Starting a Venomous snake collection.

[PDR]

QUOTE=Mark O'Shea;5039298]I do not recall being at uni with the person you mention and he certainly is not my friend! Leading expert on crocodilians, LOL !
A few years these two reported PH quotes were doing the rounds, from his days of doing raids on reptile keepers for the RSPCA:
"we seized the spectacled caiman because it was not being kept in conditions conducive with its native Papua New Guinea" and "why is the false water cobra the only cobra not on the DWAA?"
If these quotes are true they are quite damning.

Mark[/QUOTE]

Hi Mark, you know the story.... but for everyone else:

I can categorically state that this is TRUE as I was there when he said it in front of a good friend of mine, a colleague from work and a room full of students. I can’t remember the date but I had been asked to go up to his place to give a talk for a course he was running. It was the first time I had met him. He asked me to demonstrate some handling techniques with a false water cobra and this was when he gave the spiel about it not being on the DWAA and how he thought it was wrong that this “cobra” had been left off the list.
He even sent a letter expressing his concerns to a well known Vet who was involved with the DWAA Governmental review.
PH has tried unsuccessfully on several occasions to cause trouble for me, so I guess it is no secret that I really detest the guy.

[leecb0]

Paul what do you expect PH did use to be a Trafic Warden
anychance i can pm you PDR as i would like to know some info on one of the snakes you had off John which i dont want to put on publick forum
Lee

[SiUK]

Originally Posted by PDR

QUOTE=Mark O'Shea;5039298]I do not recall being at uni with the person you mention and he certainly is not my friend! Leading expert on crocodilians, LOL !
A few years these two reported PH quotes were doing the rounds, from his days of doing raids on reptile keepers for the RSPCA:
"we seized the spectacled caiman because it was not being kept in conditions conducive with its native Papua New Guinea" and "why is the false water cobra the only cobra not on the DWAA?"
If these quotes are true they are quite damning.

Mark

Hi Mark, you know the story.... but for everyone else:

I can categorically state that this is TRUE as I was there when he said it in front of a good friend of mine, a colleague from work and a room full of students. I can’t remember the date but I had been asked to go up to his place to give a talk for a course he was running. It was the first time I had met him. He asked me to demonstrate some handling techniques with a false water cobra and this was when he gave the spiel about it not being on the DWAA and how he thought it was wrong that this “cobra” had been left off the list.
He even sent a letter expressing his concerns to a well known Vet who was involved with the DWAA Governmental review.
PH has tried unsuccessfully on several occasions to cause trouble for me, so I guess it is no secret that I really detest the guy.

Good to know that the RSPCA, are training the staff they send out on raids well so that they can make educated decisions about the things they are paid to enforce

[matthewduval]

ull be dead by the time your 17 i wouldnt even bother get some experinace behind u first

[PDR]

Originally Posted by leecb0

Paul what do you expect PH did use to be a Trafic Warden
anychance i can pm you PDR as i would like to know some info on one of the snakes you had off John which i dont want to put on publick forum
Lee

Yes, I'll try and help best I can.

[Aconite]

It has been a pleasure reading this thread!
I have been keeping snakes all my life and have only recently become interested in venomous. Not because I wish to keep them or work with them, but simply as I know so little about them and feel I need to learn more.

I am a woman and as a keeper I feel almost immune to the testosterone high so many young lads get when they handle dangerous animals. It makes me feel very sorry for them, as I am never put under the same social pressure to be strong and brave, as men are.

It is hard to explain what I mean, so I hope you dont get me wrong- but when I watch young men handle snakes it is clear they feel the need to rush things and not look chicken. They also do silly things too look confident and knowledgeable that often end badly, for either them or the snake.

I remember when I first started volunteering at a reptile zoo/show a 21 year old lad there decided to feed the large burm pythons. I guess he wanted to impress me, but he decided to throw the food into the enclosure with both snakes in at the same time and they attacked each other thinking the other snake was the food. It was a big mess. It was an unnecessary incident, and could have been avoided if he was not trying to show off.
But sadly, when it comes to snakes, cars, women, etc young men feel the need to live dangerously.

This need to be macho obviously is not the case for all men though! So do forgive me if I appear sexist!!!

But what makes me laugh the most is the fear and respect my little egg eaters command!!!
My first snake, when I was about 9, was an eggeater and I remember how it used to coil and strike and scare the hell out of me.
Now many years later I have the same species and it does the same thing. Even when people know the snake has no teeth they jump back in fright and refuse to touch the snake.
I think this in itself demonstrates the almost primal response people have to snakes.

I think the op should go into a few pet shops and handle bulls, kings and the odd racer.
Just feel the way they move, the way they respond to your movement and the primal fear that even an non-venomous snake will bring out in you.
The bluff of a bull and the naughty chew of a king will make you see how diverse and exciting all snakes are regardless of size, shape, colour or if they are venomous or not.

There is a world of snakes out there and even after keeping them and being passionate about them all my life I still know nothing! There is always more to learn, and always a stunned curse and then laugh when your "puppy dog" carpet python unexpectedly nabs you when you go in to clean out the poo.

Just enjoy, dont rush things!

[DRD]

Viperlover
Have you ever handled a particularly aggressive snake?
If so what snake was this?
Have you ever received a bite of any snake?

i only ask these questions as most people are put of by the experiance.

not that u should be bit by a snake, but some times it is inevitable.

one day when u eventually get a HOT snake, u may stroll home from a night on the town with mates and show off your "skills" for example; watch me kiss a cobra its a bit obvious whats going to happen! and a bite to the face could be one of the worst especially being so close to the brain!

[ViperLover]

Originally Posted by DRD

Viperlover
Have you ever handled a particularly aggressive snake?
If so what snake was this?
Have you ever received a bite of any snake?

i only ask these questions as most people are put of by the experiance.

not that u should be bit by a snake, but some times it is inevitable.

one day when u eventually get a HOT snake, u may stroll home from a night on the town with mates and show off your "skills" for example; watch me kiss a cobra its a bit obvious whats going to happen! and a bite to the face could be one of the worst especially being so close to the brain!

I'm going to a few local pet shops within the coming weeks to gain some knowledge from the breeders and to handle a few reptiles.

And.....No I have never been "Bit" by a snake....And I never plan to be either.....But as Mark rightly said.....Saying you will never be bit, is somewhat cocksure. Because you can't work with or keep reptiles and not expect to lose a bit of Blood here and there. (Or worse if the animal is Venomous)

I am also trying to plan a Herping trip with a friend (Naming no names) who is visiting in 2010.....Hopefully I'll get to see some Vipera berus. He's a specialist venomous keeper so I won't even have to have interactions with the Adders and will be able to safely enjoy them from a distance unless I am told it's safe to handle.

Anybody who wants to tag along.....PM me. I'll give more information as and when I recieve it.

[ViperLover]

Originally Posted by DRD

Viperlover
Have you ever handled a particularly aggressive snake?
If so what snake was this?
Have you ever received a bite of any snake?

i only ask these questions as most people are put of by the experiance.

not that u should be bit by a snake, but some times it is inevitable.

one day when u eventually get a HOT snake, u may stroll home from a night on the town with mates and show off your "skills" for example; watch me kiss a cobra its a bit obvious whats going to happen! and a bite to the face could be one of the worst especially being so close to the brain!

And when it comes down to a Cobra (Or any venomous snake).....There is no "Skills".....There's a simple concept....If you act stupid, or you *mess* up. You die. I personally, believe that if you're tagged because you kissed a Venomous snake....You do not deserve the serum. And should be made to pay every single penny back from the hospital bill. Anti-venin is made for a reason....And treating a bite which was caused by dumb acts such as "Showing you're skills" ISN'T one of those reasons.

However......The law doesn't see it that way.....and refuseal to administer anti-venin would probably be a murder, if not man-slaughter charge.

[kain]

In my honest opinion I wouldn't consider DWA until you have finished Collage/Uni or are in secure steady employment and moved into your own home.,

To your previous post the reason the law dosn't see it is that, your not gonna interview the owner as the venom does it work, to find out if he deserves the anti-venom. Seems like a monty python sketch in the making

Mr Johnson after much serious consideration we belive your entitled to the anit-venom, Mr Johnson, Mr Johnson are you ok? You look a bit pale