Colubrids vs Boids - Intelligence

[Skiploder]

Skip, I still haven't seen it happen. So my original statement may of been wrong, but it was from the experience that I have. Yes I don't keep cobras so I don't see them daily and I don't see their feeding responses. So with all that said I may of been wrong. If so then I'll gladly admit that I am, but I have yet to see it happen, but that doesn't mean it hasn't or it can't happen. I don't claim to know everything, I was simply pointing out the Crotalids that I haven't witnessed it happen. Then I just asked him to provide proof, so that way I can see first hand and correct my information.

I haven't seen a man lift a vehicle, but I remember seeing something on the news ages ago about a man lifting a car off of a kid to save the kids life. I'm not saying it can't be done but I've not seen it. I probably should of put that in my experience I haven't seen one strike up from a hooded position, that probably would of saved the whole argument. The way I was approached put me in the wrong mood, so with you being a friend and somebody I respect a lot I find your approach a lot differently. So yea, I'm probably wrong, but again with my limited experience I've yet to see it. I'm actually glad I haven't because if I would of then I would of most likely gotten bit.

Neal, it's cool. I think that guys like Crotalids and Najakeeper and other hot herpers live in a world where the difference between life as usual and a trip to the ER is defined by never taking anything for granted and learning their snakes - not relying on opinion. Relying on opinion or on someone else's opinion can cost your dearly when dealing with hot herps.

I kept boomslangs for a while as well as cerastes and native crotalids. The game of inches wore on me and frankly made the hobby much less enjoyable. But I understand the mindset and how realizing that there are no absolutes when it comes to snake behavior can make all the difference in the world.

I'm not going to name names, but there was a well-known hot keeper who got tagged by his atrox because it was HIS opinion that vipers would always focus on a heat source when striking and disregard all other movement as long as the heat source was moving. He would distract the snake with his bare left hand and then tail it with a gloved right hand. He would tell anyone who would listen that this was an iron clad truth with viperids.

For many years, that tactic worked until he took a massive hit on his gloved right hand while trying to tail said atrox.

See, HIS opinion did not matter to the snake. HIS opinion meant diddly over squat in the end.