Rufous Beaked Snakes

Anyone else own one? Or female is a blast. Very alert, very interactive with a lot of *ahem* "personality".

Except for the write up that Jack Spirko did on his blog, there is not a lot of information out there on Rhamphiophis. Just wondering if anyone would like to swap some husbandry tips and interesting experiences.

There is a long article in a recent Reptiles magazine. You should check that out. It was a good article.

Hmmmm, never heard of them. Do you have pictures? They sound interesting :D. I'm always up for learning about a new species :gj:

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Originally Posted by chimpkin

There is a long article in a recent Reptiles magazine. You should check that out. It was a good article.

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Yeah, I've got a subscription. It's one of a handful of articles out there on them.

I am in love with that snake. The local Reptile store here has one, and that was the first time i'd seen one in real life, they are amazing. I might have some pictures of it on my phone if I can get them up here.

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Originally Posted by norm

I am in love with that snake. The local Reptile store here has one, and that was the first time i'd seen one in real life, they are amazing. I might have some pictures of it on my phone if I can get them up here.

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I have a female that is just over 18 months old. Very different snake. Very observant and very interactive.

She's very cobra like in the way she "stands up" to observe things. She's about 30" long and I'm keeping her in a 41 qt rack.

88 degree hot spot with a night drop to 84. 77 degrees at the cool end and an ambient of about 81. Humidity varies from 45 to 55 percent. The hide is over the hot spot and she only uses it after a meal. The rest of the time, she will "climb" on top of the hide to observe things.

I'm keeping her in a fairly deep substrate (aspen) and by the tunnels I see, she seems to like to burrow.

She consistently defecates in one corner of her tub. She is also a voracious eater, always hungry and always looking for another prey item.......

I have been reading up on Rhamphiophis venom. They have large glands and according to Fry, they have a fairly potent venom with neurotoxins and the capability to produce observable symptoms. The identified neurotoxin has been named "rufoxin".


Definately not a "hot", but they have been listed as a "warm". While there are few reliable envenomation accounts, it is consider prudent to take precautions (light gloves and long sleeve shirts) when handling them.

This is very hard as they are so mellow and fun to interact with. My little gal endures her weighing and inspection routine without a complaint.

As referenced earlier in this thread, the only "care sheets" out there are the accounts from the SA snake forums and the most recent Reptiles Magazine article which does not go into any real detail into their venom or into precautionary handling details. I've been keeping her along the lines of a house snake in terms of temperature and humidity. Seems to be working. I'd like to get a male and try my hand at breeding them in the future.

They're on my wish list as well. I love African colubrids!

I've seen pics of them and thought they were something to look into... Then I read the article in Reptiles and was even more interested. Very cool snakes!

i cant find them anywheres, i read an article in dec 2008 magazine and now i want one, and i cant find one, i found a rufous beaked snake but it wasnt the one im looking for. im looking for rhamphiophis rostratus which has like a black stripe by their eyes.

Ive been looking for breeders everywhere i just cant seem to find one. If anyone knows of a good breeder please let me know. Im trying to get one as a xmas present for my girlfriend. thanks alot in advance

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Originally Posted by McGurk

Ive been looking for breeders everywhere i just cant seem to find one. If anyone knows of a good breeder please let me know. Im trying to get one as a xmas present for my girlfriend. thanks alot in advance

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East Bay Vivarium still has one.

Siegel has had them, as have Mfezi and Glades Herps.

Im gettin one in june or july I also have a cool african herp a heralds snake

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Originally Posted by chimpkin

There is a long article in a recent Reptiles magazine. You should check that out. It was a good article.

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I just read that article too. Really interesting article and a neat looking snake!

My female:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...r/DSC_0022.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...DSC_0023-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...DSC_0017-2.jpg

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

East Bay Vivarium still has one.

Siegel has had them, as have Mfezi and Glades Herps.

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glades herps doesnt have them, i called them to check and i talked to rob and they dont have them. as far as siegel and mfezi? im not sure who they are but could you please let me know so i can talk to them?

skip, your rufous, thats the red headed correct? rhamphiophis rostratus?

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Originally Posted by Neal

glades herps doesnt have them, i called them to check and i talked to rob and they dont have them. as far as siegel and mfezi? im not sure who they are but could you please let me know so i can talk to them?

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Donald Schultz = Mfezi
http://mfezi.com/donschultzcontact.htm

Ben Siegel = Ben Siegel Reptiles
http://www.albinonile.com/

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Originally Posted by Neal

skip, your rufous, thats the red headed correct? rhamphiophis rostratus?

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She was sold to me as an R. Oxyrhynchus Rostratus

Rhamphiophis Rubropunctatus is the red-headed.

i talked to them both, east viv has one, but i need to contact them for pictures, and i found another place with them, and i talked to a diff guy who said he has somebody in south africa that breeds them, so im going to get in touch with him again to get some more information. i love how the rufous have the black around the eye, im not sure if the r. rostratus and r. oxy ros have them or if just one or the other, still trying to find that information out.

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Originally Posted by Neal

i talked to them both, east viv has one, but i need to contact them for pictures, and i found another place with them, and i talked to a diff guy who said he has somebody in south africa that breeds them, so im going to get in touch with him again to get some more information. i love how the rufous have the black around the eye, im not sure if the r. rostratus and r. oxy ros have them or if just one or the other, still trying to find that information out.

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I've seen EBV's rufous (rostratus) and I believe it's a female. She looks very much like my girl.

She's been there a while and is in nice condition. I've held her on a couple of occasion's and she's a real sweetheart.

yea my only issue is id rather a smaller one, so i could see her grow and id prefer a cb over wc, + the 180 is kinda pricey.

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Originally Posted by Neal

yea my only issue is id rather a smaller one, so i could see her grow and id prefer a cb over wc, + the 180 is kinda pricey.

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$180?

I though the price was lower. Did they say she was WC?

Siegel had an ad less than two weeks ago on kingsnake for Rhamphiophis - any luck contacting him?

I can usually get them from my importer. I will check and see if he has any in right now.

They are cool snakes for sure.

For clarification:

Oxyrhynchus and rostratus mean the same thing - sharp-nosed or beaked.

The snakes have been sold as R. Oxyrhynchus and R. Rostratus - they apparently are synonymous.

The R. Rubropunctatus is indeed the red-headed species, although rubropunctatus means red-spotted. Interesting since both rostratus and rubropunctatus are spotted as juveniles.

So there are two definite variants, not withstanding locality types throughout their range.

There are other members of the rhamphiophis family - the acutus and maradiensis. I've never them either photographed or for sale.

Nix that - just dug up some info on the Acutus - or striped beak snake.

http://books.google.com/books?id=BhO...esult#PPT51,M1

yea there wc, not many people breed them, but im not paying $180, ill pay $150 but thats the highest im going.

For anybody who may of been looking for these, I manage to find a guy who currently has some, both the Rufous Beaked Snakes & Red Spotted Beaked Snakes. Nick @ FirstChoiceReptiles has like 7 rufous, and i'm not sure how many red spotted, his prices are very very good though, only thing I don't understand that on kingsnake he lists them for $100 a piece and on his site he lists them for $80 a piece, so if you purchase them say you seen them on his site.

Rufous beaked snakes(rhamphiophis rostratus): males $80ea pairs $150

Red spot beaked snakes(r.robopunctatus) $250/pair