You have your information essentially correct. Woolies and capuchins are the most even tempered. Stay away from terrestrial monks like the macaques, they get too large and aggressive for anyone but a zoological institution to handle. California eh? sucks for you.
Thanks! I’ll keep that in mind. Once we get out of the terrible twos with our current puppy we may be ready to consider a kitten.
Acid Lamp: Floridians evidently are adaptable and very forgiving. Wish everyone shared the attitude…after reading your response ,thinking an anomaly had occured when I was searching for the article on the New Mexico herp the other day I decided to verify it by searching simply ‘man bitten by rattlesnake’.
Below is the initial story headline which was the first of 6 or 7 out of 8 that were Florida based…William Deming the father of mathematical probability and common cause control charting guru would definitely have found these numbers to be outside the parameters for normal occurence when plotted.
July 2008
Pembroke Pines
Walmart refuses to address the plight of Jason Page, whose hand is paralyzed after a bite from a 1.5 foot-long pygmy rattlesnake. Page is the seventh known victim to suffer a snake bite at a Walmart. (read 7 times at the same store)
June 14 2008
Man bitten in Loews in Titusville
june 9 2008
Apartment complex Orlando male
Feb 24 2007
Orlando
June 30 2006
Orlando maintanence worker
April 4 2002
Miami
I really don’t possess an abnormally morbid curiosity and find this pretty strange. An explanation as to why Florida cases seem to appear initially when the subject is queried may be valid. Given the market for pit vipers in much of the south I wouldn’t be surprised to see the occasional snake chaser at a local Walmart Garden Center, can of gas in one hand, hook in the other.
I quess what i’m wondering is surely the snake is indigenous to other areas and if this stuff on the net is not hooey…what could be the common denominator… a building material thats an integral part of their habitat, particular plants that may attract them…maybe just a hoax
`
Just jumping in as a girl who grew up in the South (TN) where we would often find rattlers in the house. They’re snakes, they can get into just about anywhere they want, and will when it is too hot out, too cold out, they want some liquid refreshment or they smell rodents/prey running around inside. Luckily, while we live in an area prone to rattlesnakes now, we have enough outdoor cats to keep the small prey population to a minimum and in the (going on 4) years we have lived there have only had to deal with 1 rattlesnake.* I don’t mind the non-venomous snakes and they’re always welcome in the yard, but the copperheads, cottonmouths and rattlers could all go to hell for all I care.
*funny story – I came home from a doctor’s appointment, and walked around the back of my car. I normally walk around the front, don’t know why I went around the back that time. I also normally look at the ground when I am walking (I have found far too many dropped wallets not to do this instinctively!) and this time was no exception. Something caught my attention, I looked up then back and my foot was literally 12" from a coiled up rattlesnake’s (very alert) head. He and I must have noticed each other at the same exact moment, because he hadn’t even been able to start rattling, I slowly pulled my foot back and walked backwards a few steps. Went in the house and told my husband, who ran the stupid thing over (about 5 times each direction) to be sure it was dead. It measured out at well over 6’ – if I had been bitten, I probably wouldn’t have made it.
That is NOT funny. :mad: I hate it when people kill snakes just because they are in the vicinity and might hurt someone.
For the record: **The Proper way to Remove a Rattlesnake Safely.
**
Step one: If you are too frightened, leave it alone. It will go away. Call your local control office. They will either handle the problem or refer you to a “critter gitter”.
Step two: Go and find a long handled, sturdy implement. A shovel or rake does well. Then locate a large trashbin, the sort with wheels that you take to the curb is the correct size. Ensure that it has a lid.
Step three: Keeping a minimum of three feet between you and the snake at all times, gently probe the implement under the snake’s middle, and lift it into the bin. If it drops off and runs away, let it be; It will leave on it’s own quite swiftly.
Step four: secure the lid and tape it shut. Call your local wildlife control for removal.
Well, I understand that you like rattlesnakes and see their life as valid – what I see funny in the story is the two of us being caught completely off-guard at the same time, not the snake’s death. Obviously, I use more humane methods of keeping the snakes out of our yard normally (the cats).
Your information is a great addition to the thread, though (I’ve removed snakes from inside the house like that before). Sorry to have offended/upset you 
Don’t tell me that! I have had nightmares about water moccasins chasing me down and getting into the house. I do NOT need to hear that that actually happens.
I work for a national TV show that is looking for trained exotic pets. I know there are lots of people in Florida that own “wild” animals as pets. Does anyone know where I can find some of these people who have trained their animals to do something clever?
Trust me, I have searched google and only can find circuses. If anyone has an idea, please share it.
Thanks
Hi there
Can you tell us any more about the show and better define what you’re looking for?
Thanks
Hugs and Hissessss,
Maria
Do you know much about snake’s ranges? I have a friend who discovered a snake in her yard in Cameroon. It was black and puffed up like a cartoon cobra. Any idea what it could be?
Also, great thread.
Sorry, I can’t help you.
I am fairly familiar with common snakes in the pet trade here in the US but that is way beyond me.
I wish you had a photo.
Hugs and Hissessss,
Maria
I have been looking for a baby yellow belly turtle but havent really been able to find one at a decent price shipped. Any idea where I can find one of these? Thanks
I was under the (mistaken?) impression that reptiles were more or less blanket banned in Norway. Has that changed?
Have you tried any of the local rescue shelters?
Even if you do not find the exact turtle you’re looking for you could help one in need.
Thanks 
Hugs and Hissessss,
Maria
I’ve got a question. I live in an old apartment in North Florida. Right now, I’m getting a number of palmetto bugs in my kitchen. I’m trying to starve them out, etc, but you know how those things are. So various people have advised me to get a gecko or two and let them loose in the house to eat the bugs. It’s not the first time I’ve heard that, by a long shot, but it is the first time that I care enough to find out the straight dope.
So: is that kosher? Can they survive that way? Would they poop everywhere? Is it considered a horrible, cruel thing to do to a gecko? Will they bite my feet in the night?
I think a former tenant did the same at some point and they escaped, because every summer we get massive geckos around the eaves and up and down the outside walls, barking GECK-O! GECK-O! I’m hoping they put in an appearance again this year and take care of the problem, but I’m still curious about just releasing some in the house. What say you? (And thank you.)
I can’t imagine that ever working.
I would guess the gecko would roam as it pleases and most likely get away. Regarding the health and care of the gecko, I can’t see a way to supply proper temperatures, access to Ultra Violet light (depending on what kind of Gecko) and so much more. Another thought is the bugs they eat may have come in contact with poisons from your home or other homes, yards or even the stuff you keep under your kitchen sink. The gecko would become ill from ingesting them. Not a good idea from what I can see but I am not a gecko expert.
Hugs and Hissessss,
Maria
Are there certain areas that are known for purchasing exotic animals? Whether that be because of leniency of laws or more the culture as like a status symbol? I think this business would be really interesting to get involved in, i am currently in college and just trying to figure out what to do with my life haha. I saw this as an opportunity to be around fascinating creatures and have a unique career. But I’m also a business major, and it seems like it’s a very difficult business to make much of a profit in. Mainly because of gov’t regulation, cost of shipping, difficulties all along the way in the supply chain im sure because it’s sensitive cargo, not to mention caging, feeding, breeding. I only realized most of these costs reading your posts, i found this whole thread really entertaining. I was just wondering how profitable some of these businesses can be (legally), and if they can be very profitable, how? What animals should you never invest in? which ones can you breed and just make a fortune? I am really curious to know!
OMGosh, I cant believe when I saw this post pop up on my subscribed list. its years old now. but, here we are so…
I’ll just add my thoughts in that working with animals is wonderful but I would beg you to think twice about ever breeding any pet. Millions and millions of pets are destroyed every year. Please dont breed any new ones until all the pets in shelters have homes. Breeding is legal and fun but its the animals that will end up suffering for our fun. Please dont do it. Volunteer at a shelter and you can be around them and help instead of adding to the problem.
I would assume they are talking about breeding exotics, not cats and dogs, though there could be exotics in shelters but I would think those would mainly be the large ones that people decided they didnt like anymore.
I can answer the question somewhat. I breed and or have breed bearded dragon and leopard gecko morphs, corn snakes and Jackson’s chameleons. As for profitable, not really but since I raise my own feeders (dubia roaches) or buy frozen rodents in bulk there is some profit but not anything to live on unless you are breeding a highly sought after morph or rare in captivity species. I do it because I love it.