Old gal............

[blackcrystal22]

Rear fanged venomous - same venom as boomslangs but smaller teeth. They are related to boomslangs like pines are to bulls - in fact the differences are very slight - slightly different shape of the head, one additional labial scale and dentition.

Arboreal, very visually oriented and smart. Live prey are dispatched very quickly with blood streaming from the eyes, nose and mouth.

This one is a real doll. Her mate is a complete idiot. Will blast out of the cage mouth agape and neck flattened charging at you. Won't calm down until you hook him and get him up.

A little discussion by Dr. Bryan Fry on their venom:

http://www.kingsnake.com/toxinology/...b262b24946c2bf

Interesting! She's absolutely beautiful.
Do you handle her then because she's so docile? I don't know if that's a real stupid question or not.

[Skiploder]

Interesting! She's absolutely beautiful.
Do you handle her then because she's so docile? I don't know if that's a real stupid question or not.

I'll admit it - I free handle her because she's not inclined to bite. The other male and female I use mechanics gloves. It's not good practice to free handle thrasops........so let's just do as I say and not as I do.

With their small rear teeth these gloves are more than enough to soak up any venom before it could enter the skin.

Unlike other rear-fanged snakes that have decent venom but a bad delivery system, thrasops have nasty venom and make a lot of the stuff. When they chew the goop alot of it is slathered all over their prey.

Because it is identical to boomslang venom, they should be handled with extreme respect. This one I cheat with because for ten years, she has been so calm and predictable.

A number of years she became egg bound. My vet was in a conference when it happened no other vet in the area would touch her.

My vet walked my through the process on the phone and the old gal let me manually get those 9 eggs out without as much as huffing or neck flaring. She laid her head against my chest while I worked those eggs out and was clam the entire time. It was almost as if she knew I was helping her.

[Skiploder]

I swear someday I just want to drive to CA and see your stuff. Everytime you post something...it is just beautiful!! She is just amazing!!

You and your family are always welcome to drop by. If you're up in Norcal, drop on in. One of my offices is 5 minutes from Tomales Bay and three oyster farms - we love to BBQ some oysters and play with the snakes.

Well, me and the kids do. My wife grins and bears it............

[BPelizabeth]

sounds like great fun!!

[Crazy4Herps]

Beautiful!!