5 Deadly Pet Snakes (+10 Non-Deadly Alternatives)

Cobras, anacondas, rattlesnakes, coral snakes and reticulated pythons are all deadly snakes. They kill, and sometimes even eat people. And yet, people keep them as pets. So how dangerous are these snakes? And what are some alternatives that are as awesome as these snakes, but not so dangerous?

#clintsreptiles #cobra #anaconda

====

====

====

Clint is a professional biologist and educator, but above all, Clint LOVES reptiles and he loves to share that love with everyone he meets. Whether you're lover or a hater of reptiles, you can't help but get excited with Clint!
We post a new video every Saturday morning! So stay tuned!

====

====

====

====

You guys are so RAD!

====

Fan mail? Yes Please!
Clint's Reptiles
770 East Main Street # 127
Lehi, UT 84043

[samhaines]

Q: Which snake do you think Clint most resembles or embodies the spirit of?

[zacg_]

Interesting fact: coral snake antivenin halted production in North America years ago and all existing antivenin expired. Coral snake bites are so rare and the antivenin is so expensive that it just didn't make logistical sense to use scarce resources to produce it for how often it is needed. The FDA extended the expiration date because the remain supply was all that was available. I work in healthcare and we looked into this a while back. That said, I've heard they might have restarted production in the last 2-3 years but I'm not sure.

[johmyh]

RIP Lilith. You'll be remembered you for your cantankerousness.

[AllCanadianReptileGirl]

Great list! False water cobra is a dream snake for me. I love their big eyes and they feel so cool to handle. Sadly I'm just out of room in my house for another big enclosure that would do them justice.

[danielarato]

Prof. Clint, you will always have my respect! Here in Brazil (at least in São Paulo), the anaconda ia by FAR the most feared animal… Much more feared then Bothrops and Crotalus… Its like people fear the dragons of legend, much more then the real snake

[trashpanda]

When I was a kid my parents would take in a lot of exotic pets because people would get them and the realise they can't look after them or they're getting too big. One day someone brought us a young snake, maybe a 6 months old and told us it was a false water cobra and it was too aggressive to look after. After caring for it for a couple years she became more docile but was still skittish and my parents also noticed that she was looking less and less like a false water cobra and more like some breed of hognose. After doing some investigating my mum found out it was actually a Madagascian giant hognose and the reason it was so aggressive when we first got it was because at the time there was only a few in captivity so they were being caught in the wild. Obviously now that she was in Scotland and was kept in captivity from a young age we couldn't exactly just take her back to Madagascar to let her go. So my parents decided they would be better off just keeping her. She ended up becoming a really friendly snake and when she is happy she hisses gently and start drooling venom like she is purring. She also likes wearing her water bowl as a hat. When people learned we had a female Madagascian hognose my mum would get emails and messages every other week asking to buy her. Some were offering upwards of £3000. She's my mums favourite snake though and she would never sell her, she's still alive today, must be at least 15 by now.

[joshualandry]

#1, baby corn snake. This little danger noodle has a bite that will end anyone and is far to squirmy to be handled. At least, that is what mine wants you think. She is a bit sassy.

[loquinbritton]

I live in North Carolina and the number of times I've seen folks killing corn snakes and calling them baby copperheads makes me so sad. At this point my friends know to call me when they see a snake or spider they think are spicy, but it still sucks.

[zacg_]

I've really hoped you'd make a video like this. It reminds me of Wicken's Wicked Reptiles.

Helping people learn that reptiles aren't mean or dangerous (in most cases) is one of the most satisfying things about the reptile hobby.

[genevievebertolet]

I'd add the diamondback watersnake, Nerodia rhombifer. As their name implies, these snakes are marked by a very prominent reticulated pattern that resembles that of the western diamondback rattlesnake. They have keeled scales like rattlers. They can get very large, every bit as big as a western diamondback. And they can flatten their head out, superficially mimicking the hallmark ace-shape of pit viper heads. Despite their fearsome appearance, these snakes are non-venomous, and, having kept several as pets in my youth, I can vouch that their reasonably docile if properly socialized. When threatened, they will secrete a foul-smelling musk, and, in my experience, they were never as chill as, say, garter snakes, but much more than king snakes. For a fairly mellow snake that superficially resembles rattlesnakes, reaches 2 meters or more in length, and is very common in the southeastern United States, I'm surprised these aren't more widely discussed.

[ConnorSinclairCavin]

I’m not sure if i’ve told you about this story before, however this reminded me about my experience with a supposedly “dangerous” rattle snake that fits in so well with what you said.:
When i was going to CWU they had a reptile exhibit in the wall of an area i often used for studying, there were a number of displays, but one which most people avoided, but that i always loved was the home of their rattlesnake, i had a friend who got the job to tend them (was two years ahead of me) and told me about the story of the snake after seeing that it always slept against the glass when i was near, well and after “the incident”. Turns out the old girl was something close to 36 years old and was the first, and only remaining original generation tenant from that wing’s displays being created, she was 100% blind, about 87% deaf, constantly tried to escape, and hated/feared basically everyone, never coming out from her safe spot except when she made a break for it or to go after the “evil alien invaders who drop off food” as my friend swears she thought of them. Anyway, after like 3 weeks of me reading my books or using my laptop there consistently, she managed to escape, i thought she was just sleeping or being cleaned or something, then i felt her hugging my ankle. My friend came out in a panic (he had leaned over to grab the food and she apparently got out when he turned for a sec) saw me with her there (at the time had not yet told me about her) but luckily i was just very calm and just talked calmly to her like i do most wild creatures (we think she could feel my voice and smell that i was calm or something) and he carefully walked over and asked if i was okay, he went, got help and a transport container, and put her back away. Afterward he told me about her, after talking to the staff and stuff i got to go see her a few times over the next couple months, since apparently after getting to see her she was calm for like a week or two which was unheard of during the 36 years, the next time she got out (about 3ish months later) my friend just walked out calmly, and from the door (not even looking) asked “hey Connor, you got her?” And i was like “yep, dont worry, i have a fresh cocoa, a scone, and my book, she is fine, just leave me a bed for her in a bit” and sat and read my book to a snake for a few hours till she got sleepy and i put her in her little nest. As far as i know she is still alive there, a sweet old girl that just can’t hardly interact with the world around her, so I’m glad i could make her life a bit better in her old age while i was there. Sadly i wasn’t in that area for much after that, only getting to stop in on rare occasions. Even the “scary” creatures in life usually are just someone that needs some love and care, though i do know that this is of course a rare and not the normal interaction, but its still a great one that i like to tell people to show them that not everything that they have been told to fear is some evil monster.

[LukeMcGuireoides]

I love Clint. He's such freakin unique individual. I can't think of anyone with a similar personality or mannerisms. He's perfect as a media presenter. He's just interesting to watch and hear and so knowledgeable and instructive

[coinmatic]

If I could make a suggestion, I would love to see a video about pigeons. It kinda sucks how arguably the best pet bird in terms of care vs personality is almost unknown as a pet, when they're one of the oldest domesticated birds and one of the friendliest. And when I say oldest, they're in the same wheelbarrow as horses, for how long they've been domesticated and how there's no truly wild populations left, Przewalski's horse excluded.

[tubaina]

Just so you know Clint, you are watched from Brazil. You, among other channels, are turning my fear of snakes into admiration. Fascinating animals they are, and so are other reptiles.
Hope you keep the good work going. I'll be on the journey from now on!

[lyonowens]

Do an April video about snake plants as pets. They are great! They are easy, and come in lots of variety. It would also be funny. Thanks. Keep up the great work.

[PhinClio]

By far the most memorable snake sighting I've ever had in the wild was a coral snake in a state park in Texas. Just a beautiful, little dude from whom we kept our distance.

[josecat]

The retics don’t actively hunt people at all. The issue was the habitat loss due to human activity causing their natural prey to die off causing scarcity and very hungry desperate snakes.

[baldiwaldi]

Super dwarf retics and false water cobras are definitely two of my all time favorites. I hope I can find someone who sells them, but here in austria it's hard to find anything else than ball pythons and cornsnakes

[snakelizard]

Of the snake you have mentioned, I own: A female green anaconda, a reticulated python (mainland female), and 4 rattlesnakes (Timber, Prairie, breeding pair of western diamondbacks) and I absolutely LOVE THEM! do I think they’re worth keeping if you’re in the reptile hobby? ABSOLUTELY NOT!

My venomous snakes live in a separate building, in a room which is kept under lock and key and monitored by CCTV. Recently my female western diamondback attempted an escape but was thwarted by CCTV.

My retic and green anaconda will need an entire room to themselves just like my Nile monitor, Savanna monitors, and Asian water monitor. There’s no doubt about that.

These animals are incredible and unique, and for only the 1% of reptile keepers who are willing and able to throw tens of thousands of dollars down the drain, ok with possibly being grievously injured, have hours and hours (at least 10) a day and are committed to the hobby. I see 15-18 foot retics on Craigslist everyday with people desperate to get rid of them and it’s so heartbreaking

[jaybirdflyin]

I've never been scared of snakes (in general) in my life due to learning how to identify them at an early age. But I once saw an Eastern Indigo snake or "coach whip" in the wild and it put the kind of fear in me that you get when you think you just saw some kind of mythical beast like Bigfoot. I didn't even know anything like that existed in the US at the time. Apparently they're a very rare sight.