Mangrove snakes

Greetings. I've owned various snakes throughout the years from (balls, corns, bullsnakes) but I've never owned a "hot" as yall say. I feel I'm ready to give it a try and I'm really liking what I hear about mangrove snakes. I don't think I need anything that could kill me just yet, though... Anyone have any opinions on mangrove snakes or possibly a green vine snake? How are their temperments? Any useful sites perhaps? Any tips on getting started would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Ben

[mlove]

We have quite a few hot keepers here that may be able to give some advice. When you get a chance please post in the New Member's area so we can all welcome you.

[Tim Cole]

Originally Posted by AK907

Greetings. I've owned various snakes throughout the years from (balls, corns, bullsnakes) but I've never owned a "hot" as yall say. I feel I'm ready to give it a try and I'm really liking what I hear about mangrove snakes. I don't think I need anything that could kill me just yet, though... Anyone have any opinions on mangrove snakes or possibly a green vine snake? How are their temperments? Any useful sites perhaps? Any tips on getting started would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Ben

Both can be difficult since they are almost always wild caught and heavy with parasites.

If you can obtain a long-term or acclimated Mangrove, I would choose it over the Vine Snake since it will be much easier to feed. It will feed on rodents and chicks whereas the Vine Snakes primarily feed on lizards. this is assuming you are talking about the Asian Vine Snakes and not the Central or South American species.

A Mangrove will usually settle down but they are a typically nervous snake. When it comes to rear-fang snakes(medically significant) and venomous snakes, temperament should not be an issue since they shouldn't be handled anyway.

Since it seems you want an arboreal species I would urge you to consider a captive born tree viper such as an Eyelash, White-lip, or Popes Vipers. All of these are very calm, don't get to big, hardy with the right set-up and husbandry.

There are a couple of us on this forum that produce these animals.

The other to consider is your local laws. I do know that it is illegal to own a venomous snake within the Abilene City limits.

Originally Posted by Tim Cole

The other to consider is your local laws. I do know that it is illegal to own a venomous snake within the Abilene City limits.

That was going to be my next question. I guess we will just have to wait. We are hoping to move to Wyoming or back to Alaska next year and will most likely be living out of town. The main thing is we would like something that is more exotic than your everyday ball python, red tailed boa or corn snake. Everyone has one. We also don't want to spend a fortune on it either. Amazon tree boas are pretty but everyone tells me that they can be rather nasty. We don't want something that is going to take a snap at us every time we go to clean its cage.

I guess I'll continue looking around. Thanks for your help.

[TexasTreeViper]

Originally Posted by AK907

We don't want something that is going to take a snap at us every time we go to clean its cage.:

Who is "we"? Do you suffer from multipersonality disorder?

I can tell you right now just from reading your post that you are not ready for the responsibilities associated with venomous snakes. No offense but if your afraid of a snappy ATB then the last thing you need is a moody tree viper. I would suggest keeping some of the more ill-tempered non-vens for a while and treat them as is they were hot. If you can go a year or so without getting tagged by a nasty non-ven then and only then would I recommend moving up to something potentially lethal.

[bajaha69]

i'm content with my (not so snappy, though) amazon. that's the way i like it. not...deadly

[jonk9194]

I'm quite the opposite, if it doesn't have venom, I'm not interested.

Originally Posted by TexasTreeViper

Who is "we"? Do you suffer from multipersonality disorder?

I can tell you right now just from reading your post that you are not ready for the responsibilities associated with venomous snakes. No offense but if your afraid of a snappy ATB then the last thing you need is a moody tree viper. I would suggest keeping some of the more ill-tempered non-vens for a while and treat them as is they were hot. If you can go a year or so without getting tagged by a nasty non-ven then and only then would I recommend moving up to something potentially lethal.

Good evening to you too, grumpy!

We = My wife and I... We both post on this account.

I am not afraid of getting bit. My wife on the other hand is because she is still new to handling snakes. We still wouldn't like an ornery snake. We'd simply prefer a friendly one if possible. My wife fell in love with a sinaloan milksnake the other day so we got her instead. Gunna wait til we move to get something venomous. Either way we aren't interested in anything that can kill us or potentially kill us, hence the appeal of the mangrove which to my knowledge isn't really deadly to humans unless you were to have an allergic reaction and went into anaphylaxic shock. So no need to fret further, it won't be anytime soon.

[TexasTreeViper]

I'm not grumpy, I'm just honest to the point that it sometimes hurts people's feelings.

Why is it you wanted a venomous snake in the first place? You don't want a snake that can kill you yet you still want a venomous snake. Why, so you can say you have one? Don't think I'm making a personal attack on you I just really take my hobby seriously and I am always quick to question the motives of others that express similar concerns about their first hot snake. Regardless of a snake's toxicity I don't think that's an excuse to treat it as anything but life threatening.

If you want a friendly snake stick with a milk or corn snake.

I'd enjoy the challenge and the beauty that they could add to our "collection", if you will. It will be a learning experience. I've never done it. At one time I had never had any snake and was completely clueless as to their needs. Thats why I wanted advice on getting something more challenging. So I can better myself. It will be awhile before I actually get one and I'm going to research it farther which is why I am here, hoping yall can point me in the right direction. I've always loved mangroves and I would feel far more comfortable with starting with a less dangerous critter for my first time than jumping straight to gaboon viper or monocle cobra or whathaveyou, which quite frankly scare the heck out of me. If I screw up with them I am really boned. What kind of advice would you give to someone wanting to get into "hots"?

Funny you mention a corn snake. Most I've handled were very sweet but we had one once and it was pure evil. Whoever had it before us must have been horrible to it because I was never able to tame it. It would go as far as striking the glass everything someone walked by. A friend of ours has it now but it is nothing more than a display piece and has yet to be tamed.

BTW, got a California kingsnake on order. Can't wait! Wife doesn't know yet, though. Its for her.

[TexasTreeViper]

Originally Posted by AK907

What kind of advice would you give to someone wanting to get into "hots"?

I would advise you searched for someone in your area that could possibly mentor you with the ins-and-outs of safe venomous keeping. The firsthand knowledge that can be gained from working with someone that is experience is truly invaluable.