Beginners Hots

Talking about the venom of a C. macrops and C. venustus a guy on Facebook (he is not registered here) just meant to me:

"I would suggest to start with a Bitis gabonica instead of a venustus. OK, the venom is strong, but the snake is slow and not aggressive." Shocked

Now I do not know sooo much about venomous snake keeping but from all I know a Bitis g. is definitely not a beginners snake. He said he started with a B.g. and a Naja melanoleuca which is also not known for friendliness and harmlessness, right?

What is a good beginners hot? I've no plans in the nearer future, just want to know.

A Sistrurus miliarius barbouri.I think a Mangrove Snake (Boiga dendrophila )is good too,because she is fast and got a mild venom,so you can learn a lot by them.(but you should keept non-venomous before)

It all depends Guenter. I never like these discussions as it is different for everybody.

In some cases there are people that should never own "hot" snakes, and no matter what they start with will end up being a danger to themselves and others.

There are some that started with elapids, and I am sure some that started with gabonica and are doing just fine.

This question is asked frequently and you will always get the following answers:

1) small arboreal of some sort
2) southern african corals or some sort
3) mildy venomous of some sort (although this rarely satisfies the person asking)
n) whatever you feel comfortable with

At the end of the day, if you are intending on being bitten by your first snake that you keep then go with the least venomous of course. But whatever it is start off with a juvenile and grow with it - that in my mind is the safest bet.

Cheers.
Brett

I would suggest for a begginer a aspidelaps ssp. or if you have experience on keeping difficult abroreal non venomous snakes a tropidolaemus wagleri.

I would agree that there is never an easy answer to this question. One aspect that is almost always overlooked is the actual behaviour of the snake in question. I think that it is important that the beginner actually talk with the person he/she is acquiring the snake from. In my opinion every snake is an individual. From many standpoints, Sisturus miliaris is a good choice, but they almost never hook well, making it a difficult snake to do daily or weekly chores with. I would also add that I think its best to start with a well adjusted and feeding juvenile and let the newby grow up with the snake.

Bob

i have to agree with brett here
i kept non venemous for 10 years before the first rear fangeng came in my collection and another two before the first hot came , my first hots where gumprechtiis and a lubricus , soon after bitis and other trimis joined in .
i have had pythons , boas and colubrides , ground living and aboreal snakes so my decision on what hot first was based on lookes not how venemous or how big
i think its really something each person hasto know for himself what he thinks is capable of handeling and dealing with

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