Starter Adder

Starter Adder

Postby Darius Basson » Sun Oct 28, 2012 12:21 pm

Hi Guys

I just want to know what type of adder do you guys think I must start with?
I have done a FGASA Venomous Snake bite & handling course at African reptiles&Venom , and do have adder handling experience .

Kind regards
Darius
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Re: Starter Adder

Postby Bushviper » Sun Oct 28, 2012 6:34 pm

Well if you have handled adders then you should know which one suits you.
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Re: Starter Adder

Postby Lachesis » Sun Oct 28, 2012 6:57 pm

Bushviper wrote:Well if you have handled adders then you should know which one suits you.


Exactly.

There is no point in you asking us which is a good starter. Only you know the extent of your abilities and what you will feel comfortable with. It's not a good idea for you to choose a venomous snake based on our experience, as something that's easy for me to handle might be difficult for you, vice versa - could lead to you taking a bite.
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Re: Starter Adder

Postby Darius Basson » Sun Oct 28, 2012 10:16 pm

Ok

I handled puff adders a lot but I think I want to go for a Gaboon Viper but i never handled one before.
And Puff adders are quite aggressive where Gaboon vipers have a quite docile nature so this is where I am stuck.
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Re: Starter Adder

Postby Lachesis » Sun Oct 28, 2012 10:54 pm

If you can handle Puff adders competently, then you will be fine with a Gaboon. Yes they are docile, but when they are an adult and pissed off they are a very powerful snake!

Out of all the venomous snakes i have handled, they are easily one of the easiest in my opinion. However never think they're docile, they will strike out at you one day, if you aren't prepared you could leave yourself open to a bite.

Never judge a book by it's cover :)
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Re: Starter Adder

Postby Shaun P » Mon Oct 29, 2012 2:40 am

True about the gaboons, when it's feeding time mine go from still to bullets. Always gets my heart racing at the moment of strike even though I am expecting it. Never think they are docile, you might pay for it.

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Re: Starter Adder

Postby Bushviper » Mon Oct 29, 2012 7:59 pm

The Gaboon viper bite is said to be one of the most painful even with treatment. I guess that will teach a lesson or two.
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Re: Starter Adder

Postby Darius Basson » Mon Oct 29, 2012 8:18 pm

Thanks guys

Im going for a puff adder!
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Re: Starter Adder

Postby Lachesis » Mon Oct 29, 2012 8:39 pm

Bushviper wrote:The Gaboon viper bite is said to be one of the most painful even with treatment. I guess that will teach a lesson or two.

A guy was bitten in Austria, by a 2 day old Gaboon - lost his finger with treatment.
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Re: Starter Adder

Postby Dispholidus » Tue Jan 08, 2013 9:39 am

Why not a Death Adder while you are at it and add a Black Mamba at least before the end of next month. Geez!!!

There is no such thing as a beginner adder, a beginner snake is a Corn Snake or BHS maybe. If you really MUST go for a member of the adder family I would rather suggest NIGHT ADDER (Causus rhombeatus). THat way you will most probably not die if you get bitten.
Snakes caring for me:

0.1 Boaedon capensis (Brown house snake)
1.0 Lycodonomorphus inornatus (Olive ground snake)
1.0 Pseudaspis cana (Mole snake)
1.1 Dispholidus typus (Boomslang)
0.1 Naja annulifera (Snouted cobra)
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Re: Starter Adder

Postby Serpent » Tue Jan 08, 2013 11:12 am

Get a neonate rather than an adult. Puff adders are very hardy and usually eat well right from a few weeks old. This way you will be able to grow used to the snake and its temperament, whilst its small and easier to keep.

Ps: The puff adder and the gaboon adder have been said to deliver the most painful bite out of all Africa's snakes.
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