Gaboon

I'm not going to say anything. The picture is saying enough. Children don't do this at home.

-5/5

This does not set a very good example for beginner keepers. This could get someone killed. Not a very good example at all.

On a side note, beautiful snake.

Wow! You certainly have more guts than I do. Did you see that photo earlier this year on Kingsnake.com of that Gaboon viper bite? It looked pretty rough. At the rate you're going, make sure you post a picture of your Gaboon Viper bite as well.

LOL.....thanks for the responses, everyone. Glad to see the pic has generated so much interest. They feel really cool, like pebbles set in tar paper. The keels are so thick, it's amazing. Too bad none of you have minds open enough to experience it. :P

The reason that nobody has his minds open is because the people here don't want to die. It's nuts. If you want to feel the snake in your hands then do it safe. Use A TUBE!!!!!

Well, when all is said and done, Kikai's right; "To each his own", but I"ll be the first one to confess that you won't be seeing me free-handling a Gaboon Viper, or any venomous snake out there for that matter!

If it's raised right, who says it's more likely to strike than any other snake? I know ball pythons that'll bite anything that comes near them. Heck, I know a leopard gecko that'll kill and eat you if you could. =)

Very nice snake.

That was in one of the forums. Isn't it a venomoid? I believe I've seen that picture before. Even if it is though I still wouldn't want to catch one of those fangs. Ouch

Look at that poor gaboon viper.... First of all it is a venomoid.... Nice sunken in head from the void sugery..... Anyone that can do that to such a beautiful snake should have their teeth pulled out one by one with no pain meds.... It totally takes away from the nature and the natural look of the snake.... HerpHusband, It is true that they are not any more likely to bite than any other snake but results of a bite from a gaboon are very bad at the least..... They can and will bite wether is is a mistake or in self defence, a venomous bite is a venomous bite.... And dead is dead.... I would free handle any type of non hot but the chance you take handling venomous snakes realy is not worth life or limb..... Is it???? The fangs alone are enough to cause nerve damage and serious infections..... Nevermind the venom...... I would also like to know how knowing venomoid surgeries are cruel and illegal, is being closed minded???? It is ignorant to believe this is a good thing and the animal does not suffer from it......

See the picture kids? this is what you call 'Retarded'! All jokes aside, snakes are still wild no matter how often you handle them, what species they are, or when you took them in. They all have the potential to return to their natural tendancies, and some have the natural tendency to bite...

opinions are like @$$holes, everyone has one, nobody wants to hear yours.

Please show me unbiased data stating weather venemoid surgery is either beneficial or detrimental to the snakes. I've been in this industry for 18 years and I have yet to see anything more than empty statements.

If it's your opinion that venemoid surgery is bad or makes the snake look ugly, then good, don't own one.

Everyone knows that smoking causes disease and decreses the lifespan of that homosapien erectus species, but it's still the most widely accepted addiction. I for one am sick of this unfounded venemoid discussion which is just filled with opinions and people trying to control how other people enjoy the hobby.

ok, if you are going to make a comment about opinions being like assholes, then dont post your opinion.
And if you are going to try and sound smart, be correct. Modern humans would be Homosapein Sapein. NOT ERECTUS

In response to the photo you got balls. It's cool if you want to freehandle, but a lot of kids and/or beginners get on this site and see things like this. Im not saying dont do it. Just that it is not a good idea to post pics of it on this site.

I work with a large venomous collection and I Have felt the scales of a gabby and many others,.....WHILE I WAS TAILING IT AND USING A HOOK! I agree that posting this picture may give beginners the wrong idea. It is also this same irresonsible behavior that gets someone hurt. Some may say, "To each their own", "Let them get bit if they want to freehandle". I would agree with that in a different world. Has anyone Noticed what just happend in NY? Laws banning reptiles and exotics come about by careless owners who do stupid things. So if you really like your collection / hobby with Hots, you should care if someone else is doing something stupid in our arena.

outstanding looking Gabby....i want a gaboon viper and whenever i get it i hope its as preety as that one...but im gunna keep the venom ducts...ill just be extra carefull

who the hell would be stupid enough to handle a venomous snake like that i am not talking about the picture but the posts writing children do not try this at home. first of all which child is gonna go out and find a gaboon viper second of all if you buy a gaboon and handle it like that you ought to be killed. im only 13 years old saying this and my parents absolutely hate reptiles

and by the way i am si[bleep] of you people going around and saying CHILDREN do not try this CHILDREN do not try that. we are not that [bleep]in stupid. no children would go on this site unless they absolutely love snakes and are smart enough to know which is venomous and which is not. i dont think most small children know about this site and i dont think they have venomous snakes as pets to handle them like this. man im si[bleep] and tired of this [bleep]. i dont know how stupid you guys think children are but i do know that no child that goes to this website and knows abou this web site is stupid enough to go handle a venomous snake. i have a pet red diamondba[bleep] rattlesnake that i have found in my yard and yes i am 13 years old. now if you have read this and you are an adult you probably have gasped once you read that. BUT I AM NOT STUPID ENOUGH TO TEASE THE SNAKE OR HANDLE IT. i know what to do and i know about safety. just because i am 13 years old does not mean i am going to go to the rattlesnakes cage right now and pi[bleep] it up.