Coppers-what am i getting into?

crazywolf · Joined: 28 Feb 2008 Posts: 7

Hello My Name is Dan.
Well at the moment I live in Washington where hots were recently made illegal (unless you can prove you had them before the ban went into effect)
well my hot herping experience is with these boring ol north pacific rattlesnakes (crotalus oreganus oreganus)
ive always been extremely fond of COBRAS!
many of my friends have cobras (i let the hot ones be but i cant resist handling the venomoids)
anyway.........like i said my personal experience is with the C.O.O. (nicknamed OREGANO)
but ive always been fond of cobras and western diamondbacks never had any interest in anything else hotwise, until i pulled up a pic of a northern copperhead captured in alabama.
OMG! THAT THING IS GORGOUS!!!!!!!!!
so now im fond of copperheads.
I will be recieving my FIRST copperhead from my good buddy Chuck Hurd when i move to alabama.
I will also be trading my friend holly an oregano for a pink copperhead.
my question is.........what am i getting into?
>toxicity
>behavior
>eating habits
>growth/shed rate
>striking capabilities (distance/direction/etc) after studying the strikes of cobras ive realized they always strike downward and are pretty slow

MagicPitviper · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 5

OK, here's my 2 cents on Copperheads. They may be the very best first hot snake. Please keep in mind this is most coppers and just what I think ; I'm sure we can debate much of what I say here. But from what I have last heard there has never been a "Healthy " adult die from a copperhead bite. Also they "tame" down rather well........tame meaning they don't try to bite you every time you walk by or open the cage to give them water. Most are rather small averaging around 2 to 2 1/2 feet some 3 feet and I've seen pictures of a couple 4 footers out there but most average about 2 1/2 feet. Most especially buying from a breeder will eat rather well and grow well in captivity. As far as striking they can strike quickly and without notice and strike 1/2 their lenght......... but that is the measurement I personally use for everything. Most books say they strike about a 1/4 of their length. But I've have ran into a few snakes that haven't read that book and strike farther than that. I hope some of this helps. BUT always remember they are wild animals and should be treated as such. I tell people keeping Hots is just like having a loaded gun lying there.

CanebrakeCowboy · Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 8

toxicity...enough to put you in the hospital
behavior...different snakes have different temperments, but if you raise one a couple years it will
seem to get to know your not there to hurt it....
eating habits....mice once a week(size and number depending on the size of snake)
growth/shed rate....shed every 2 to 3 months....should be 2ft by 3yrs of age....12 inches by first year...18 to 22 inches by age 2....then 2ft to 30 inches by age 3....they can breed by three, but i
wait on females until they're four yrs old....
striking capabilities....i have seen a juvi jump from one side of a ten gallon aquarium to the other side and nail the hopper perfectly...and i mean it jumped...once they get more weight they quit flying...lol....but they can strike pretty much from any possition....they will sometimes just be stretched out in their cage and i'll just be watching one of them when it will, all of a sudden just strike out...no recoil before the strike and they are already stretched out...usually only lash out maybe 6 inches on those strikes, but if you thought you could reach in and grab a water bowl, you'd be wrong....

atwageman · Joined: 07 Apr 2008 Posts: 4 Location: Union County, NC

Copperheads or anything part of Agkistrodon genus is my favorite/specialty. I find them to always be alert day and night. Most of the time when I walk into my snake room, they will come out from their hides to see what's going on. The feeding response is always awesome. Most of mine are eating f/t. I use a 24" pair of hemostats to feed them. Most of the time when they strike, they hit the pray. I've had times when they've overshot the pray. Thank God for hemostats. I've never been bit and don't want too either. Copperheads in my opinion are not only a great first hot, but also can provide enjoyment to the seasoned hot keeper as well.
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