was a "nice snake" and I'd really like it.

They are FAR from nice. They are aggressive.

Hehehe... I like how he looks. Wouldn't want one, or any hot, but I admire them.

That really sucks about your collection, and yeah I would be worried about any inconsistencies if that happened to me too.

amercnwmn · #7 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 01:23 AM

Yeah you have to admire a snake that can hang by it's tail tip and extend it's entire body straight out to strike and still manage to rattle that little tail like a rattler.

BlackLava · #8 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 01:40 AM

wow nice babies you got there!! im really sorry about your losses though

that has to be devastating

amercnwmn · #9 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 02:06 AM

It is. I think the worst losses that really hit me hard were my female WDB, the male & then the Gab & juvie A. chlorechis. Not that I was emotionless over the others, but these were my favorites.

The first time I saw a pic of a Gab they were my goal to work with, same with Atheris. The female diamondback I fell in love with in SC and she was my absolute favorite.

BlackLava · #10 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 02:14 AM

i cant say that im not tempted to work with gabbys

but im def not ready for those bad boys yet. i love love LOVE the eyelash vipers too

Do you ever plan on breeding or do you just plan on keeping them as pets?

amercnwmn · #11 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 02:21 AM

I don't currently have any Eyelash vipers. The little gold one passed away before I had the mass die off. I think it was keeper error, maybe inhaled some water and developed pneumonia..? Maybe I didn't have temps right?

I really like them, I've stayed clear of them since I lost Goldie, but I keep seeing pics of them from friends on other forums, and it's driving me crazy.
I would like to get a pair and try again. I have friends that are breeders and I would love to pick up some stock from them.

I have an area set back away from everything to quarantine.

If I ever manage to get anything to breed, I have a few friends and experienced keepers who have really helped me out over the years I would offer them to first, and I'd hold back a few.
Big IF though..lol

I think they'd be fun to breed and work with. Baby schlegs are tougher to get going I hear, but challenges don't really bother me, unless it hurts the animal.

Been sort of holding out for A. ceratophora.

BlackLava · #12 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 02:53 AM

just out of curiousity, maybe i missed it, but how did you get into hot keeping?

amercnwmn · #13 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 03:13 AM

Reptile keeping? or just hots?
For reptile keeping I remember bein a little kid and my friend brought me a salamander. I was like 6 so I didn't know you couldn't keep it in a bricked in square outside..lol. It got out. I was always bringing in animals. Box turtles were a big one.
I love all animals, (cept worms & slugs..) so reptiles are just an extension of that. When I was 12ish I brought home a green ig from the pet store. Mom made me take it back. Not because she found out what it needed, but because it was a LIZARD.

How I got started in venomous, I'd been keeping non-vens for about a year or so. This was 5yrs? almost 6yrs ago. I started seein pics of snakes in collections, snakes I'd never seen. I discovered people actually worked with these other than in zoos. I was fascinated. I fell in love with Gabs the first time I saw pics, same with Atheris. Those are my favorite species.
Viperids in general are really my favorites.

So I asked a ton of questions, behaved like a sponge, absorbing everything.
At first, I got knocked by a few people who were protective of the hobby, but overall it made me think. I can understand where they are coming from, and I try to take their concerns in mind when I'm workin with my snakes, or while I was setting up my cages, collection and learning. I don't want to prove people right that said I couldn't do this, and I don't want to let people down who have tried to help me. Not to mention, I don't want to get bit!!

I read BW's book "Venomous Snakes in Captivity" several times, made notes, started acquiring equipment, talking to people online..
Reading more...getting out in the field, visiting nearby reptile parks, and zoos and speaking with the owners/keepers there.
I checked out their cages, their equipment, I'd ask them stuff like "what do you like/dislike about your cages/set ups? What equipment can you NOT do without?" and just asked them all sorts of stuff. I still do that. lol

My interest garnered me some local friends who were willing to help as often as they could, and it turned into a lot of visiting back and forth. I made some great friends this way, and I have a good small support group locally.
I started out with a Copperhead, went to a Western Pigmy and another Copperhead, and then my N. Pacific, Eyelash viper & the PURP of all things!

I also have countless experienced people online who have helped me more than I can ever thank them for, and who continue to answer my questions, and offer advice and help when I need it, and encourage me.

BlackLava · #14 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 03:32 AM

thanks for the info

(lol @ the salamander!) ive always liked rattlers, but idk....to me they, and other hots, arent something i feel comfortable just jumping into without hands on training and experience. i jumped right in with the retics without any real hands-on experience with giants, but if those guys get me it will just hurt my feelings a little, LMAO.

amercnwmn · #15 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 05:28 AM

Yeah I did have some "hooks" on training, and I feel relatively confident with my vipers.
The Naja intimidate me. I dunno if that is something that I will overcome or if it stays.

I was shown how to hook a snake, how to safely move it, contain it, restrain it, including pinning, tubing, etc. The purp still makes me jump when it smacks the glass though.

RayRay · #16 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooChile

Yeah I did have some "hooks" on training, and I feel relatively confident with my vipers.
The Naja intimidate me. I dunno if that is something that I will overcome or if it stays.
I was shown how to hook a snake, how to safely move it, contain it, restrain it, including pinning, tubing, etc. The purp still makes me jump when it smacks the glass though.

You should just call him the "Perp".

amercnwmn · #17 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 05:36 AM

hahaha I call it a few things, none postable here.

snakemojo115 · #18 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 06:01 AM

I was just wondering if it was illegal to keep hots around your area,or do you have to get some kind of permit to have them?I've kept boas and pythons for the past 6yrs and really enjoy them,but I was wondering whats it like keeping a gaboon viper they are really interesting to me not to mention awesome looking,by the way sorry about you losing some of your animals.

RayRay · #19 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VoodooChile

hahaha I call it a few things, none postable here.

I bet so... I think he looks interesting and I'm glad that you tolerate him just enough to post pictures of him.

amercnwmn · #20 (**permalink**) 02-15-2010, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snakemojo115

I was just wondering if it was illegal to keep hots around your area,or do you have to get some kind of permit to have them?I've kept boas and pythons for the past 6yrs and really enjoy them,but I was wondering whats it like keeping a gaboon viper they are really interesting to me not to mention awesome looking,by the way sorry about you losing some of your animals.

It's legal for me to keep. No permits yet are required where I live.
A Gab is a serious venomous snake, and I would never recommend one to someone starting out in venomous keeping.

They are very popular in the herp trade, and common in venomous collections. They are a large snake, heavy in body, and despite their seemingly laid back disposition, they have a HUGE and accurate strike range, and the longest fangs of any venomous snake and very large venom glands. Their bites are life threatening, and you should definitely have snakebite protocols in writing and handy in case the worst should happen.

They are beautiful snakes, however.
Unfortunately mine didn't live very long.

It was a very hissy and defensive snake. Not aggressive, however.

Advertisement