I don't have DWA, but do have plenty of rear fangs. I personally would be seriously p'd off if I was criticised for having animals which need to be legally licenced before I keep them, and met the criteria for having them. All of my rear fangs are locked away just as DWA would be. As for giant snakes, if you are experienced enough to keep them, then complainers should go and grow up! Mason, we have disagreed over mangroves, but to keep retics is NOT a sign of bad attitude, and if I had the space, I would have them as they are awsome!

I only keep Rear Fanged atm, but my "close" family are backing me all the way

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R.I.P Steve Irwin and all other amazing Herpetologists

I hope I am not seen as hijacking this. I see no reason why experienced herp keepers should not be able to keep such amazing, and, lets face it, evolutionary exciting snakes as rear fanged colubrids. I clearly remember some 15 years ago, and maybe more, when there was huge excitement at the discovery of western hoggies able to give a venomous bite. This was an example of evolution in action.
Since then we have a myriad of supposedly harmless colubrids now known to be venomous. FWC'se now available., all of the boiga, leioheterodon, all are now available. Why should keepers of these species be seen as irresponsible when their charges , if held securely, are safer than the average family dog? I would, maybe, extend this view to DWA. To keep things in perspective, how many hospital admissions due to DWA have there been compared to dog bites , over, say the last decade ? My own opinion, as this is an emotive issue.

people mainly do it because they care, i know it slightly different but i get it all the time for riding motorbikes! and yes it does wear thin....

would hate to think what my family would say if i got into HOTS, they think lizards, frogs and the inverts they eat are creepy!!! lol

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I get the hassle without keeping venomous!
Again its mostly from those who dont understand or know anything.
So i just tend to reply: come and meet them and you will soon change your opinion! Otherwise go back into your hole!

At the end of the day if u keep venomous then you do so because your intrest in the species is deep. So you tend to know what your dealing with! People only comment negatively because they dont undertsand,
most people would like to understand if you give them a chance.

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xkellyx



0.1 07.albino burmese python (Peaches)
1.0 07.super tiger retic (Flare)
1.0 07.jungle carpet pythonxdiamond (Rug)
0.1 07.IJxJJ carpet python(Persia)

I've been lucky to work closely with Vipera berus for 30 odd years and keep herps for a similar time. As a regular photographer of "hots" I've also been in very close contact with a huge range of venomous species so the move into keeping DWA's didnt surprise my family.

Real friends understand what drives me!

When asked by other people why keep something you cannot handle I give them the stock question in answer ..." can you handle your tropical fish?".

what if they dont keep tropical fish

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I get enough stick for keeping Spiders. Thankfully i got my mum to pick up my first and she now loves em.

Id say they are just worried about you getting hurt, i had one person in his snake room on web cam before taking out some of his DWA's and showing it on the cam, (With hooks and safety of course) and i didn't like it. Mainly because if he was bitten i was at the other end of the country and could do sod all about it. The way i see it is their are very few deaths from owning DWA license animals. Their are more deaths and injury's from keeping horses as lets face it they too can be dangerous. That and it would be hypocritical of me to berate DWA owners when i want a caimen when i get my own place.

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lucifus@hotmail.com - feel free to add.

Sign My Petition: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Preachers/

not many people understand DWA let alone snakes at all, once you have the knowledge and experience you no longer are afraid cautious yes but not afraid. maybe you could try to teach the people who give you stick bout it. maybe then they would think, yer ok he knows his stuff and they don't sound as bad as i first tought. thats how i got my parents to stop giving me grief about mine.

Never thought about that

My wife looks at people this way...... Those who like animals are generally ok!! Those who dont like animals are weird and she doesnt trust them!!!