Herpetologists Unite!

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Acaterpillar
A little mad...

Registered: 06/09/07
Posts: 18,696
Loc: Down the rabbit hole
Last seen: 2 years, 3 months

Herpetologists Unite!

1
#20633746 - 09/29/14 01:02 AM (11 years, 10 months ago)

Originally I was gonna name this the "Snake Keepers Unite!" thread, but I have a good buddy, who I was reminded of, that is all about bearded dragons and monitor lizards; so I figured I'd make this thread all-inclusive to those who keep reptiles.
I figure that will leave a bigger room for discussion and open the possibility for exchange of knowledge across related fields.

I personally keep a snake.
It's my first one to keep.
And it's a hot.
For those of you not into Herpetology, or snake keeping, "hot" is the lingo used for venomous.

Now before you go warning me, I've grown up handling venomous snakes since I was a kid, catching rattlers to eat (my favorite part is their liver), and selling the skins if we didn't have a use for them.
So I'm not new to the threat of envenomation, and would even venture to say I'm a decent handler for a hobbyist.
But with that being said, I try my best not to let my ego allow me to become too comfortable and clumsy around these predators. After all: it's a lot easier killing a venomous snake than it is to safely handle one. Luckily I had an elder teach me how to properly handle pit vipers.
Before he taught me, I'd do it the crazy Steve-Irwin-Way where you grab the tail and lift the body off the ground with your stick. Luckily I never got bit that way.

But recently when handling a neonate contortix, I got nipped on the finger due to a careless release. Also, I haven't handled many neonates before, so I have to remind myself how aggressive they are.
Fortunately the bite didn't hurt too bad and the envenomation was miniscule.
Though it was still a major eye opener and a serious reminder as to how risky this kind of hobby can be.

And so I try to show the snake as much respect as possible anytime when dealing with it.
And I also learned not to try to keep two hots in the same container when you're first starting (why I got bit by the neonate). :lol:

Though credentials (or lack-of) aside, this is how I really began my venture into Herpetology:

So about a month ago, I specifically went on a quest (call it spiritual if you like) to go and catch a wild Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix).
It was quite the quest too. Collected some Claviceps purpurea (it's everywhere in those meadows) and some Ganoderma applanatum.

Whether by chance or fate, or something syncretic; I crossed paths with the youngest copperhead I had encountered up to that point in my life.

At first I was sure it was a neonate because it was so much smaller than the rest I had seen before, but upon inspecting the lack of yellow on the tail's tip, I determined it must be some months further along in it's development.

Here's a picture of the beauty who revealed itself to me along my quest:

Typically I only name things that will respond to them, but I went ahead and named this one Coatl (pronounced like Squat without the S) which is Nahuatl for snake.

It's definitely a Southern/Broad banded (type species contortix), like I'm sure most in Texas are.
It's interesting, because even though it has the broad-banded coloration, it has mild diamond formation.
Though I'm sure pattern and coloration will slowly change with each molt.

And then of course I'm sure there's tons of hybridizing between subspecies,
so who knows exactly what the Copperhead's genetics are in this locality.

It's definitely past the neonate stage, but it's still too young to sex.
My guess is that it's right around a year old, maybe younger.
So probably still a juvenile, maybe going sub-adult.
Could maybe be another three years before I can even know the sex. :shrug:

Either way, I plan to keep Coatl for some time.
Copperheads are good snakes to keep as a first 'hot' because they are docile and mild mannered; so I plan to get some years of experience in handling before I consider whether I would release, or selectively breed Coatl.
Eventually I plan on adding some other Pit Vipers to the collection as well.

I was blessed to handle my first ever Mojave Rattler during a spiritual ceremony in the Chihuahuan Desert this last summer.
It had to have been at least 9 years old.
It was so incredibly docile.
I gave it a kiss on the head, and walked it to the edge of our spiritual grounds.
It was the most docile encounter with a snake I've ever had. Even during the release: I set it free, but it just laid there calmly facing away from me for a few moments before turning it's head back around and sending a few licks my way; only to slither on down the riverbed I brought it to.
I was personally surprised, but everyone else seemed stunned at how calmly it allowed me to handle it. Or maybe it was how calmly I handled it :lol:

But considering the history of those sacred grounds, and the age of that snake, it probably knew we weren't there to hurt it.

So, who else keeps reptiles? And if so, what kinds?
I have a good friend who is all about the bearded dragons. We've even talked about setting up a business doing Herp-breeding.

Is anyone else as crazy about 'hots' as I am?
:datass:

I'm sure there's probably a few elder members in here who will make me out to be the fool that I am. :tinfoil:

--------------------
Aaa...E I O Uuu...A E I O Uuu..A E I O uh Uuu..
*Cough* *Cough*
Ooo...U E I O Aaa...U E I Aaa..A E I O Uuuuu...
At first sight, The Perfection of Wisdom is bewildering, full of paradox and apparent irrationality.

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