VenomousReptiles.org Survey

Survey Question	Current Survey Question Should hobbyists ever free handle venomous reptiles with their hands? Recent Surveys Most venomous/toxic Naja species in the world? I have read that the Philippine cobra is the most venomous (mice, 0.2 mg/kg SC with the lowest reported value being 0.14 mg/kg SC) (Brown, 1973). I have recently, come across something in the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology (Vol. 30, (issue 12), pages: 1158-1162, 1992) which stated that the LD50 for Naja oxiana was the most toxic/venomous (mice, 0.18 mg/kg SC and lowest reported value was 0.10 mg/kg). Along with that, the mortality rate for untreated Naja oxiana bites are the highest among all Naja species (70-80%). N.oxiana also produced the lowest known lethal dose (LCLo) of 0.005 mg/kg, the lowest among all cobra species ever recorded, derived from an individual case of poisoning by intracerebroventricular injection. Following N. oxiana and N. philippinensis are N. melanoleuca at 0.225 mg/kg SC and then N. samarensis at 0.23 mg/kg. The water cobras (N. annulata and N. christyi also have very toxic venoms, but no SC values are listed. Only intraperitoneal (IP) values of 0.143 mg/kg for N. annulata and 0.12 mg/kg for N. christyi. IP values tend to be generally lower (more toxic than subcutaneous values, so it would be unfair to compare their IP results to the subcutaneous (SC) results of other Naja species. Then I have heard that (without solid evidence) that Naja nivea is the most venomous, although their murine SC LD50 range anywhere from 0.4 mg/kg (Toxicon, Vol. 5, issue 1, page 47, 1967) to 0.72 mg/kg (Australian venoms and toxins Databse). So which is the most venomous? To me it seems obvious that it is the Caspian or Oxus cobra (Naja oxiana), followed by the Philippine cobra (Naja philippinensis). What do you think or know? I've noticed that the Australian venom and toxin Database seems to have higher LD50 values for all snakes across the board. For example, for the black mamba IP value of 0.01 mg/kg is listed (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/004101018890219X) and Ernst and Zug et al 1996, list a SC value of 0.05 mg/kg for the black mamba. While the Australian venom and toxin Database listed much less toxic LD50's. So there seems to be a lot of variation. 2014-01-23 What's Your Favorite Venomous Snake? 2013-11-13 Deadliest Bite? 2013-09-16 IF the science of self-immunization for a snake envenomation was proven/perfected what is the least benefit(percentage) you would accept before practicing it on yourself? 2013-06-06 how did you learn to keep venomous reptiles? 2013-03-02 View All Survey Questions Have a good idea for a VenomousReptiles.org Survey question? Enter your idea!
Thanks for voting! Your vote has been included in the results below. Which type of cages do you use to house your venomous reptiles in?   Posted: May 15, 2004   (461 votes, 16 comments) by Nightflight99
Survey Results
Neodesha 11% (49) Vision 13% (62) Boaphile 2% (8) Barr Cages 2% (7) Rack Systems 3% (15) I build my own cages 37% (172) I do not keep venomous reptiles 32% (148)
Survey Comments
my own I have used many good cages like vision, but I have always been a creative person so I take pride in my work. I've always found that custum cages are better for more reasons than one; safty, price, LOOKS, and simply being able to provide each of your herps with its own personal ecological system-of-things. Posted by celticrattler on August 18, 2004 Cages We use Barrs cages because they are lightweight, easy to sterilize, and nice looking. He can build them to our specifications and makes even custom orders quickly. Prices are reasonable. Doug also made us some very nice trap boxes that work very well. We are using his cages in quarantine and also in our lab rooms. Jim Harrison Posted by JRHarrison on July 5, 2004 My snakes are in hand build wooden cages my girlfriend built for me :) They are all made to fit the specific needs of the species I keep in them Juveniles are housed in rubbermaid containers though.. Posted by Snakeskin on June 26, 2004 The sides also have tape all around them, with will keep the glass in place for a while, even if it breaks. Posted by supremebean on June 26, 2004 Nope, where I live it's illegal to own venomous snakes. It's a ridiculous law though. Posted by supremebean on June 26, 2004 55 gal A 55 gal aquarium will certainly be strong enough to hold your cottonmouths. There is a liability as the enclosure is surrounded by glass. Any mildly forceful blow to any side could compromise security. Are you old enough in your state to legally keep venomous reptiles? Dr. Ed Posted by taipan_nuts on June 5, 2004 I guess I'm an idiot, after reading the posts on here, but I keep my cottonmouths in a 55 gl. aquarium. I guess I should build one soon... Posted by supremebean on June 4, 2004 Venomous snakes in glass aquariums Wise young man, very wise. You hit the nail on the head. The reason glass aquariums weren't given as an option is because its common knowledge that venomous snakes don't belong in them. Elapid snakes especially don't belong in them. I cannot begin to count the number I've broken over the years just by accident. There are no lids commercially available for glass aquariums, which should be trusted to restrain venomous snakes. This is pure foolishness. Dr. Edward J. Freyaldenhoven Posted by taipan_nuts on June 4, 2004 i dont keep venomous yet. but when i do i wont put them in aquariums. ill use vision cages or build one. thats stupid to put them in aquariums. do u put taipans in aquariums? steve irwin says taipans are the most dangerous snakes in the world. i broke my aquarium one time (leopard gecko cage) just cleaning it with hot water. i would not keep any venomous snake in them just because of that reason. THANK YOU! jason Posted by kidcobra on June 3, 2004 i like to build the cages i have had and will have personaly i just like to build and thats a good reason to do it, but it does anoy my wife to hear a skill saw going all afternoon and in to the night but i like to build my cages to fit a certain space and make them look like i want them to plus i feel more secure in knowing the cage i build has as many locks as i want to put on it some say its cheaper but it really isnt wood , wood screws lexan or plexy glass and locks it can add up plus time it would be cheaper and more conveniant in the long run to buy manufactured cages but like i said i like to build just to be building Posted by elapidking81 on May 26, 2004 IMO animal plastics vivs are the best on the market at an afordable price :) mark is so efficent and can easily adapt a design to suit most aplications altho i don't own hots i have been in talks with him about the larger ones for giants and he said they are fine for hots, epecialy the new sliding door ones Posted by mat on May 25, 2004 Animal Plastics Parcelmouth, Animal Plastics can be found on the website http://animalshare.wantapet.com/animalplastics/index.html. I guess I haven't been there in a while, because they've upgraded it and have now added the sliding glass door option rather than just the swinging door (which is very helpful with hot snakes). Like I said earlier, they are a relatively new cage company, but with the quality and prices they have, I see them very shortly outdoing any of the cage manufacturers already on the market. That, or they will at least force those other manufacturers to drop their prices to more reasonable levels. Hope this helped. Posted by Chance on May 25, 2004 Animal Plastics info Chance, Would you please list some info on the Animal Plastics company.I would like to contact them to find out more about there products. Do they have a website(I ran a goggle search but came up with nothing) or even a phone number would be helpful. Thank you. JH Posted by Parcelmouth on May 24, 2004 rack and build I have built several rack systems that I use. But after a while I end up having to build larger cages when they grow out of 28 qt rubbermaids. This way they are of a design that works well for me safety wise and will meet the needs of the snake. michael Posted by nasicornis1 on May 24, 2004 Other Options I know there's a lot of 'controversy' surrounding the use of aquariums as enclosures for venomous reptiles, but I also know that many, many keepers, including myself, make use of them for some of their animals. There are some very secure commercially made lids that can easily be acquired from just about any local petstore. Using these, I've never had an escape. There are also many ways a person can make his/her own secure lid. I guess if you do that, you might count that under the option "I build my own cages," but I think aquariums/terrariums should be an option. Another option left off that I plan to make use of very shortly is Animal Plastics. They are an relatively new but quickly growing cage company fast outdoing any of the above, especially when it comes to price. They are every bit as good and secure as the two "big boys" (Vision and Neo) and about half the price, if not even lower. I'll be using their cages for my PNG taipans once they put on enough size to warrant the upgrade. So I guess I vote the imaginary Other :) Posted by Chance on May 24, 2004 build I made the cage I will one day keep a copperhead in. Posted by copperheadkid15 on May 23, 2004 To post a comment, you must be logged in. If you are not a member, become one now!