First off, sorry to hear about your hand. I can definitly see where that would influence your opinion on the matter. You'll be happy to know that for however long I keep him, I have no intention of handling him. I didn't find fault with your opinion, I just wanted to hear your reasoning behind it.
He is currently secured in a locked cage (with a combination lock so no one can find a key). I made the cage myself and will post a few pics of it after my message. It exceeds the Florida requirements for a venomous reptile.
As for the VRL, I'm currently obtaining one. It is currently topping my priority list. I have no intention of keeping it illegally. I had a few pygmy rattlers in my youth, and kept a moccasin for a while in my teenage years in Louisisana. No permit was needed and I've moved many times since then, so finding witnesses to my experience might be a handful. In Florida, you need a year's experience (consisting of no less than 1000 hours) and two signed witnesses to this experience to obtain a VRL. My mother would be one witness, but she has a "B Movie" fear of snakes. I'd have a better chance of jumping in the air and taking flight than I would getting her support to keep a venomous snake. I do have the experience, I just need to track down witnesses I haven't seen in 16+ years.
Even with my VRL, I'm sure I'll evetually release Dusky back into the wild. For now, I'm enjoying observing his actions. Where does he prefer to perch, how often does he go for water, which hidey spots he prefers, the effects his envenomation has on prey.. it's insight you dont get from reading a book.
Also, I noticed that Dusky has two small tears on his neck and a tiny one about midway down his back.
If I was a betting man, I'd say some boot wearing behemoth stepped on his head when they caught him. He was also kept for God knows how long in a 4 inch by 4 inch box without ventilation. A friend saw him in this condition and called me to come save the snake. He was also suffering from dehydration when I got him (I've never seen a snake run straight to water and drink for 10 minutes when put into a new environment). He seems to be over the dehydration, and has also taken a meal and defecated. The only thing that still worries me are the tears on his neck. They appear to be healing ok, but I'm still keeping a close eye for infection.
Has anyone taken the Florida exam for a VRL? I'm curious as to what kind of questions I'll be facing.
3/4 view of herp cage.. it needs a paint job
Top view of tank, notice the combination lock
Frontal tank view
Like the tank?
