OT: Venomous Snake Pics

[InLimbo87]

Beautiful pics! What amazing creatures!

[Eric]

Thanks!

[Boomer]

I really like that Green White Lipped Viper. That pic just so cool So, when are going to get a Russell's Viper

[mps9506]

I wanna see the teeth on your gaboon

[mswiss]

Edited: Deleted by mps9506
consider this a warning, no personal attacks allowed.

[Eric]

I can accomidate the close up of the fangs. I'm sorry for the nature in these pics but it's the only way I'm getting shots of the fangs. I hope this does not offend anyone. The mice are bought frozen so they are not fed live.









I also got a few new shots of my Albino Western Diamondback His name is Wild Bill. Yes I name my snakes LOL

[BarbMazz]

Eric, your snakes are amazing, and beautiful. How long have you been keeping venomous ones? Have you ever been bitten?

I used to collect snakes as a kid.. lived in a very rural area in Ohio... I assume nothing I picked up in the woods was venomous but I had such fun keeping them and watching them. I love all kinds of critters!

Do you keep anti-venom kits close by? I've always wondered what safety measures are needed to have close at hand for people who keep venomous animals around.

[Eric]

I've been keeping venomous snakes for 2-3 years full time on and off for the past 10-12 been into the reptile hobby forever it seems. I have never been bitten and knocking on wood I have never really come close.

As far as anti venom it's not really feasible to keep as a private collector. I take many precautions to keep myself out of harms way. That is the best plan but if bitten I have names numbers and protocol sheets for the hospital to get all the info they need. I also use Shift boxes, Hooks, Tongs, Shields, Dividers, ect there are alot of different methods of handling venomous snakes without actually going hands on. No on paper it looks good alot of handlers use a method called tailing except with the extremely danger snakes Mambas, Tiapans, Forest Cobras. These are snakes that are very fast and aggressive also agile. Just not worth messing with in most cases better to use shift boxes.

Hope this run on answered your questions.

[rlcline76]

This reminds me, now that it is warming up around here...almost time to take my work out regimen to the gym. I was out for a jog one night last summer. I don't know how I saw that rattlesnake just chilling out by the sidewalk...was enough for me to turn around and go straight back home. I like snakes...but only when I can see them and not right by my feet!

Cool pics!

[Eric]

Originally Posted by rlcline76

This reminds me, now that it is warming up around here...almost time to take my work out regimen to the gym. I was out for a jog one night last summer. I don't know how I saw that rattlesnake just chilling out by the sidewalk...was enough for me to turn around and go straight back home. I like snakes...but only when I can see them and not right by my feet!

Cool pics!

I never get that lucky! I have to spend hours/days in the mountians looking and most of the time go home empty handed so to speck I don't bother native reptiles that are not captive bred. I do enjoy looking and finding them snapping a few pics.

[rlcline76]

I don't know if i would consider it luck. Our area was just developed out here, so the snakes haven't figured out that they have been pushed out yet. The snakes, the coyotes, the never ending supply of black widows...I heard we have scorpions. If I see one, I will be gathering the kids and moving back to Illinois.

[BarbMazz]

Thanks for the info, Eric, and that certainly wasn't a run on! Good to know you keep all the good info close at hand and that you've never needed it.

What a cool hobby! Have you caught yours on your own, or purchased them?

I have some Toads, and that's about as venomous as I'll ever get!

[Eric]

I go out road cruising alot in the summer looking for snakes, frogs, well anything that crosses the road. I used to keep a few native species of reptile but This past year the Fish and Game pretty much put a stop to keeping/collecting native Reptiles and Amphibians. They make it look like private collectors are the cause of the dwindling numbers of reptiles and amphibians in the wild. I feel this is a cover up to make it look like they are doing some good but the real reason the numbers are down is the big builders buying up all the land plowing down everything in sight. Then building a bunch of over priced monstrosities. They wipe out everything then plant some grass and a couple trees while building houses side by side no wildlife left in sight when their done. Then the reptile and amphibians that are left get killed off by the new owners of the house considered a pest or nuisance
This is just an opinion of mine means nothing but is more believable to me than private collections being the cause of this problem.

I'm typically not one to fight the power but there are not that many private collector to wipe out the reptile population but as long as they can do it and make it look like they are conserving wildlife no one will second guess it.

[rlcline76]

Housing development is going crazy out here. It isn't just Ft. Bliss, all of El Paso is guilty. I wouldn't be surprised if my housing area loses a few houses within the next few years. The desert has intermittant streams. I can see the washout through peoples' front yards. Water has to go somewhere...and yes it is overpriced.
I'm a treehugger most of the time. Spent a good chunk of my schooling preparing to be a park ranger. But I don't do so well with fire ants and spiders in my house/front yard. Mostly because of the kids. I'll take bears anyday!

[BarbMazz]

I agree with you, Eric! I also think the diminishing population has to do with ecological imbalances; pollution, climate, etc. Reptiles and amphibians are so sensitive to slight changes and are affected first.

My son lives in coastal North Carolina, and they're currently doing research on the toad/frog populations there in regard to environmental distress. They have terrible sewage problems because of the same irresponsible growth you're talking about, and it's those amphibian populations that are showing the signs first. They're like our alarm bells and not many people are paying attention!