I have a few various hots that I keep more for myself. I started the whole breeding thing and decided boids are more for me. I do have this guy who was my birthday present a year ago. Figure this will help the hot section out a little bit. (did I mention it was a present from my girlfriend)? I think she is trying to tell me something.

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n189/danielsherp/gaboon085.jpg

DAMN! That is an awesome looking snake... You never can trust women so watch out you may find him in your bed when you go to pass out early one night;)

Gaboons are probably my favorite. He's gorgeous!

Quig

INCREDIBLE!!!

Damn those things are literally like artwork... the way their pattern runs down their body! :cheers:

So So SO pretty.

You have more Nuts then me my friend.

That snake looks so great it almost looks fake.

WOW

Post away of that guy right.

:yourock:

Thanks for the comments everyone... All I can say is that he has ALOT of respect from me. I have had him as a baby and so far so good. I'll see if I can dig up some more pictures.

Gabbys are awesome looking, I'll likely never own one, but I LOVE to see them! :yourock:

Could you post some baby pics if you have them?:letsparty:

Thats a smoking gabby! I love hots but I just can't bring myself to take the plunge.. Plus I don't know anyone to mentor me.. Post some more of him if you got any.

Alan

I have said this before I absolutly loe the gaboons!!!!

OK, a green horn question...........I've heard they aren't as twitchy, (antsy, angry) as most hots. That they were actually pretty mellow as far as hots go, is this true?

Quig

OK, a green horn question...........I've heard they aren't as twitchy, (antsy, angry) as most hots. That they were actually pretty mellow as far as hots go, is this true?

Quig

Most definately. Very easy to deal with if you get one that is a captive born baby and raise it yourself. It will know your handling and as long as you don't do anything stupid. If you get a WC or something someone else has had ... well I don't trust it. I raise all my hots. Also as a baby you can kind of get used to how they act and the things they do.

Downside- GABOONS ARE UNPREDICTABle like any other snake. Gaboons are one of the fastest strikers as they are in the bitis family. Somewhere around 21 ft per sec. The have the longest fangs of any snake in the world with 2 3/4 in. If you get bit you can pretty much count your blessings. They are very serious and deserve alot of respect. There huffing is not a bluff . I have had mine 2 years he has never struck (knock on wood) they way I look at it you shouldn't be close enough for him to strike. They are ambush predators and will only strike when they know they can hit you. Yea they seem docile and lazy because they do nothing literally but they are ambush predators. Best thing you can do with a gaboon is keep your distance and number one rule NEVER PUT YOUR HANDS ON THE ANIMAL> .

Meet some new hot friends and get into learning about them with them and about venom, species, ect. Then get a copperhead. Keep him at full adult size for about 2 years. Also work with a friend who has a gaboon and see how its done adn learn hands on before getting one.

If you can pretty much do all this you should be fine. Just know that it can take your life and accidents do happen when your cleaning a cage and your tired or sick or drunk.

I'll thow this out there. Statistically %70 of envenomations are alcohol related. Being im drunk watch me handle my cobra.

Here are some pictures of him as a baby.

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n189/danielsherp/GABOON.jpg
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n189/danielsherp/angel.jpg

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n189/danielsherp/gabby0802.jpg
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n189/danielsherp/gabby0803.jpg

Last two he was going into shed....

Hots are out of the question for me at this time and there's no one local that deals with them, so I'll just look for now :). I'm also well aware of the size of those fangs and the potency of the venom, only because I've read anything I can find about them. And I DON'T even clean non-hots when I'm tired, sick or drunk. THAT wouldn't be a problem :greenman: Thanks for the info though.

Quig

Nothin' like death in a box for your birthday...

Thanks for the educational posts Daniel --seriously. And I don't think I've ever seen such a unique pattern on a snake. Beautiful animal.

wow very nice

Thanks for your kind words. I am just a nobody who loves his animals. Take it from guys like Jim Harrison and Bill Haast. They are the mentors. :master:

Awesome looking Gaboon in those pictures!!

Beautiful :rockon:

Wow, just beautiful..... :yessir:

Thats a smoking gabby! I love hots but I just can't bring myself to take the plunge.. Plus I don't know anyone to mentor me.. Post some more of him if you got any.

Alan


Alan... at least you have a good head on your shoulders.... I have always loved hots... especially our native coppers and rattlers... but I would never own one UNTIL I found someone to mentor me. I am so glad he was willing to train me.... I still have alot to learn... but I have been able to keep my coppers and rattlers :)

My mentor actually got me my first hot.... how cool is that

Oh yeah... to the original poster.... Im still jelious of you... a Banded Rock and a Gabby. I'd love to photograph your babies.

Downside- GABOONS ARE UNPREDICTABle like any other snake. Gaboons are one of the fastest strikers as they are in the bitis family. Somewhere around 21 ft per sec. The have the longest fangs of any snake in the world with 2 3/4 in. If you get bit you can pretty much count your blessings. They are very serious and deserve alot of respect. There huffing is not a bluff . I have had mine 2 years he has never struck (knock on wood) they way I look at it you shouldn't be close enough for him to strike. They are ambush predators and will only strike when they know they can hit you. Yea they seem docile and lazy because they do nothing literally but they are ambush predators. Best thing you can do with a gaboon is keep your distance and number one rule NEVER PUT YOUR HANDS ON THE ANIMAL> .

Best advise I have seen in a long time in requards to a gabby.... Gabbys are also said to be able to do a summersault and bite their own tails.... so tailing is out of the question.


Meet some new hot friends and get into learning about them with them and about venom, species, ect. Then get a copperhead. Keep him at full adult size for about 2 years. Also work with a friend who has a gaboon and see how its done adn learn hands on before getting one.

The best venomous snake to work with is ALWAYS someone elses... especially if you have never dealt with that species. The reasons are.... lets say you get an Egyptian Cobra and then you realize your not really ready for their 'firecracker ways'... what are you gonna do.... whereas if you worked with your mentors Egyptian Cobra first... you would know what to expect. I used that animal for a reason.

Its a beautiful animal.... but as I stated.. my mentors Egyptian is a firecracker... and is above my current skill level. I WILL NOT work with it... they are very fast and will dart out at you. I do love working with his other cobras though.


Just know that it can take your life and accidents do happen when your cleaning a cage and your tired or sick or drunk.

You would be amazed at the idiots that handle venomous while drunk.... thats just asking to get dead. My herp room has a lock on the door because of the hots... and if I have friends over that have had something to drink... the door gets locked and does NOT open for any reason. I wont even work with them when Im tired or sick.... I need all my focus and reflexes.. and if Im tired or sick Im not really focusing on the task at hand.

Its nice to meet another 'hot' keeper that thinks like I do

**shakes hand**

:) He was even a fat baby

Best advise I have seen in a long time in requards to a gabby.... Gabbys are also said to be able to do a summersault and bite their own tails.... so tailing is out of the question.



The best venomous snake to work with is ALWAYS someone elses... especially if you have never dealt with that species. The reasons are.... lets say you get an Egyptian Cobra and then you realize your not really ready for their 'firecracker ways'... what are you gonna do.... whereas if you worked with your mentors Egyptian Cobra first... you would know what to expect. I used that animal for a reason.

Its a beautiful animal.... but as I stated.. my mentors Egyptian is a firecracker... and is above my current skill level. I WILL NOT work with it... they are very fast and will dart out at you. I do love working with his other cobras though.



You would be amazed at the idiots that handle venomous while drunk.... thats just asking to get dead. My herp room has a lock on the door because of the hots... and if I have friends over that have had something to drink... the door gets locked and does NOT open for any reason. I wont even work with them when Im tired or sick.... I need all my focus and reflexes.. and if Im tired or sick Im not really focusing on the task at hand.

Its nice to meet another 'hot' keeper that thinks like I do

**shakes hand**


Right on. You have more balls than I do. I don't mess with cobras. I can't get past the idea of everytime I open the cage they come out at you.

I loved working with his cobras.... especially the large Monocled. I also have a very good mentor... not only did he teach me what to do.... he taught me what NOT to do... and was there keeping me safe.

But I still wouldnt work with the Egyptian.... I knew where my comfort level ended.... and it was well before that animal. .

I was even ok with the fact the King Cobra was lunging at me during the photo shoot (apparently he didnt like the flashing box :) ).... but the Eqyptian was a piece of work... just too quick for my comfort level.

Thats why I wont work with Mambas as well..... just toooo quick

Ahh how I love Gaboons. Its pretty cool how you added that your GF bought you that. What GF does that.lmao

Ahh how I love Gaboons. Its pretty cool how you added that your GF bought you that. What GF does that.lmao

None that I have had.... all of mine didnt even like snakes.... guess thats why Im single.

very very cool. as with everyone else gaboons rank up there as one of the most gorgeous snakes in my book. I think I put them only behind Rhinos.
They younger pictures of him look awesome. It's like his tiny little horns haven't grown in yet and you can tell it's just a baby.