gaboon bite

OUCH!!! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN???????

Wow...I imagine he got bit in the leg..dumbass

I have seen much worse, you are very lucky

I'm just curious How did you get bit on the foot/leg? were you in africa and encountered a wild one or was this a captive reptile of yours?

In know the venomous (for and against) argument has been beaten to death on this site, but you really have to wonder... Are the risks worth it to own a deadly venomous creature? No one is more enamored with and fascinated by dangerous reptiles than I am, but lets look at what we are exposing ourselves, and family members, to.

Let's be honest, many of us initially are drawn to reptiles at least to some degree because there is an element of danger about them. That you are daring enough to embrace what others fear most makes you stand out in society, but at what point have we gone too far?

My question is: Is it like an addiction where you constantly seek that thrill at a progressively higher level? Are Cobra's like crack? Addiction takes many unusual forms. So besides the fact that keeping a Gaboon viper could very well kill us, should those of us who take such a risk consider what it really means about us, as people?

blah..blah..blah

An appropriate response for a 13 year old. Did your daddy help you read the big words?

HotRodHerps, I couldn't agree more. If you are going to keep venomous, ask your self this question: are you ready to die for your hobby? Are you mature enough to keep this animal in such a way that others do not get killed, like family members?

I disagree with all this blah, blah, blah... I wonder how many of you anti-venomous owners keep guns in your homes. What about paint, thinners, or other toxic supplies. Oh yeah better through out those steak knives too as a family might kill themselves with it or maybe even kill you with it. By the way better never drive your family in a car, that might end up killing them too. Man, how do you guys protect YOUR selves and family from danger?

Keep in mind that I didn't necessarily say that I would never own a venomous reptile, I simply asked what it means about us as people, why do we do it? The last gentlemen to post got pretty defensive. Why? You asked how I keep my family safe. That's simple, I evaluate risks with a mature, realistic and unselfish perspective. Some risks are unavoidable, I don't really think that you can compare driving in a car to owning a black mamba, sorry that argument just doesn't sound intelligent. I can tell my kids to stay away from "steak knives and paint thinner (?)" and yet have an unfortunate incident occur. This is true but I'm not putting them at risk *NEEDLESSLY*, we need knives to cut our steak and thinners to thin our paint (sorry, I'm chuckling a little here), these are parts of modern living. I personally would, if I were single and had no neighbors close by, own Gila's. But I'm married, and I will not put my wife in danger for my own selfish desires. That's not the point though, to the gentleman who posted in favor of keeping hots, I would like to know why you do it. The real reason.

Because it is my job. I am fully licensed by the D.N.R to conduct reptile lectures as well as public exhibit educational fairs with our native reptiles. I do agree with you to a point. One should never NEEDLESSLY place his or her family in danger. That is why I am against venomous reptiles, crocs, etc., and large boids in the home. However I live in the county, and have my serpentarium seperate from my house. My venomous snakes are housed in a room inside my larger building and is locked at all times. All cages are locked and tagged with venomous snake signs, and the proper antivenom, common and scientific names attached to the cage that can be torn off and taken to the E.R in case of envenomation. I also keep the main doors locked to the building unless I am inside. I never handle venomous alone or when my children are present. My family is #1 and not victims of blind ambition.
I must say that I worry more about some
wild snake in my yard biting one of my children that any of my own. I was a little defensive in my last post. Sorry. I had just got finished reading some anti-reptile BS at PETA website and was a little antsy. By the way if you want to help fight PETA, go to www.consumerfreedom.com and sign the petition that is going to be filed with the IRS. Peta is now being investigated for a possible pull of their tax exempt status after so many complaints against them.

I currently own a hot and have a fiance and a child. If you own one and your family is at risk than you dont keep it right and you shouldnt have it. mine is in my living room on a shelf where my child will never be left alone long enough to get to it until she is old enough. There is nothing wrong with having them with your family, you just have to not be stupid about it.

--are you ready to die for your hobby?--

We will all die, it's unavoidable. I would rather die doing something that I enjoyed and based my life upon than dieing of an old, over the hill age. Wouldn't you?



--I simply asked what it means about us as people, why do we do it?--

Means nothing. We do it because we enjoy the animal. No other snake replicates the rattlesnake. No other snake beats the vivid colors of a Gaboon viper, or the colossal size of a king cobra. You take the same risks you do with any other animals; Bites, escapes, death.. It's all about responsibility, safty, the knowledge of your animal and 'evaluating risks with a mature, realistic and unselfish perspective.'

--I personally would, if I were single and had no neighbors close by, own Gila's. But I'm married, and I will not put my wife in danger for my own selfish desires.--

If you are a responsible keeper, your wife would be in little to no danger. If you knew the precautions of keeping hot snakes(or lizards), you are presented with little danger yourself. Their are proper tools for everything, even for the animals you keep. There are methods and guidelines that should be followed. Most people who have been bitten by a hot was an error on their own part, (Freehandling, improper housing, showing off, improper tools).
It's not like driving a car, indeed. Many conflicting factors among the two, however a responsible hot keeper is much safer than a responsible car driver.
We all have desires, selfish or not, many on which we part take on, why be any different with just a snake? Sounds to me you're questioning your abilities, in which case I wouldn't own a hot either.
Xain

Thanks a lot freak. Im glad someone agrees with me.

In my opinion EVERYONE has the right to keep whatever he/she likes... but ONLY if it is done sensibly and by the book and ONLY if he/she can provide for all of the animal's needs.
It takes a special kind of person to keep "Hot" snakes sensibly,safely and successfully. Everyone knows the risks and the daily danger involved with their care - It comes with the territory and in the "Hot" community, WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTAND that!!
Please remember that they CAN be be kept sensibly, successfully AND safely by informed and conscientious keepers. Legislation to restrict ownership is biased and mostly based upon case studies involving irresponsible people, harassing frightened animals, NOT the serious students of nature who would NEVER scare or "play" with their deadly charges (most of us).
The photo illustrates what can happen if things go wrong, by wrong I mean when a mistake is made. REMEMBER VENOMOUS SNAKES DON'T KILL PEOPLE, HUMAN ERROR AND THEIR MISTAKES DO!!!

knives, guns, paint thinner, tazers, staple guns, thumb tacks, scissors and swords. What do they all have in common? They require a person in order to do harm to another.

A cobra, mamba, gaboon, adder, etc can kill your butt of its own free will.

Just a thought.

For all you folks that keep them, cool! It makes for cool pics. But you're not bringing that thing into my house.