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 #1768615


Viper191
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 Keeping rearfanged in illinois

I was wondering if its legal to keep a mangrove in illinois? im not planning on getting another snake for about 8 months but i wanted to know if anyone else has done it here and if its legal? i have been looking for laws for these and dwarf caimens because i now want another dwarf caimen. i had to sell a 4 ft before i moved here.
06/21/08  03:20pm

 #1768636


Viper191
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   Message To: Viper191   In reference to Message Id: 1768615


 Keeping rearfanged in illinois

I would just like a smaller avout 4 foot long semi venomous snake that i can legally keep. Im new to this but not reptiles at all. I dont want a hognosed tho because i want something averaging at 4 foot and not really venomous. I have a rtb, cornsnake, watersnake,green tree snake, green/pink snow cornsnake, and i have had a copperhead for a little bit.



06/21/08  03:39pm

 #1770291


SoLA
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   Message To: Viper191   In reference to Message Id: 1768636


 Keeping rearfanged in illinois

Mangroves are a rough area. While many of your folks who enforce the law would like to see it where a mangrove is legal...the law is written in a way that makes it kind of tough. I have seen them sold at reptile shows in IL, but I have also seen show promoters ask vendors to remove them from the table because the law isn’t clear.

With most rear fangs, the state does not really care, and they go by the "medical significance guideline." Boomslangs are certainly venomous, and African twigs the same. Mangroves are tough because they might not be usually considered "deadly," but some snakes in that genus certainly have caused troubling envenomations. There are other rear-fangs that’s kind of fall in that same boat.

While mussuranas (Clelia and Boiruna) are not exactly the smallest rear-fangs available, they are quite fun and the state of IL seems to be alright with them. Just be responsible.

I keep mussuranas and I do treat them with respect. While I do not completely treat them like a front fanged hot, I do use hooks for nearly all maintenance, and gloves and tubes for many situations. I have them secure and locked enclosures and I have Epinephrine on top of the cages as a worst case scenario. I don’t quite treat our hognoses at work that touchy simply because there have been more bite instances to give us better ideas on human reactions to their venom, but I still like to use hooks as often as possible.

Also, keep in mind that every colubrid with the exception of north American Pantherophis, Pituophis, Lampropeltis (and similar snakes that might have been moved around from those genera) do have a venom gland and some type of rear-fangs for delivering it. So I would honestly just get snakes you like...while I know there is some appeal to having a "venomous snake," it really doesn’t make a difference in how cool it is. My Pseustes do not have much of a venom gland and fangs at all in comparison to even water snakes (and certainly hognose snakes)...but they certainly keep me on my toes and test my skills as a snake keeper more than anything.



06/23/08  01:24am


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