Guest Chat With Gregg Madden (GreggM) 3/07/07

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BalloonzForU

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Gregg_M entered the room.

bittner_344: hey gregg

Russ_S: Welcome Gregg

bittner_344: so, your the center of attention tonight eh gregg

Gregg_M: Hey guys and girls... Didnt realize there was a separate room
for guest chat...LOL


bittner_344: Gregg_M: your a part of reptile canada to, how do you like it?

Gregg_M: Its cool...

bittner_344: yeah

BalloonzForU: Well it's 9:00 are we ready?

Gregg_M: I was on ssnakess back in the day also


This channel is now being moderated by BalloonzForU. All your messages
are being forwarded to the moderator.

BalloonzForU: I'd like to take this time to thank Gregg Madden for
joining us as our Guest for chat tonight. This is our first Guest
Chat and I'm hoping that it runs smoothly. If you have not read the
rules for guest chat please do so at
http://www.geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=3341.

BalloonzForU: Gregg can you type?

Gregg_M: Yep

BalloonzForU: ok, there you are

Russ_S: Please tell us a little about your background, Gregg

Gregg_M: I have been keeping and breeding reptiles for over 20
years... Started with the same basics as most and slowly worked my way
up to keeping some more harder to keep species...


GoGo: Have you ever been bitten by one of your, or a friends, or even
a wild venemous snake with their venom glands or whatever it is they
remove still in them so you were actually poisoned, Gregg?

Gregg_M: I have never been bitten by a venomous reptile... I also am
not for de-venoming venomous reptiles...
Gregg_M: All of the snakes I keep are fully capable of delivering a
venomous bite


bittner_344: hey gregg, how ya doing? ok, so here is my question.
bittner_344: how do you find keeping venimous snakes? and what is the
nature of gaboon vipers? i really like them, and mabey someday i am
hoping to get some.

Gregg_M: Well keeping venomous is just like keeping any other snake...
You just need to have experience/trainning and proper protocol in
place... Gaboons can be placid but they will have a go at you if you
pu.
Gregg_M: put your self in their strike range


bittner_344: ya
bittner_344: i wouldent want a snake with the biggest fangs that are
needle sharpe to tagg me
bittner_344: thanks for your help

Gregg_M: You're welcome

KiKi: what is the hardest venimous snake to keep?

Gregg_M: Hmmm... As far as aggression or husbandry???

KiKi: both

Gregg_M: From my experience some of the more aggressive are some of
the cobra species... As far as the vipers go the most aggressive are
puff adders... Again this is my personal experience...
Gregg_M: Husbandry wise I would go with most highland vipers like
small atheris species... They can dehydrate fast and can be a pain to
feed...


KiKi: thank you

Gregg_M: There are some more aggressive and harder to keep That I have
not kept...


Jeremy_Letkey: Two parter... is there a mentor that helped you get
your training? I don't imagine that keeping hots is done through trial
and error?

Gregg_M: Hey Jeremy, when I started There were no keepers in my area
that I knew that kept hots... For some keepers, trial and error was
all we had... That and some common sence...


Jeremy_Letkey: Also, where is my magazine? lol

Gregg_M: LOL... I still have it here... I moved to a new house and it
has been hectic
Gregg_M: Sorry


Jeremy_Letkey: I would never want to learn that way personally. My hat
is off to you.

Gregg_M: Thanks... If someone does start like that it is best to do it
with less dangerous species...


bittner_344: ok, a guy wanted to trade me a copper head for my boa
that i was trying to sell, how hard are the copper heards to keep? not
that i am going to get any soon.

Gregg_M: They are very easy to keep and make great captives... They
can also rot a finger if you are bitten... They are a very
underestimated species of hot...

bittner_344: ahh ok
bittner_344: thanks again

Gregg_M: No problem

joshwilson: What was the first hot species you kept, and what would
you recommend as a good hot to start with?

Gregg_M: The first hot I ever kept was a northern copperhead.... I
always recommend people to get a mentor and learn to work with the
species they want to keep... Once your are comfortable working with
that
Gregg_M: species , buy a neonate... Your skills and experience will
grow with the snake...
Gregg_M: If you can not get a mentor, it is alway a good idea to start
with less lethal species like coppers...


joshwilson: Thanks Gregg

Gregg_M: Any time Josh

RoseT: What is your favorite Venomous snake?
RoseT: and why?

Gregg_M: Hands down.... GABOONS.... because they are huge and
beautiful.... I also love Atheris... Especially ceratophora


RoseT: Ya there are very pretty! Thank you

robin: what safety protocols do you have set in place incase a snake
bite occurs?

Gregg_M: Good question Robin... At this time I am working on getting
some AV.... Lots of red tape involved... The last batch I had,
expired... I have a phone in the herp room with emergency contacts...
Gregg_M: I have bite protocol for hospital staff and strict
instruction on everything from first aid to administering AV...
Gregg_M: My family doc also has the info on what I keep and copies of
protocol as well


robin: all cages are marked, i am sure as well. with species information?

Gregg_M: Absolutly.... Everything has to be clearly marked.... It is
something the DEP/DEC looks for during inspections.... There is also a
warning sign on the door incase fire or police have to enter


robin: oh and do you keep adreneline on hand as well?

Gregg_M: No epi pens... That can actually speed up the flow of venom
in the system.... Usually there will not be an alergic reaction to a
first bite anyway...


robin: one last thing what do you advise for the new venomous keeper
(even for copperheads) as a must in safety protocols?

Gregg_M: Proper cageing, handling tools are a must... Try to get AV...
It is pretty easy to stock AV for native species... If you can not get
AV, be sure your local hospital keeps a supply...
Gregg_M: Have a bit protocol sheet... Not all docs know how to treat
an envenomation.... Never work with a hot unless you have someone with
you.... The buddy system is great...
Gregg_M: Always have emergency contact programed in the phone in the herp room


robin: gregg thank you very much for your time :)

Gregg_M: No prob Robin

GoGo: Gregg, how did you become interested in reptiles, venemous
snakes or otherwise?

Gregg_M: Ever since I was a little guy I was alway trying to catch
snake and frogs... I have loved reptile for as long as I can
remember....
Gregg_M: I started to get into hots when I felt comfortable enough in
my handling skills...


GoGo: What was your first reptile pet?

Gregg_M: My first reptile pet was a baby snapping turtle I caught by
the pond down the street from my house.... He was so cool.... I guess
I was about 8 or so...
Gregg_M: When it got too big he found his way to the local zoo...


Jeremy_Letkey: Gregg, with you being a relativly new father, do you
see yourself keeping hots in a different way? Do you ever question if
it is worth the risk?

Gregg_M: My hots are kept in a sparate room now and the room was made
escape proof with a few simple, inexpensive modifications... Yes I am
much more causious now and everything is much more secure....
Gregg_M: I do often question if it is worth it... I have minimized my
collection big time and am not keeping the huge highly dangerous
species at the house anymore...


Jeremy_Letkey: Thank you and stay safe.

Gregg_M: Anytime J and thanks

bittner_344: gregg, how much is a gaboon cost?
bittner_344: whats the most highly toxic snake you have kept gregg?

Gregg_M: Gaboons range from 150 to 300 each...
Gregg_M: The most toxic I have kept has to be sawscaled vipers


bittner_344: oh, thats not bad at all eh
bittner_344: wow, those are awsome!
bittner_344: was there temperment bad?

Gregg_M: Very snappy
Gregg_M: No AIM


bittner_344: thought so

GoGo: Gregg, do you find that hots are more or less expensive or rare
than normal snakes? And one last thing, sorry for all the questions,
Have you ever had any other venemous reptiles besides snakes?

Gregg_M: I think that most hots are rather inexpensive... I feel they
should cost more... I have never kept any of the venomous lizards but
I do keep a variety of scorpions


GoGo: Thanks gregg. Heh my ma had a run in with a snapping turtle on a
short cut to a mall at a bungalo colony, a full grown one in the
middle of the road, ready to take a chunk outta someone.

Gregg_M: LOL Yeah they can be pretty mean... Mine was a puppy dog though

robin: as you know laws do vary from state to stae but as you can see
on places like kingsnake.com people will sell to people 18. do you
think this is wise or should more regulations be put into place to en?
robin: to ensure the safety of the person buying the snakes and the
people around i t that ould come into contact with it
robin: thats the last part of my question

Gregg_M: It all depends on the individual Robin... I think fot the
most part an 18 year old is not mature enough to take on all the
responsiblity that comes with hots...
Gregg_M: I am all for regulation...


robin: and i know there are always exceptions ;)

Gregg_M: Absolutely... I know a few people that started keeping hots
before the age of 18, including myself without a problem


robin: it's seems like a catch 22 questions

Gregg_M: Yeah... There are lots of grey areas...

Gregg_M: WB Russ

Russ_S: thanks Gregg

robin: also do you think more states should use florida as a good
example for keeping hots?

Gregg_M: I think Fl has the best regulations and licensing system in
place... I would rather be in a state with a system like that than to
be in a state with no regulations at all


robin: thank you again Gregg :)

Gregg_M: Anytime Robin

BalloonzForU: Paul did you have a question?

LeosForLess: ya

LeosForLess: what do yo ubeleive should be done with hots seized by
animal control

Gregg_M: Well I have had a few dropped her over the years... I think
they should either go to zoos or to private keepers that are permitted
to keep hots...


BalloonzForU: I don't have any questions for you Gregg, but I'd like
to thank you for joining us tonight.
BalloonzForU: I'll just enjoy the pics that you post!!!

Gregg_M: Thanks for having me Felicia
Gregg_M: It was cool...


BalloonzForU: I'm going to go ahead and open chat back up now

LeosForLess: Thanks Gregg!
LeosForLess: now when is the raptor chat.... lol

bittner_344: thanks alot gregg!!!!!!

Gregg_M: Thanks for all your questions everyone...

BalloonzForU: lol Paul

Russ_S: Thanks for being here tonight Gregg, I look forward to reading
the chatlog.

LeosForLess: ya sorry i was late
LeosForLess: i sat in the lobby for a few hours

BalloonzForU: Russ what's for dinner?

LeosForLess: till i saw that russ went to lobby

Russ_S: hamburgers anf fries

Gregg_M: Cool Russ... I had a great time...

BalloonzForU: Yeah I really enjoyed this
BalloonzForU: some very good questions, and great answers

Gregg_M: So, how do you think the first guest chat went???

BalloonzForU: Pretty good!!!!
BalloonzForU: LOL that mod window was a pain, but I'll get the hang
of it I'm sure

Russ_S: From what I saw Felecia did a great job moderating it. I just
wish I could have been here for the whole thing

Gregg_M: Yeah... Better than I thought... I didnt think that mant were
into hots...


LeosForLess: i kno a herpetologist who gets so many hots seized tha
the has to freeze sum of them

BalloonzForU: TY Russ

LeosForLess: rattlers

BalloonzForU: aawwwww

Gregg_M: No good... Poor snakes...

robin: Gregg, thanks for being here you sexy ***** :)

Russ_S: next time I pick up dinner on the way home from work.

BalloonzForU: Robin!!!!
BalloonzForU: lmao

LeosForLess: we need a sand chat

Russ_S: this isn't the R&R room baby

LeosForLess: and impaction

Gregg_M: he just needs to tell the officers he cant take anymore...

BalloonzForU: there are minors in the room

robin: felicia have you seen him?

LeosForLess: ***** is a female dog

BalloonzForU: yes, he's got some awesome blue eyes

robin: gregg knows he is :p

BalloonzForU: lol

Russ_S: hey, anyone wanna shave my head?

Gregg_M: LOL

BalloonzForU: he's prob turning red right about now too

BalloonzForU: lol Russ

Russ_S: I need it done badly, I'm starting to look like a q-tip

BalloonzForU: lmao

BalloonzForU: wow the room got quiet

LeosForLess: ya no1 wants my sand chat

Russ_S: everyone is looking for Greggs picture

BalloonzForU: lol

robin: i saves russ's face the other day without my glasses on

Gregg_M: You are all awesome... Thanks for having me as a guest and I
will see you all on the forums... G'nite...


robin: NIGHT GREGG

Russ_S: night Gregg

BalloonzForU: Nite Gregg

BalloonzForU: Thanks for joining us!!!

robin: thank you gregg

LeosForLess: night

BalloonzForU: Russ you still have a nose?

Russ_S: yup

BalloonzForU: wow

Russ_S: she did a good job

Russ_S: no cuts

BalloonzForU: is it in one piece

BalloonzForU: lol

Russ_S: and she left the stash and goatee

Gregg_M: Anytime guys... And thanks for the sexy ***** comments and
the blue eyes ones too...LOL


LeosForLess: ya robin i didnt see a pic of u
LeosForLess: nvm i saw ur eyes lol

BalloonzForU: anytime Gregg! ;)

Gregg_M has left the room.

LeosForLess: lobby it up?

BalloonzForU: yup

Russ_S: R&R?

LeosForLess: no
 
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