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Any other taipan keepers?
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by Chance on November 5, 2003
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The earlier little 'round' made me realize I forgot that I wanted to ask this. I was just curious if there were any other people here, especially from the US, that keep Oxyuranus in their collections or have kept them in the past. I have 1.1 O. s. canni acquired a couple months ago from Crocafeller Reptiles, and they were supposedly the first cbb in the country (at least privately). These two are around 20 to 22" in length currently, are shedding at least every two weeks, eat about every three days but are literally on the hunting prowl the day after a feed, and are taking f/t pinks off the hemostats. If I could post pics here I would, but I'll try to upload some shots on my server and just post the link here. Currently their base body color is the usual blue/purple/gray color with the rusty dorsal stripe. The heads are what amaze me. They are a really light bluish-gray color on the back end turning to a lighter brownish-cream toward the snout. The male has a backward-pointed "horse shoe" on the top of his head that is of a darker color. Unfortunately I have a feeling that their heads will darken to the typical adult coloration as they age, but I can keep hope anyway.
They really are amazing snakes. The spend little to no time in their hides, even spending their "in the blue time" out for anyone to see. They don't flee when I enter the room or even when I approach their cages. When I put my hand up to the glass, if anything they just come to investigate and make sure I don't have food. They also ride a hook very well. All this leads me to think (or hope) that by the time they reach adulthood, they will most likely be quite docile. I know I've read accounts of people keeping the mainland coastals that say that they are dang near "tame" (though I hate using that word regarding hots or any other reptile for that matter), so maybe mine will be the same.
So please post in reply if you've ever kept this or the other taipan species, or really any of the Australian/New Guinean elapids. I'd really like to hear from other people who have bred, are attempting to breed, or would like to breed them. This is a pretty well little-known species in this country, so the more information keepers can share, the better. In my mind, the more that species like this that are captively produced, the less stress will be placed on their home populations. Thanks for reading.
-Chance Duncan
http://www.rivervalleysnakes.com
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RE: Any other taipan keepers?
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by LarryDFishel on November 7, 2003
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I don't keep any hots personally yet (should get my permit in a few months), but I care for the hot snakes (and a few non-hots) at a local wildlife refuge. We have one PNG taipan and one Death Adder at the moment.
The Death Adder is usually MUCH easier to work with but you still have to be on your toes. He does the gaboon thing...sits there like he's dead until something comes within range and then EXPLODES! He lifts off the ground when he strikes, and if you were in range, there's no chance you'd pull away in time. He can also move out when he thinks he might be able to get away...he looks so much like a viper you sometimes forget he's an elapid until he's flailing around and flying off your hook.
The taipan acts about the way you describe, except he's just now (after 6-8 months with us) getting to where he will ride a hook well maybe 50% of the time. He's not really what I would call agressive, but when he thiks he can get away (anytime you get him out of the cage) he just picks a direction and takes off. Sometimes that's right towards your feet which can make things interesting. It's not that he's after you, that's just the direction he decided to go and, well, you don't really want a taipan between your legs now do you... :)
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