East African Gaboon Viper
 

I just picked her up yesterday, she's between 8 and 10 inch's long apprx. 4 1/2 months old. Her name is Ginger and she's super sweet, no huffing or hissing just calm. These aren't great pic's but I'll get more after she has time to settle in good.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2xwhfegd.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...psluug5b6x.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...psgot0chjf.jpg

I just took Ginger out for the first time today, she just crawled around in my lap a bit then settled down in one spot while I rocked her in the rocking chair.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...psjbdhtia1.jpg

Ginger was in shed in the previous pics, but today she shed the old skin.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...pss897xh7q.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...psin6bgb8z.jpg

After shedding.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...pslo3qlbml.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...psti7eqkix.jpg

Wow! Beautiful gaboon viper. I love the pic where she is on your knee. Do you hold her like that often? What would you do if she were to bite you?

I'm working with getting her used to being held if she'll go for it, I'm taking her out 2-3 times per week. I've already checked with my local hospital and they said they do have anti-venom for a Gaboon viper bite and so does Riverbank zoo about 95 miles away. Thanks

man! thats awesome that you hold it

Here's a couple of pic's from today.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...psxnsiz50w.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8oyb3myf.jpg

Here's Ginger in my hand.

BTW- This is DANGEROUS and I don't recommend anyone copy my action's PERIOD!

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...psmlubxxt9.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...psp4bkej1w.jpg

I took Ginger out today, she likes to hide under my cap.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6je5ezrg.jpg

Another pic from today.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...psvdwweeqq.jpg

Miss your updates, how is Ginger doing?

She's doing well, I had her out yesterday for about 40mins. I'll post some new pics of her soon. Thanks

Mate, it is a personal decision to do stuff like this as everybody knows their animal best but a gaboon bite will hurt you bad and has a good chance of killing you even with antivenin. I wouldn't do this with this species or with any ambush predator venomous snake.

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate your concern.

Here's a couple of pics from yesterday.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...psdzpinpd0.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...psbmywh3nc.jpg

THIS is why eventually all "dangerous" exotic ownership will be banned in this country. This is flat out irresponsible. You hurt the entire community with this crap. This is a news story waiting to happen. I can see the headline now..."South Carolina man killed by the venomous snake he cuddled with. A call for a nationwide ban on ownership to be passed."

Unfortunately, you're wasting your breath. This gentleman has been given a very rational argument as to how his actions could harm the entire community, yet he continues to believe that an accident would have no reprocussion on on our ability to work with these glorious animals. It's a shame too because he seems like a very personable person and I believe he has a true love for his animals.
I typically live by the mantra "live and let live", however public displays such as this are likely going to lend themselves to an outright ban in the not too distant future.

Whippet; your welcome to come to S.C and remove my snakes if your so big on protecting YOUR HOBBY! I'll be at repticon on sept.27th in ladson S.C if you care to discuss this face to face, I wont be hard to find because I'll be wearing this shirt.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...psbe4zvnuy.jpg

Barry, you seem to have a bit of a double standard going on. You consider that you should be free to do and say what you wish, but when others say what they feel, all of a sudden it's 'condemnation'.
I think free handling gaboon vipers is an unusually stupid behavior, and I do not think I should be 'condemned' for saying so.

What you don't seem to understand is that YOUR opinion is o.k to put forward, but when you do it in a DISRESPECTFUL way such as you have it's not acceptable. Calling me irresponsible when you don't even know me is a bit of a jump. I'll say this 1 more time, what I do with my snakes is legal in my state(S.C) I'm NOT BREAKING ANY LAWS. I don't mind people not agreeing with what I do, but why the name calling and disrespect?

So they sent you a tee shirt and now you feel compelled to trot out the same tired arguments that freehandlers everywhere trot out, so you can tell everyone you took on the majority.
Here, let's save time, everyone's trotted this out before.

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...dling+venomous

This is what I do, live with it.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...psn8r8xwbz.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...pscwpxrcls.jpg

You trotted out yourself, your snake, and your tee shirt, inviting comment, and comment you will get. Live with it.

HAHAHAhaha :ack2:

Had Ginger out today, she's doing very well and growing.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...psuikq9kxq.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...psrnavnhge.jpg

Venomous snakes are not on the list of dangerous exotic animals regulated in Minnesota? City ordinances that are unconstitutional ban them but at the state level venomous snakes are legal to keep. Just because it's a law doesn't mean it's not unconstitutional. The city of Minneapolis had the red light traffic ticket thing for awhile until enough promote put up a fuss and was like hey this is unconstitutional and the Supreme Court found it was unconstitutional. Yeah I get a ticket in the mail because valet ran a red light while I was at work.

Flat out irresponsible? What's your justification of fact that it's flat out irresponsible? Or is it your opinion off your assumption? A news story is generally something that doesn't happen often. Besides riding horses are more dangerous statistically "Man killed by riding a horse. A call for a nationwide ban on ownership to be passed" All the hot keepers need to invest a little time and some money into protecting the right to own venomous snakes.

My first hot was an East African Gaboon and he was all about huff and puff so I named him Mr. Snuggles. That's awesome she's a sweetheart.

Yea Ginger likes to lay on my arm and watch the world go by.LOL She may lightly hiss once and awhile now when being first picked up, she has grown very calm the past 5 months.

BTW- Thanks.

Took Ginger out today, she sure is growing.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...psdkc5hqst.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...psjulre9e3.jpg

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...psuk6cx5ol.jpg

Here's a pic from today of Ginger and me relaxing.

http://i1135.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1gu7dstp.jpg

I hope this doesn't end bad mate. Very beautiful gabby.

Yasin, no one lives forever. I'm not in a hurry to die either!LOL But I don't let fear rule my life either, I do appreciate your concern though. Thanks

She has grown quite a bit in the last few months. I love coming back to see her progress. Thanks for the neat pics! It is a dangerous game, but you accept the risk, and in a way I admire that.

Thank you, she's 8 months old this month and growing.

Free handling hots
 

Barry, you seem to be very impressed with yourself. I've free handled venomous snakes myself but I'm not proud of it. I was immature, inexperienced, irresponsible and impulsive. I was not brave, bold, or courageous and my balls weren't nearly the size they are now. I'll give you the daredevil and adrenaline junkie titles if you want them since my friends who laid claim to those titles prior and now deceased. It's a numbers game my friend, anyone can handle venomous snakes and not get bit most of the time. I suppose you think there's no reason to wear a seat-belt either as long as you're a good driver.

There is not 1 good reason to free handle a venomous snake and it's irresponsible to give the impression that this is a noble/brave thing to do. I love snakes, I love handling snakes, I have many venomous and nonvenomous snakes. There is nothing different or exciting about handling a venomous snake versus a non venomous snake other than the incurred risk. If you get off on dancing with death more power to you but please keep it to yourself. Young people can be impressionable and as dumb as it sounds the possibility of someone wanting to cool like Barry exists as long as threads like this are made. Please be a responsible member of the hot community and stop promoting the dangerous practice of free handling venomous snakes, very simply it's a stupid thing to do. See Jamie Coots if you need proof.