i just read(what was ur first DWA?)

[terciopelo_dave]

Originally Posted by leecb0

I think Dave and other will agree that you need to be more skilled with tongs than with a hook its so easy to damage a snake with tongs. I know of a black and whight spitting cobra that has a broken back due to poor handling with tongs, and the person in question is a reasonably experienced keeper, and the tongs he did the damage with were Midwest Gentle giant tongs which are proberbly the safest of the lot.
I dont want to judge anyones handling skills without witnessing it but you really dont need to use tongs an FWC at all...ever

Agreed mate. Tongs aren't the easy way out people think they are, and reliance on them just highlights failings in handling technique.

[terciopelo_dave]

Originally Posted by wildlifewarrior

Lets be fair mate....hooking a FWC isnt excalty hard....infact there very good on a hook, perhaps too good.
If a person cant manage to use a hook efficiently with a FWC then either they need to re-access there current collection OR learn correct hook techniques.

image

easy peasy to hook out a FWC....and ive got a good few of them...of which non are overally friendly...however getting used to a FWC on a hook isnt very good as they do rather well on a hook to be honest....

True mate. I've never had a falsie that was awkward to hook and tail. Never tried making a big one just sit on a hook, but all the youngsters I tried it with seemed relatively at ease with it.
To be honest I hate hearing people suggest FWCs as training for elapids. They're not remotely similar. I reckon if they didn't hood and didn't have "cobra" in their name then no one would give them a mention in the same sentence as DWA.

[leecb0]

ok from now on i vote we call them by there proper name
Brazillian smooth snake....or Boipevassu if you will

[maffy]

Originally Posted by terciopelo_dave

They're only safer if you can't hook properly, and even then not by much. You can still get into a mess real quick when using a grab if the rest of your skills aren't up to scratch. What happens if the snake coils the shaft of the grab? Plus, unless you are quite skilled with their use AND using the right style, then they can be very damaging to the snake. Broken ribs, broken back, organ damage, etc.
And with regard to your FWC, it sounds like you're doing it wrong. You don't just lift the snake and expect it to sit on the hook. With a snake like a falsie you'll have to hook and tail or double hook. This is a prime example of why correct hook technique should be learned BEFORE you get anything venomous, and in that I include FWCs.

yes Dave I totally agree with this about careful tong technique. Correct handling of the snake.

PS I don't own tongs. My FWC hooks very well (admitted) and the other method i use to handle my FWC is very much my own .
PPS My apologies - I stand corrected on Montpelliers, didn't check they were DWA. Actually I kinda forgot this.

PPPS () excellent hook technique is very important too. I know where abouts my FWC is etc.

[terciopelo_dave]

Originally Posted by leecb0

ok from now on i vote we call them by there proper name
Brazillian smooth snake....or Boipevassu if you will

Seconded. Motion carried.

[wildlifewarrior]

Originally Posted by leecb0

I was trying to be diplomatic........can tell your French

i dont beat around the bush

Originally Posted by terciopelo_dave

True mate. I've never had a falsie that was awkward to hook and tail. Never tried making a big one just sit on a hook, but all the youngsters I tried it with seemed relatively at ease with it.
To be honest I hate hearing people suggest FWCs as training for elapids. They're not remotely similar. I reckon if they didn't hood and didn't have "cobra" in their name then no one would give them a mention in the same sentence as DWA.

its the same for all rear fangs really....they just want to be loved thats all.....

[terciopelo_dave]

Get a room!

[maffy]

Originally Posted by terciopelo_dave

Seconded. Motion carried.

I do like this name for it also. But lets be honest FWC does suit the snake rather well all things considered. Hood and water.

We don't call a Florida Waterbanded Snake - American Keeled Snake
or the WDB - a rough Diamond, do we?

How about the "slightly rough with a smooth underside" snake
Sorry, I'm being silly and facetious - but then again Brazil isn't its only inhabited range.

[kerry and chris]

lol thanks for high jacking but i must admit its really great to see how passionate you all are about your animals its reminds me of me and my partner of how we are with ours.

love the text book picture of the false water cobra and as for the name lol its only a name who cares what it is called anyone that knows about it knows it cant be compared to the dwa snakes hense why its not on the list.

as for trying to kiss what i think was a rear fanged snake (correct me if im wrong) but never mind getting punch that would give you a fat lip! lol

i have recently found there is a course you can do for dwa snakes that is a week long and cost about 500 pounds so i will be looking into this (more as a christmas present from the missis lol and maybe the next few birthdays aswell) so things are looking up for me on the dwa side of things.

as for the on going talks about everything that has been said on this thread i hope it carries on as it is nice to see how you lot feel about comparing snakes ( mainly that it cant be done ) and that there is no such thing of a good starter snake and the way that your trying to get to once you can handle all sorts of snakes with confidence and without making silly mistakes then and only then is it worth going on to these beautiful snakes. although even then go and get yourself a good mentor to show you the ropes.

thanks so far to everyones opinions

[LemmyElvis]

Originally Posted by leecb0

Dave has some very good advice and i agree with what he says.
The problem is, and Dave will back me up on this, we here this question a all the time, and the reality is very very few actually move into venomous for many reasons.
In many hobbys and persuits people dream of getting to what they perseave to be the pinicle. For instance i was in the army and wanted to join the SAS........or when i raced cars i wanted to go faster.......and when i was into match fishing i wanted to fish for England......all goals and i may or may not have achieved them, but the point is a lot of people who keep snakes would like to keep venomous...
But to reach this you need to make serious sacrifices and put a lot of time and effort and indeed cash in.
Also i believe its one of those things you can either can or cant do...i have seen very good snake handlers who have no problem handling nast retics and the like freeze and if there honest st thereselves when it actually came down to dealing with the real deal. Its not something you can learn its something you have in you if you get my drift. for instance i always wanted to scuba dive and i learned in a swimming pool. i went into the sea off the African coast got into the water and saw all the big fish in the water and pood my pants and got out sharpish...mentally i dont have it in me...thats life.
The other thing people dont think of when saying "i want to get venomous" is IF something goes wrong and im lucky and end up in hospital for a while, who will pay the mortgage and bills etc also who will look after your snakes? And IF the worst happens what about your family?? These are some of the questions i ask people more than experience etc...its a big wake up call...do you really want them that bad??
But im going off topic a little...As for finding a mentor this can be a little difficult if you are looking at it right now, as you dont know anyone with a DWAL. But once you have been around the hobby a while and make friends with people and get to know people you will proberbly find somebody that keeps venomous and thats proberbly your best way in.
I live in the midlands and i have mentored in the past. I myself was lucky and mentored/trained by The best guy in the country but i fell into keeping them and never had any real urge to keep venomous but after becoming friends with the guy who mentored me i then realised this is what i wanted to do.
I hope you get to meet somebody to help you as doing it the right way is the only way.
Lee

Hi,
Look I know nothing about DWAL but reading this it just struck me that it must have implications for your life and probably house insurance too....
Mike