I’ve been working on a little project over the past 5 months involving free handling venomous snakes and the possibility of taming. The reason for this research is to educate I have heard many new comers talk of taming venomous snakes along with free handling this is very risky business to say the least and should not be done by anyone.


I put myself in danger to gather information in an attempt to further understand venomous snakes along with writing an article on free handling venomous with actually hands on research rather than personal opinions.

Ok to get started this project involved 9 Cobras 5 CB babies and 2 WC sub adults and 2 CB sub adults averaging 2 years old. Cobras are my main focus since they are somewhat predictable Vs vipers and such.

The snakes I used:
1.1 Blue Eyed Leucistic Monocled Cobras
1.1 Red eyed Leucistic Monocled cobras
0.1 Formosa Cobra
1.1 Black and White Spitting Cobra
1.1 Black Pakistan Cobra.

I used a verity of species in my research although in my personal opinion cobras have a similar mentality but there are exceptions to every rule. I also handled different sexes of different Pairs I will break down in a moment. The snakes I chose to handle in each pair were decided at random but were the only snake in the pair that was free handled. I handled the chosen snakes twice a week from February 15th 2008 to July 1st 2008 the exception is the Formosa cobras since I only have a female that I have possessed since April but she has been handled twice weekly.

The snakes I chose to handle:
1.0 CB 07 Red eyed Leucistic Monocled Cobra
0.1 CB 07 Blue Eyed Leucistic Monocled Cobra
0.1 CB 08 Formosa Cobra
1.0 WC 06 Black and White Spitting Cobra
0.1 CB 06 Black Pakistan Cobra

Now you know the snakes used we will move on to the handling it was done Monday and Friday the reason I chose those days was due to feeding I wanted to see if it made a difference in temperament on an empty or full stomach. I feed on Saturday so Friday they would be hungry and Monday 48 hours give or take after feeding they would be full. I handled the snakes for and average 10-15 minutes although some days less due to temperament. I didn’t document each snakes time being handled but I did monitor days, feeding, and Temperament.

I know everyone is dying to know the results of this research so I will get to it.

Handling different sex of snake of the same or different species made no difference in temperament of the snakes they reacted the same.

Handling on a full or empty stomach also made no difference in temperament.

Now on to my conclusion of the snakes that were handled and the ones that were not. It made no difference what so ever! The snakes that were handled are no calmer than the snakes that were not handled. I brought my little study to an early end of five months originally planning on a year but since the snakes have not calmed after five months the results are clear.

I do believe all the snakes used in this project can be handled using different techniques but as far as taming or calming not going to happen. Free handling is very dangerous and far too risky after this project I can assure you that you are not going to tame or calm a cobra.

The results were obvious to me before doing this little project but I wanted to document and put it on paper. The whole project was very risky and stupid to say the least and some people might say well you must have done something your still here. That something is I know my snakes and there reactions very well but they are by no means tame or calm. The handling made no difference.

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1.1 Red Eyed Leucistic Monocled Cobras
1.1 Blue Eyed Leucistic Monocled Cobras
2.3 White Lipped Vipers
1.1 Black Pakistan Cobras
1.1 Black and white Spitting Cobras
0.1 Puff Adder
1.1 gaboon Vipers
1.0 Mangrove snake
0.1 Formosa Cobra
1.1 osage copperhead
www.exoticanimalforums.com
www.myspace.com/eparr_1
www.eaternPareptilerescue.org

I have pictures I will add this weekend but I spent so much time deciding whether or not I would post this information due to the controversy it might create.

I was also going to do a little video but decided aginst it as some people might use it for a freehandling lesson rather than the intended purpose.

Thanks
Eric G.

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1.1 Red Eyed Leucistic Monocled Cobras
1.1 Blue Eyed Leucistic Monocled Cobras
2.3 White Lipped Vipers
1.1 Black Pakistan Cobras
1.1 Black and white Spitting Cobras
0.1 Puff Adder
1.1 gaboon Vipers
1.0 Mangrove snake
0.1 Formosa Cobra
1.1 osage copperhead
www.exoticanimalforums.com
www.myspace.com/eparr_1
www.eaternPareptilerescue.org

this is a very controversial thread and I take it you posted it for honest opinions so thats what im going to give, I respect you mate, and you have some very nice snakes in your collection, but to me the whole idea of freehandling venomous snakes is ridiculous, from an experiment point of view its stupid, even if you were working in an enviroment where AV was on hand its still crazy, the risks are far too high for it to even seem like a good idea, from my point of view its irresponsible to venomous keepers.

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Brilliant,
Although you are abit crazy, its nice you done the research,

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I agree with you 100% Si that is why I have kept this quiet to this point.

I see alot of free handling going on in the hobby and people see someone else doing it and feel it's ok and some even get the idea the snakes can be tamed so here is proof it can't be done.

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1.1 Red Eyed Leucistic Monocled Cobras
1.1 Blue Eyed Leucistic Monocled Cobras
2.3 White Lipped Vipers
1.1 Black Pakistan Cobras
1.1 Black and white Spitting Cobras
0.1 Puff Adder
1.1 gaboon Vipers
1.0 Mangrove snake
0.1 Formosa Cobra
1.1 osage copperhead
www.exoticanimalforums.com
www.myspace.com/eparr_1
www.eaternPareptilerescue.org

At the risk of being slagged off, what the hell were you thinking of?? This is NOT scientific research and has no scientific basis. Your "paper" is not even written as such! No intro, theory, method, results or analysis, just a rambling post saying what most sensible snake keepers, not just venomous, would say - snakes cannot be tamed! You have put yourself at an enormous risk to prove what? How big your balls are?? This is the kind of ridiculous activity that gives the RSPCA as much ammo as they need to campaign against keeping these animals.
Certainly in the UK, I cannot think of ANY venomous keeper who would even consider free handling.
I fully agree that free handling is a true art which needs intimate knowledge of the animal handled, however, is there really a need? This is an accident waiting to happen.

And I apologise if this next opinion is offensive but I doubt it will be - it is idiots like you who brought about the DWA and create such ammuntion from the "antis" in their campaign against keeping such animals.

Your right it is just a bunch of random info thrown together as far as taming I added calming as I know snakes cannot be tamed but it is a word a lot of people use in this hobby venomous or not.

Also the theroy is simple venomous snakes can not be tamed/clamed even with frequent handling. Also I agree there is no reason to free handle. That was kinda the point along with letting the new comes know even if you do it's not going to change the temperment of the snake.

I'm not worried about the size of my balls or proving anything just a little info and project I set up and followed through with.

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1.1 Red Eyed Leucistic Monocled Cobras
1.1 Blue Eyed Leucistic Monocled Cobras
2.3 White Lipped Vipers
1.1 Black Pakistan Cobras
1.1 Black and white Spitting Cobras
0.1 Puff Adder
1.1 gaboon Vipers
1.0 Mangrove snake
0.1 Formosa Cobra
1.1 osage copperhead
www.exoticanimalforums.com
www.myspace.com/eparr_1
www.eaternPareptilerescue.org

I posted this knowing full well the out come and the response so far are the correct ones. I stated myself it was stupid and irresponsible.

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1.1 Red Eyed Leucistic Monocled Cobras
1.1 Blue Eyed Leucistic Monocled Cobras
2.3 White Lipped Vipers
1.1 Black Pakistan Cobras
1.1 Black and white Spitting Cobras
0.1 Puff Adder
1.1 gaboon Vipers
1.0 Mangrove snake
0.1 Formosa Cobra
1.1 osage copperhead
www.exoticanimalforums.com
www.myspace.com/eparr_1
www.eaternPareptilerescue.org

Hey mate, i know you are a good handler... so good luck to you, keep safe mate...

When will the pictures be up

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