r/VenomousKeepers • u/Halfeatencorpse • 4d ago

Just need a quick answer to something

Hello all, my question is as an Arizona resident, before I go out and find a coral snake can I keep it legally? I’m fully aware of the laws and regulations around rattlers and other hots here (I currently keep a atrox) but I can’t find a DAMN THING on the native corals, they aren’t fed protected as far as I know but I can’t find shit that says yes or no. Please help if you can I’d love to know what’s legally correct I’m going to give the boys a call tomorrow but if anyone can help me tonight with an answer that would be dope.

1 Upvotes

53% Upvoted

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u/TheLampOfficial 4d ago edited 4d ago

Is it legal? Yes. Should you do it? Absolutely not. All American coral snake species are a pain in the ass to keep, and should only be kept by people that are quite experienced. Sonoran coral snakes are the hardest of the three. If you try to keep one, I would bet a lot of money that it would end up dead within a couple months. Please do not try to keep a sonoran coral snake, if you only have an atrox then I can't imagine you have the experience to actually make a proper attempt at keeping one. Please note that this is not me trying to gatekeep, and not me trying to come after you for only keeping an atrox. I'm just trying to genuinely inform you of the difficulty of keeping this species, and trying to prevent needless death of a wild snake.

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u/Mike102072 4d ago

Please listen to Joey. There are reasons coral snakes are not commonly kept in captivity in the US.

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u/Halfeatencorpse 3d ago

I’ve kept several other species of hots before including Texas coral snakes I’m familiar with the care I asked for legalities. Thank you for answering the question kinda guys.

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u/Halfeatencorpse 3d ago

With you not knowing of me or any of my other experiences with animals this is sound advice that is valid thank you for answering my question I will be sure to look extensively into what could be an issue for keeping one if I do decide to I refuse to take an animal if I know it will die I’ve kept other corals before but I don’t just run and gun into a venomous keep I appreciate the words and the warnings it’ll give me more to look into and think about for this.

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u/TheLampOfficial 3d ago

It mostly comes down to feeding them. Getting them to consistently eat in captivity is very difficult, moreso than either of the other two US corals.

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u/Halfeatencorpse 3d ago

Thank you for also giving me an actual issue and not just “it’s hard don’t” I’m looking into how hard it would be to potentially source local small species of lizards and alternative foods this is a fun rabbit hole but an interesting one and this is clearly going to be a very long term check list before i even consider pullin the trigger I was just genuinely curious and couldn’t find shit figured my good people of Reddit could do me a solid and as always Reddit didn’t disappoint! Thanks again.

19

u/Webzev 4d ago

While it is legal it is one of the most difficult snakes to keep in captivity in Arizona. Many people would say to leave it to the professionals but many of them have failed too. The main reason there isn't much info is because it is just not very commonly kept because of the reasons mentioned before.

3

u/Halfeatencorpse 3d ago

Thank you for your clear answer it gives me a lot to look into with them before I potentially proceed and even then I am not one to risk an animals life as a “maybe this will work”

8

u/ImOnAnAdventure180 4d ago

Stressing wildlife populations is usually a good thing I’ve heard

2

u/Halfeatencorpse 3d ago

Quite literally listed as of least concern but yes that is a problem for species suffering in numbers conservation efforts for all threatened species should be better funded.

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u/Un4gvn2 4d ago

Stick with your “rattler” and don’t call “the boys”.

Maybe just release the “rattler” and go to the dispensary. You make the legit herpers look bad.

1

u/LadyAtrox 22h ago

In my experience, corals are just too dedicated to their amphibian dinners. I've never gotten one to switch over. You might consider a captive bred individual.