By STEPHANIE BARISH and ANDREW RAMOS wpix.com

10:09 p.m. EDT, March 25, 2010
FLORAL PARK, N.Y. (WPIX)—
A Floral Park man was rushed to the hospital Thursday morning after being attacked by a poisonous Western Diamondback rattlesnake in his home, police said.

The victim, identified as 31-year-old Robert Lantier, was rushed to Jacobi Hospital in the South Bronx where he was admitted. He was listed in fair condition late Thursday.

According to authorities, the pet rattlesnake was one of many venomous reptiles he kept at his Oak St. residence in violation of New York State law.

Animal control officers from the Suffolk SPCA and the State Department of Environmental Conservation converged on the home and later collected the illegal reptiles. Officers were seen emerging from the man's home with large containers sealed with duct tape.

Among the animals seized included a cobra, a baby eyelash viper, a bamboo viper, an albino diamondback rattlesnake and a three-foot crocodile monitor. Crocodile monitors, considered to be the world's longest lizards, can grow up to 10 feet long.

Nassau County Police tell PIX News that Lantier should expect to receive a slew of summons for housing the reptiles in his home.

Lantier, who was bitten on his left hand by the poisonous rattlesnake, is expected to survive from his injuries, a hospital spokesperson said.