Hi All

I'm new to the forum. I bought my first snake 17 years ago and have been keeping snakes ever since.

What are the current laws & restrictions regarding the keeping of venomous snakes in the UK?

I remember seeing pigmy rattlesnakes for sale in my local pet store years ago. What others are commonly available?

Just curious.

Cheers

most venomous snakes are on the DWA register, and you require a liscence to keep them.

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You need a Dangerous Wild Animals Licence. Apply through your local council. Form is on the website, look for the environmental health bit and it should be there along side pet shop licence, and zoo licence. If you are lucky enough to be in Ireland you dont need one!
Generally, you set your room up ready for the animals you want, then get inspected by a council member and a vet (both at your expense), then they grant the licence (or not). The price for the licence varies from county to county and is renewable every year.

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As above.

Why not have a look in the DWA part of this forum and have a chat to some of the people who already keep hots?

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I wouldnt say thats a good thing, id rather pay for my license and have free access to the NHS.

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Thanks for the quick responses.

I'm just curious and probably won't be going down that route.

I was told by a breeder many years ago that in order to keep a venomous snake I hade to have the following;

1. A room in the house with a lockable door.
2. A viewing window in the door.
3. a viv in the centre of the room that you can walk 360 degrees around.
4. Two locks on the viv.

I'm guessing it's probably down to the individual inspector.

I was also told that some zoos are being refused a licence/renewal.

There are some mildly venmous snakes not on DWA, why not look into those instead?

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Aye theres a few rear fanged species you can get without a licence.. Hoggies, false water cobra's, mangroves... etc.

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all councils are different, i just told mine what I was doing and they said ok because they hadnt granted a license before, but I knew all the safety features I wanted in the room, I have a window looking into the room, lightswitch, fire extinguisher and snake hook outside of the room, warning signs on the door and on the vivs once inside the room, emergency hit on lights in case of a power cut, envenomation protocols, obviously the room is completely sealed and there is locks on the vivs.

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