My Venomous Snakes

Oh my gosh, now THAT is an absolutely GORGEOUS cobra! I have a question, my niece had a de-fanged cobra(i believe it was a cobra, I'll have to double check) is that a common thing folks do with the venomous snakes?
Anyways, beautiful snakes you have, thanks for sharing!

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Originally Posted by BPSnakeLady

Oh my gosh, now THAT is an absolutely GORGEOUS cobra! I have a question, my niece had a de-fanged cobra(i believe it was a cobra, I'll have to double check) is that a common thing folks do with the venomous snakes?
Anyways, beautiful snakes you have, thanks for sharing!

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Hello,

You cannot 'defang' a cobra. I mean you can, but it is a brutal procedure and if the snake survives the trauma, it will produce new fangs and will be ready to evenomate pretty soon.

On the other hand, you can surgically remove a venomous snakes venom glands and ducts, and if done properly by a vet (a lot of vets will find this unethical and won't do it) then you will have an altered snake, which won't be able to evenomate anything anymore. It is not very common but it is out there. The procedure is found unethical and shunned by most snake keepers, as an animal should not go under life threatening surgery for someone to be able to keep it as a pet.

However, to tell you the truth, my first cobra (over 10 years ago) was a venomoid. The poor animal had a very scarred, disfigured head as he did not have implants for the removed glands hence his cheeks sunk in. Still, he survived until he was 10 or so and died due to an unrelated illness.

http://imageshack.com/a/img100/7007/najael5dv.jpg

Ok, my stepson was the one who told me about my niece's snake(I never saw it, just heard stories about them getting the snake to bite them and finding it humorous **rollseyes**), I must have gotten the species wrong, it just sounded... Wrong to do to a snake.

Thank you for replying :) you have some beautiful animals there.

Another question, I was watching one of the feeding vids and you mention that there was no anti venom for the snakes you were feeding (the black & yellow cobras), do you keep anti venom on hand with the other species you work with? I'm just curious.

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Originally Posted by BPSnakeLady

I must have gotten the species wrong, it just sounded... Wrong to do to a snake.

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It can still be a cobra but not defanged. It probably had a venomoid surgery as I described above.

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Originally Posted by BPSnakeLady

Another question, I was watching one of the feeding vids and you mention that there was no anti venom for the snakes you were feeding (the black & yellow cobras), do you keep anti venom on hand with the other species you work with? I'm just curious.

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We have a joint antivenom bank in Switzerland where we pay into. It is quite expensive to keep antivenom for all the snakes we keep individually but having one bank makes it quite cheap, about $150 per year. So far no one has been bitten to test how efficient it is but I foresee no issues.

In case of Samar Cobras, there is no antivenom so a bite may result to artificial breathing in an icu unit. I try to not to take chances with them.

Thanks for watching the videos.

Fascinating!
I know very little about venomous snakes outside what I've seen on tv, I've found this thread to be very educational. Thank you for answering my questions and keep sharing!

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Originally Posted by BPSnakeLady

Fascinating!
I know very little about venomous snakes outside what I've seen on tv, I've found this thread to be very educational. Thank you for answering my questions and keep sharing!

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No problem. Feel free to ask anything you like.

The Samars are up from a month long pre-breeding brumation and they are hungry! They ate two small rats each and asked for more.


Here is a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkHD3w-vCEQ

Sad video this week... Unfortunately, my A.hawkei female gave birth to 15 additional unfertilized eggs plus a perfectly developed yet dead baby... Oh well...


http://imageshack.com/a/img540/2291/tPazpW.jpg


Here is a video explaining the situation with an interesting ending:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrkYm8HntAc

Well that's sad:tears: sorry to hear

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Originally Posted by slithering_BP

Well that's sad:tears: sorry to hear

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Yeah... I hope it works better next time...

Here is a long feeding video of the hawkei female. She is taking down rats to get back to her previous weight:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNqxQTORnlU


And here are a couple pictures of the Acanthophis laevis pair from Aseki, PNG:


http://imageshack.com/a/img913/2739/n8nC2P.jpg


http://imageshack.com/a/img909/8158/IApO8L.jpg

That was cool thanks for sharing 👍👍👍👍👍👍

Hi Guys,


So breeding attempt is fully on.


The male seems crazy interested but the female doesn't seem to care much. Yet, they might have already mated, we will see soon...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OlYePuq9cg

http://imageshack.com/a/img673/282/Ez0Cay.jpg

Ooo good luck. They are really pretty!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by BPSnakeLady

Ooo good luck. They are really pretty!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Thanks!

The orange Naja kaouthia girl is growing up fast and looking great as usual:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4-7HaTo9ls

Here is the A.laevis pair. The male just shed and is in full breeding mode but the female needs to shed first.


http://imageshack.com/a/img540/8228/44H7nW.jpg

Orange pastel Naja kaouthia:


Leaving the Den:
http://imageshack.com/a/img673/9959/mumGLN.jpg


Head Close-up:
http://imageshack.com/a/img673/6118/3XnjOp.jpg


Hood Close-up:
http://imageshack.com/a/img631/9206/eHrlaX.jpg

Amazing :O

I caught this guy in the act:


http://imageshack.com/a/img540/3157/AIIab6.jpg

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Originally Posted by Najakeeper

I caught this guy in the act:


http://imageshack.com/a/img540/3157/AIIab6.jpg

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Nice shot!

Wow that is wayyy too cool! Thanks for sharing

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Originally Posted by AlexisFitzy

Wow that is wayyy too cool! Thanks for sharing

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Thanks!

Here is another breeding video, this time with Acanthophis laevis, the Papua New Guinea Smooth Scaled Death Adder from Aseki:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmlwtZ95nBs

So cool, can't wait to see some baby's!

Very interesting, thank you so much. Great education. :gj:

I love your collection. :)

Thanks guys! :)

Here is one for you:



http://imageshack.com/a/img908/7430/409SUd.jpg

Leucy male growing up:

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/3614/we1IlC.jpg


http://imageshack.com/a/img540/4070/F6yHf1.jpg

Sydney Red Acanthophis antarcticus:


http://imageshack.com/a/img673/1350/9HTTv6.jpg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ko6KAlznq8

Here is the latest video I shot. Unfortunately, my Leucistic Monocled Cobra seems to have developed scale rot so I have to treat him with antibiotics.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9xcUvwfUiw

Jeebus!

That girl scared the heck out of me there. :O :rofl:

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Originally Posted by Najakeeper

Here is another Samar video. Both snakes are in their permanent homes now and are enjoying life. I gave the female a bit of quail meet today and she seemed to love it.
Here is how docile he is on a normal day...


http://imageshack.com/a/img538/112/KuYEcJ.jpg

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When I was in Costa Rica a big Guy named Rudy was in charge of the Herps. He gave me some advice which I know pass on to you. He told me if I kept handling hots, which everyone at the field station did, it would not be one of the aggressive snakes that struck at the cage every time someone walked by that got me. It would be one of the tame ones. He pointed to a Velvet viper and said, "Every time that snake needs its water changed, or soils its substrate, your heart will be pounding and your hands will shake and you will use the tongs and scoop to reach into the cage. If the snake needs to come out, you will use a hook, and put it straight into the plastic tub and put the lid on, before you do anything in that cage." As he talked his hand moved past the door and there was a audible thumb as the Bothrops tried to bite him through the glass. Then we walked over to a Micrurus nigrocintus. (If you ever see one of these living jewels, you will forget all about cobras.) This snake sat curled up in its cage, hardly moving. Rudy opened the door and the snake didn't move. He explained, "this snake never strikes at anything bigger than a pinky. It is incredibly docile. I frequently catch students like you holding it. It is a really smart snake. It seems tame. This is the one that scares me most. Someday it is going to have a bad day."

I was there a year and every time I handled a Bothrops, I was scared. The Eyelash vipers could be aggressive or not. That big coral snake was just so sweet. Lots of people would just reach in and pull it out. One of my fellow biologists used to sit at his desk and pet it. I went back state side before it happened, but that coral snake did hit someone. Luckily the bite was dry, but I caution you, "It is the tame one that will get you."

Please be careful.

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Originally Posted by nightrainfalls

When I was in Costa Rica a big Guy named Rudy was in charge of the Herps. He gave me some advice which I know pass on to you. He told me if I kept handling hots, which everyone at the field station did, it would not be one of the aggressive snakes that struck at the cage every time someone walked by that got me. It would be one of the tame ones. He pointed to a Velvet viper and said, "Every time that snake needs its water changed, or soils its substrate, your heart will be pounding and your hands will shake and you will use the tongs and scoop to reach into the cage. If the snake needs to come out, you will use a hook, and put it straight into the plastic tub and put the lid on, before you do anything in that cage." As he talked his hand moved past the door and there was a audible thumb as the Bothrops tried to bite him through the glass. Then we walked over to a Micrurus nigrocintus. (If you ever see one of these living jewels, you will forget all about cobras.) This snake sat curled up in its cage, hardly moving. Rudy opened the door and the snake didn't move. He explained, "this snake never strikes at anything bigger than a pinky. It is incredibly docile. I frequently catch students like you holding it. It is a really smart snake. It seems tame. This is the one that scares me most. Someday it is going to have a bad day."

I was there a year and every time I handled a Bothrops, I was scared. The Eyelash vipers could be aggressive or not. That big coral snake was just so sweet. Lots of people would just reach in and pull it out. One of my fellow biologists used to sit at his desk and pet it. I went back state side before it happened, but that coral snake did hit someone. Luckily the bite was dry, but I caution you, "It is the tame one that will get you."

Please be careful.

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Thanks for the good advice mate, I totally agree with the content except for the coral snake being prettier than the cobras :). With my 10+ years with venomous snakes, I have also learned that complacency is my worst enemy. Yet, I do know my snakes as well so I take "reasonable" risks in very limited contexts.

More leucistic cobra footage:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWS8TlSr1Ek

And a fish eating death adder :) :

http://imageshack.com/a/img538/8518/zXAXPk.jpg

Thank you Najakeeper, for a look into the "hot" side of reptile care. Very interesting and informative pieces. Please be careful and don't forget to donate to USARK so we can overturn "the lacey act". Support the lawsuit against USFWS. Peace.:gj:

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

Thank you Najakeeper, for a look into the "hot" side of reptile care. Very interesting and informative pieces. Please be careful and don't forget to donate to USARK so we can overturn "the lacey act". Support the lawsuit against USFWS. Peace.:gj:

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I do support USARK but I see the problem as much bigger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-hx-9Gvnnw

Cheers...

In your latest argument you say to get money out of politics, but I don't see this happening in my lifetime, or ever for that matter. Political parties need money, figures within politics need money, all of it to spread their agendas. Be it good or bad, money will always be a part of government.

Another issue is saying that science needs to rule the minds of the legislation and such put in place by governments. But that is also probably never going to happen. We are FAR to deep down the rabbit hole to make these changes any time soon.

Look at drug laws, weapon laws, Lacey act etc, they all have so much science against them, but no one really cares. In a world were the people are afraid of the governments, these things wont work. In a world where the NSA and GCHQ are collecting all of our data, watching everything we do, monitoring all of our communications, we have already lost most of the battle. Look at the impact of the Snowden release, a few months of 'wow this is awful' and all of a sudden people quiet down and go back to normal life. The people in charge don't really care, nor listen.

I am not arguing with you, there needs to be a massive change, but in the core of the governments. They need to understand they are elected by US, to protect US. Not to rule us, but to be ruled by us. They should be implementing the changes that the public asks for.

I am from the UK, so I don't suffer directly from this act, but I feel for you all. I am fed up with the powers that be, both sides of the pond.

EDIT: By the way I love your videos, keep it up man! Been watching them all day at work!

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Originally Posted by George1994

In your latest argument you say to get money out of politics, but I don't see this happening in my lifetime, or ever for that matter. Political parties need money, figures within politics need money, all of it to spread their agendas. Be it good or bad, money will always be a part of government.


EDIT: By the way I love your videos, keep it up man! Been watching them all day at work!

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Taking money out of politics can be rephrased as taking big money out of politics. Limit the contributions to 1k per person, give political parties public access channels for their propaganda. When corporations and special interest groups cannot bribe politicians, voters will start to matter. Check out wolf-pac.com and see what they are trying to do.

Thanks for the comment about the videos, I love making them.

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Originally Posted by Najakeeper

Taking money out of politics can be rephrased as taking big money out of politics. Limit the contributions to 1k per person, give political parties public access channels for their propaganda. When corporations and special interest groups cannot bribe politicians, voters will start to matter. Check out wolf-pac.com and see what they are trying to do.

Thanks for the comment about the videos, I love making them.

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We've seen it before, we see it now, they will say one thing and in reality another thing is going on. There needs to be fundamental changes, right down to the roots of governments for the voters to get power back.

I am incredibly pro activism, I adore your desire for this and I feel exactly the same. My personal agenda is more geared towards drug and privacy problems, but we need people like you and I. Keep up what you are doing!

Your videos are great, I am so jealous of what you have set up, it is really incredible! How many snakes do you currently own?

Quick humidity fix:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM42_VnSSSY

Here are my glorious cobra pair:

http://imageshack.com/a/img661/7346/tdxjxS.jpg





http://imageshack.com/a/img537/3664/HpAyd9.jpg

And my Dajarra death adder female:

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/9711/iCblhu.jpg

Northern Floodplains Death Adders are put together again. After last year's failure, I hope it works better this time around:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4byt3P-N75I

Last week's video was a compilation of strike shots of all my cobras:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRwp5kRoZDU

This week's video shows my Sydney Red Common Death Adders, the Acanthophis antarcticus, feeding:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbv1E4n-v8Y

Enjoy...

Same style with a different Death Adder species:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8An2J32uhiE

Here is the third "on the floor" video, Acanthophis laevis, the female is visibly gravid:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRzhacIkcd4

Pregnant or just constipated? :)...


Time will tell... She has been with the male but I have never noticed mating behavior...


http://imageshack.com/a/img673/9825/JknmnQ.jpg

Your videos are amazing! I love the videos of your T's and all the hot snakes you keep! Love every upload man, keep it up :gj:

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Originally Posted by George1994

Your videos are amazing! I love the videos of your T's and all the hot snakes you keep! Love every upload man, keep it up :gj:

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Thanks for watching... Here is another one even though it is not venomous snakes/Ts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJeF4b9MFhk

Nice collection! I'm jealous! I've never owned venomous snakes, but I've had some experience working with them in the wild (India and South America specifically). Do you keep any Bungarus fasciatus or Bitis schneideri by any chance?

Thank you for the informative video on the scaleless Corn! :)

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Originally Posted by Pampho85

Nice collection! I'm jealous! I've never owned venomous snakes, but I've had some experience working with them in the wild (India and South America specifically). Do you keep any Bungarus fasciatus or Bitis schneideri by any chance?

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Thanks for watching. Kraits are not my thing, I don't keep venomous with post synaptic neurotoxins. I did keep Bitis before but never that particular species. I currently keep none.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Reinz

Thank you for the informative video on the scaleless Corn! :)

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Thanks for watching :). She is a cool snake.