Red belly black snake

[Lockie_1]

Hey all, any tips for owning RBBs ? Im interested in acquiring one soonish.

Cheers

 

[bobby-van]

What's the go with acquiring one? What licence class etc..?

 

[saximus]

What's the go with acquiring one? What licence class etc..?

Depends what state you live in. In Vic, where the OP is from, I understand it's quite easy to get the advanced licences. You just pay to have it upgraded. In NSW they are on Advanced Venomous, Category 1 which takes a couple of years to be able to apply for.

 

[DonnB]

Hey Lockie, do you have any experience with vens? I know the attraction to get them is always there, but you can get yourself into trouble with them pretty quickly. If you have no experience, try find someone willing to guide you through keeping, handling.... Or even better do a handling course.

 

[-Peter]

Unless they have some from the last season you will need to wait for the new year, about Feb to obtain neonates.

 

[Lockie_1]

Hey Lockie, do you have any experience with vens? I know the attraction to get them is always there, but you can get yourself into trouble with them pretty quickly. If you have no experience, try find someone willing to guide you through keeping, handling.... Or even better do a handling course.

Hey mate no experience with vens but I've Been working with some colubrids at home which I guess Is the closest thing I can get to an elapid. I have a friend that has an RBBS hoping he'll give me some hands on experience

 

[Wrightpython]

Get your Rbb as a neonate and get your own hands on literally. Handle it a few times a day as a Juvie and it will grow up knowing not to bite feed them pinkies scented with skink or live little fish. They really are the easiest snake ( not just ven) to keep and to handle, they don't bite like python hatchies

 

[jairusthevirus21]

Get your Rbb as a neonate and get your own hands on literally. Handle it a few times a day as a Juvie and it will grow up knowing not to bite feed them pinkies scented with skink or live little fish. They really are the easiest snake ( not just ven) to keep and to handle, they don't bite like python hatchies

UUmmmmm nooo dont do that!!!! Im not clear if 'Wrightpython' means free handling when he mentions to 'handle it' so correct me if im wrong. Elapids arnt meant to be handled! If you wanna handle a snaae then stick to pythons... I am well aware that plenty of people free handle RBB'S and iv seen people do the same with Taipans too!!! all it takes is one bite with an envenomations and you can have affects like loss of taste, loss of feeling in limbs and even the breakdown of muscles mass. Google some images of bites if your interested. and yes these serious altercations have been caused by hatchlings. Im not joking. The last thing you want to do is find out that you have an allergic reaction to snake venom! seriously there is a reason you need a specialist permit to keep them!
I agree with getting some hands on experience first but strictly under guidance of someone more experienced. No offence 'wrightpython' but it seems very dangerous advice... but im open to be corrected if im somehow misguided!

and yes i also keep RBB'S

 

[jack]

get an adult, or sub adult. little ones can be fiddly with food and are not for beginners.
sugar, cars, cigarettes and lazyness kill you. black snakes do not.

 

[jairusthevirus21]

get an adult, or sub adult. little ones can be fiddly with food and are not for beginners.
sugar, cars, cigarettes and lazyness kill you. black snakes do not.

True... but they can leave you with ever lasting effects to make you wish you were dead....

- - - Updated - - -

little RBB'S seem to stress really easily too...

 

[Wrightpython]

UUmmmmm nooo dont do that!!!! Im not clear if 'Wrightpython' means free handling when he mentions to 'handle it' so correct me if im wrong. Elapids arnt meant to be handled! If you wanna handle a snaae then stick to pythons... I am well aware that plenty of people free handle RBB'S and iv seen people do the same with Taipans too!!! all it takes is one bite with an envenomations and you can have affects like loss of taste, loss of feeling in limbs and even the breakdown of muscles mass. Google some images of bites if your interested. and yes these serious altercations have been caused by hatchlings. Im not joking. The last thing you want to do is find out that you have an allergic reaction to snake venom! seriously there is a reason you need a specialist permit to keep them!
I agree with getting some hands on experience first but strictly under guidance of someone more experienced. No offence 'wrightpython' but it seems very dangerous advice... but im open to be corrected if im somehow misguided!

and yes i also keep RBB'S

How many people are dead due to Rbb neonates. Offense taken as it is not very dangerous advice, why do snakes bite, they feel threatened, teach that humans are not threatening and snake won't bite also tell people not to go outside during spring because your more likely going to die from bee sting rather than Rbb bite check google for facts and figures on that. How many Rbbs have you handled and what is your experience, mine is 20 plus years of elapid ownership and handling and had a Rbb for 12 yrs that was neonate when I first got and was over six foot when George cann took ownership could free handle like python and even had my six year old at time daughter handling it it was so calm.

 

[-Peter]

and even had my six year old at time daughter handling it it was so calm.

I was with you up until that point. I know what you saying but maybe theres better ways of putting it without undermining your credibility as a responsible keeper.

 

[Albino93]

I agree, handling elapids is a risk the owner is willing to take, but to put that huge risk on a six year old kid is just beyond stupidity, even if the snake is extremely calm. Just my thoughts.
Im not saying ur stupid in any way, im just saying that what u did was pretty careless.

 

[Wrightpython]

So Steve Irwin was careless as well I suppose, my six year old rode calves at rodeos, water skied and rode dirt bikes, a Rbb that had never bitten in 12 yrs was not that careless, my mates son was wrapped in cotton wool from birth and died from leukemia pbefore he was 9 so if my kid wants to do something and is not seriously dangerous then she can do it because let's face it we could all be dead tomorrow do you guys let six year olds play with dogs more dogs bite children and more children are killed by dogs so who is being careless.

 

[jairusthevirus21]

Well apologies for offending you Wrightpython. Don;t take it personally like i said... Im open to be corrected and yes I am well aware your an experienced keepers but im sure if you look into the toxicology side of pseudechis venom Im sure you will agree that no one has died but the effects of envenomation can be horrifying. Surely you must agree!? I love RBB'S because they are a calmer species of the elapid world but in saying that iv dealt with Rb's with the attitude of a hot brown. You dont free handle Browns do you????? in the end your still encourageing to free handle an elapid...(an unpredictable animal) In my opinion (and im not a stupid teenie bopper) this isnt the best advice... In the unfortunate occasion (that is unlikely) that 'lockie-1' gets tagged! your going to feel pretty ****ty yes? it doesnt matter how much experience you have... its just plain common sense. Surely someone can see where im coming from????

 

[Wrightpython]

Most people with experience will tell you if you handle neonates before there first shed they will not bite, experience with 100s, even baby deathies won't bite until after first shed, Rbbs handled from birth have never bitten me and I've had heaps that I've raised

 

[jairusthevirus21]

Yes iv dabbled with neonates that don't have a strike reflex but i thort that was only for the first 24 hours or so... Hey look if its worked for you fine but hell. This isnt guaranteed to work for everyone yeh? Im sure i could do the same with my RBB's but to me its not worth the risk. i guess we will have to agree to disagree with this one... i think that's fair.

 

[eipper]

Most people with experience will tell you if you handle neonates before there first shed they will not bite, experience with 100s, even baby deathies won't bite until after first shed, Rbbs handled from birth have never bitten me and I've had heaps that I've raised

That is crap.....I have had plenty of adders (and many other elapids) strike and bite before their first shed.

 

[snakerelocation]

That is crap.....I have had plenty of adders (and many other elapids) strike and bite before their first shed.

+1
Stastistically speaking you are right from deaths from red bellied venom.
Deaths caused by anaphylaxis caused by red bellies is a different story.
3 people a year on average die in oz because of the effects of snake venom, that does not include the number that die from anaphylaxis from the evenomation.
I personally keep red bellies, and at present I have one that would nail you 7 days a week and twice on sundays given the chance, They are NOT all Placid even when "freehandled" from birth, majority yes....
The wrong info on here will get someone seriously hurt one day.....

 

[Pseudo]

Most people with experience will tell you if you handle neonates before there first shed they will not bite, experience with 100s, even baby deathies won't bite until after first shed, Rbbs handled from birth have never bitten me and I've had heaps that I've raised

All hatchling and neonate elapids will bite before their first shed, and even if handled some will never settle down and not bite.