Rufous Beaked Snake

I have two of these little ones coming Wednesday. I'm hoping to get a pair, but I know they're difficult to sex, but you never know.

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/8826/imag0437k.jpg

My pair(so I was told) of Rufous Beaked Snakes came in. I took them out of the bag and held them for a quick picture before putting them in the enclosure.

Very very cool, can't say I'm not jealous. You should share more pics of them and the caging.

They are really cool Neal! Is there any future breeding plans for the pair if one turns out to be a female?

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Originally Posted by eatgoodfood

Very very cool, can't say I'm not jealous. You should share more pics of them and the caging.

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Will do, but they're both hiding, well one of them has the head out a bit.

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Originally Posted by ballpythonluvr

They are really cool Neal! Is there any future breeding plans for the pair if one turns out to be a female?

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I got them from Ben and they were sexed, but I also know that they're very difficult to sex but with having 4-5 I'm assuming they must of noticed a difference. If one is female then I'm definitely going to breed them, though I've read about it not being easy to breed them in captivity.

Very cool. And from what I just read about them they are technically 'hots'? Sounds like their harmless to people though.

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Originally Posted by mackynz

Very cool. And from what I just read about them they are technically 'hots'? Sounds like their harmless to people though.

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The venom is supposed to be up there, but the fangs aren't really big and being rear fanged, they would literally have to chew on you for a few minutes to even get there, and that's assuming you have small fingers. I've had one before and he never even showed the slightest sign of aggression. They are always on alert though and are keen in watching what you do, they will move their head to follow things going on. When I got these two this morning and I took them out, put them over head to check the bellies and do other quick inspections they just wrapped around my hand and sat there. Most snakes would of bitten because of stress. I love this species.

http://imageshack.us/a/img59/7827/imag0439zb.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img14/9070/imag0440w.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img23/7033/imag0442x.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img839/463/imag0444vh.jpg

Of course they buried the little entrance I had made out for them because they love to dig.

I don't usually like to nitpick about other peoples' enclosures, but you did a real nice job setting yours up and I hate to see it diminished by the double dial stuck to the glass; the $12 Acurite will last forever and be infinitely more reliable than the analog dial in the long run.

Beautiful snakes though, and I hope after sexing you have a pair! I remember reading about these guys last year and wondering why people don't keep them as much.

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Originally Posted by BLM94

I don't usually like to nitpick about other peoples' enclosures, but you did a real nice job setting yours up and I hate to see it diminished by the double dial stuck to the glass; the $12 Acurite will last forever and be infinitely more reliable than the analog dial in the long run.

Beautiful snakes though, and I hope after sexing you have a pair! I remember reading about these guys last year and wondering why people don't keep them as much.

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The double dial came with the tank. I'm going digital, but I ordered from online. Though I use a temp gun regardless. The dial was just put in there so I could adjust tge temps before the snakes came in. I just haven't gotten around to removing it yet. But thanks. I went with a simple yet nice setup.

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Originally Posted by mackynz

Very cool. And from what I just read about them they are technically 'hots'? Sounds like their harmless to people though.

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Tests on their venom have shown that it is a very potent neurotoxin- on par with some noted elapids. In fact, they will most likely be reclassified as elapidae at some point in the future.

The problem is the delivery system. Think of the venom as .45 caliber ammo - with a death adder, the delivery system is a Colt Defender. With a rhamphiophis, it's an underhand toss.

Neal:

I've been keeping rhamphiophis for years and there are two accurate ways to sex them - the first is by keeping a group together and seeing who screws who.

The second is by necropsy.

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

Tests on their venom have shown that it is a very potent neurotoxin- on par with some noted elapids. In fact, they will most likely be reclassified as elapidae at some point in the future.

The problem is the delivery system. Think of the venom as .45 caliber ammo - with a death adder, the delivery system is a Colt Defender. With a rhamphiophis, it's an underhand toss.

Neal:

I've been keeping rhamphiophis for years and there are two accurate ways to sex them - the first is by keeping a group together and seeing who screws who.

The second is by necropsy.

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OMG, I love the comment about keeping a group together and seeing who screws who, lmao. I ordered two, so I hope I received 1.1, one was labeled as male and the other female. The only way that will show me is time though, I would of gotten all four of them if they weren't $150 a piece, say if they were like $100-110 a piece I would of forked the extra cash. Regardless though, hopefully sometime in the future they are easier ways to come by these fascinating species. I also owe my thanks to you for pointing me in the direction to get them.

How did you know though, because they weren't on his website?

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

Tests on their venom have shown that it is a very potent neurotoxin- on par with some noted elapids. In fact, they will most likely be reclassified as elapidae at some point in the future.

The problem is the delivery system. Think of the venom as .45 caliber ammo - with a death adder, the delivery system is a Colt Defender. With a rhamphiophis, it's an underhand toss.
.

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Skip maybe you can shed some light on a question for me. I was told by a very reliable source who is not only very knowledgeable but also the curator of a reptile zoo that there was actually a fatality caused by a rhamphiophis in the U.S the year before last. But I have not been able to find any literature to confirm this event. Are you aware of anyone being killed by this species? They with no doubt have a primitive delivery system, but they are starting to look like anouther species that should probably be treated with more respect then they currently are by most people.

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Originally Posted by jason_ladouceur

Skip maybe you can shed some light on a question for me. I was told by a very reliable source who is not only very knowledgeable but also the curator of a reptile zoo that there was actually a fatality caused by a rhamphiophis in the U.S the year before last. But I have not been able to find any literature to confirm this event. Are you aware of anyone being killed by this species? They with no doubt have a primitive delivery system, but they are starting to look like anouther species that should probably be treated with more respect then they currently are by most people.

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I'm sure if there was a fatality caused by Rhamphiophis then it would of been made more public, and they would of been seeking to move them from colubird. I'm not knocking your source or anything, but that's how rumors get started, and if he doesn't have any tangible proof, then he shouldn't even be saying something like that. I'm not getting onto you about this, but more or less your source who speaks without having proof.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._United_States

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Originally Posted by jason_ladouceur

Skip maybe you can shed some light on a question for me. I was told by a very reliable source who is not only very knowledgeable but also the curator of a reptile zoo that there was actually a fatality caused by a rhamphiophis in the U.S the year before last. But I have not been able to find any literature to confirm this event. Are you aware of anyone being killed by this species? They with no doubt have a primitive delivery system, but they are starting to look like anouther species that should probably be treated with more respect then they currently are by most people.

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Jason, I don't know of any bites let alone fatalities. I've never seen one of these animals even attempt to nip.

Tests on rufoxin - the protein in their venom -has shown that as a neurological agent, the t90 value that is used to rank neurotoxicity is on par with oxyuranus microlepidotus, notechis and autrelaps.

All rhamphiophis should be handled with caution and respect, as should other commonly kept rear fangers like philodryas.

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Originally Posted by Neal

How did you know though, because they weren't on his website?

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;)

I thought the story was kind of odd. As has been stated most if not all beakies I've been around have been high strung and somewhat flighty but none seemed inclined to bite. I should have requested a source from him at the time. He is not the kind of person that goes off starting rumors without evidence though. So at the time I just took his word for it. I think I'll just get in touch with him and see if he has anything that I can read. If I do find it I will share it here.

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Originally Posted by jason_ladouceur

I thought the story was kind of odd. As has been stated most if not all beakies I've been around have been high strung and somewhat flighty but none seemed inclined to bite. I should have requested a source from him at the time. He is not the kind of person that goes off starting rumors without evidence though. So at the time I just took his word for it. I think I'll just get in touch with him and see if he has anything that I can read. If I do find it I will share it here.

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Yea, please do if you find anything, but I honestly think he's just going off of something he was told, or something he heard. I can honestly say that I don't ever expect to be bitten by my Rufous Beaked Snakes, unless maybe during shed time, but if it happens then it does.

http://imageshack.us/a/img543/856/imag0445g.jpg
Here is a picture of one, the other is somewhere underneath all the substrate due to it going through shedding. I've got tunnels all over that I can see, love it but at the same time it sucks cause they choose when to come out. lol

I hope you guys dont mind me dragging up this old thread, I managed after many years to aquire a Rufous and I love it, awesome snake, its gone from boot lace to 4 feet plus in 2 years, and i only feed " her" one a week a couple of mice. I use the term her loosely, as I have read they are difficult to sex, has there been any progress on this? I probed her and the probe goes in about 5-6 mm not far at all but she has a huge tail. Id like to get her a partner but they are so hard to come by in the UK. Shes currently in a draw with a rock hide but will be having a nice viv soon, is it also true they dont really like an arboreal viv?
Thanks
Baz