Forest cobra vs Egyptian cobra - experts Forum at VenomousReptiles.org

Forest cobra vs Egyptian cobra	Reply
by COYOG on May 16, 2007	Mail this to a friend!
I am debating between buying a Forest cobra and an Egyptian cobra. It will be my first time owning a large cobra, though not handling one. Any advice, suggestions, comparisons of the two in regards to size, habits, housing, handling, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Coyog

RE: Forest cobra vs Egyptian cobra	Reply
by Cro on May 16, 2007	Mail this to a friend!
Mark, I would suggest that you stay away from a Forest Cobra. They can be very dangerous, very unpredictable, and very fast. Forest Cobras are best left to folks who have many years of large cobra experience. Best Regards JohnZ

RE: Forest cobra vs Egyptian cobra	Reply
by Aries54 on May 16, 2007	Mail this to a friend!
When I used to have mostly venomous, I had 22 cobras. I had a BIG adult king, spitters,....and everything in between. I felt more at ease handling the King than I did handling my pair of forests. They were horrible! I can't even tell you how many times I had close calls with them. I think they're one of the best looking cobras, but I just dont think they're worth all the trouble. The Egyptians are one of my favorites. I mean, they're a cobra, never let your guard down. But compared to a forest cobra, they're a walk in the park! Good Luck.

RE: Forest cobra vs Egyptian cobra	Reply
by LarryDFishel on May 16, 2007	Mail this to a friend!
I'll third that. Forests are in a class of their own. I am caring for 3 at the moment. One happens to be relatively calm (finally after 4 years), probably calmer than the average cobra. The other two I would say are at least the second most dangerous snakes I've ever worked with. A 9 foot wild-caught black mamba I worked with for a while might have been a little worse (he was better at climbing a hook). Even mambas usually mellow after a while, but these forests still try HARD to kill me every time I handle them. One attacks anything that he even THINKS might be moving..like the water in his dish if he sees it sloshing around.

RE: Forest cobra vs Egyptian cobra	Reply
by Aries54 on May 16, 2007	Mail this to a friend!
Yea, they're just bad. They have four things they do.....and that's it. They eat, poop, breed, and kill as many things as possible!

RE: Forest cobra vs Egyptian cobra	Reply
by GREGLONGHURST on May 16, 2007	Mail this to a friend!
Just a note from someone else on the same side of this one. N. melanoleuca have prehensile tails. Think about that. No..really think about a cobra with a freaking prehensile tail. Think about what that does to your ability to tail or hook that critter. N. haje are nice. Even pissy ones are sweet compared to a forest. From a safety standpoint, go with the haje. If you are an adrenaline junky with no fear of death, go with the melanoleuca. ~~Greg~~

RE: Forest cobra vs Egyptian cobra	Reply
by COYOG on May 16, 2007	Mail this to a friend!
I should have stated more clearly earlyer. This will be by no means be my first time handling ether melanoleuca or haje. It will how ever be my first time owning a large cobra. Thank you all very much for the for the advice you have given thus far Coyog

RE: Forest cobra vs Egyptian cobra	Reply
by Crotalus75 on May 16, 2007	Mail this to a friend!
My two cents.....adult forest cobras can be seriously scary snakes. I keep a pair of these snakes and my male is an absolute KILLER. He is always ready to fight. He hoods several feet high and usually gapes and strikes non-stop. When he gapes he runs his open mouth along the cage glass and leaves venom running down. When he gets spooked he throws his body into vertical 'S' shapes and almost gallops! My heart pounds a million beats a second every time I have to get this guy out for cleaning. Naja melanoleuca is one of the most regal and beautiful cobras.....I absolutely love these guys...However, My advice: buy another species!

RE: Forest cobra vs Egyptian cobra	Reply
by LordViperTX on May 18, 2007	Mail this to a friend!
I'll chime in here too. Took in a foster that came in from import with what was thought to be a missing/injured eye (importers will understand how one could show up like that). I took her in as a favor to the importer, and to the snake, as I have a soft spot for Naja of all kinds. I was ready to keep her as long as I had to, but was actively looking for a home for her. Anyway, I found her a home as quickly as I could, and she lives there now on display. After much soaking and doctoring it turned out she hade multiple (more than five) retained eyecaps. She is now healthy and beautiful...with two eyes. But alas, I digress... I have a haje and an annulifera. The annilifera is referred to as "puppyface" for her demeanor. "Puppy" rarely hoods and could likely be freehandled if I was into that sort of thing. The haje puts on a great show...hissing and biting at the glass, and even doing her best to growl like an O hannah. However, if you hook and tail her she goes completely submissive and won't squirm or jump. But I have been at Eric's when he has "dealt with" the melanoleuca. She is a bitch of the highest caliber, and will go for his face most every time. So yeah dude....forests, while having one of the most beautiful Naja faces out there...are death on a stick. If your haje turns out to be like mine she'll be the perfect Naja. Great show...but a pussycat to handle.

RE: Forest cobra vs Egyptian cobra	Reply
by trueviper_uk on May 19, 2007	Mail this to a friend!
I know next to nothing about keeping Elapids in captivity but even I have heard that Forest Cobras try and kill their keepers every time they are worked with. I take my hat off to anyone who safely and succsessfully keeps these beautiful, beautiful animals.

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