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!
What have you learned about snakes from keeping them that you didn't learn from reading books?   Posted: Jul 28, 2001   (183 votes, 12 comments) by Buzztail1   feeding,   breeding,   behaviour,   please give examples.     (183 votes, 12 comments)
Survey Results
feeding, 8% (14) breeding, 5% (9) behaviour, 77% (140) please give examples. 11% (20)
Survey Comments
Personality To me, snakes are similar in personality to dogs or cats. All my snakes have their own way about them. Some are methodical about their daily routine, while others are very unpredictable,venomous as well as non-venomous. They are all absolutely fascinating to watch. I have A 7 foot male amelanistic Burm who is A trip. If he doesnt want to be touched he will sort of throw his body to push my hands off him. But other times he will see me coming and slide right into my hands. Posted by Bellerophon on October 1, 2001 All snakes All snakes have there own way of life...You could say they are humans only in a different Body. They all have their own minds and do what the want. Not what other snakes want. Posted by Anonymous on July 20, 2001 nothin I love snakes,i think there beautiful, there coloration is just amazing to look at and the way they react, when, the are trapped in a area and there only way to pretect them selfs is to srtike at the enemy.. Posted by Anonymous on July 14, 2001 Handling and Caging! I can honestly say that I did not learn anything concerning handling or caging venomous snakes from any book. I got most of my accurate information from Venom 101 which is no longer available on the net. Since it has disappeared from the net, no suitable alternative inclusive source has been made available. I guess I will finally have to join the SHHS to get a hard copy of this venomous keeper's bible. I wonder why TFH didn't jump at the opportunity to publish it? Behold! The power of Cheese, The Mouse In The House. Posted by AnonEMouse on July 11, 2001 I posed this question... because when I started with venomous herps there was almost NO literature available to the amateur herpetologist (the term herpetoculturist had not been coined yet) other than field guides. I learned about crotalids balancing on a hook from a newspaper article. I learned about hide boxes from another keeper. I learned about euthanising mice from another keeper. Notice a trend here? In the better than quarter of a century that I have been keeping and catching venomous herps, I have learned the majority of husbandry data, that I consider to be accurate, from other keepers who have generously shared their experiences with me and various personal experiences that I have been surprised to find out that some others have not known. Husbandry practices that work for you should not be taken for granted but should be shared with other responsible keepers. Just because a book says that a snake does, or doesn't, have specific needs (a hide area, a certain humidity level, etc) does not mean that another approach will not work. If you believed everything you read in a book, you would have stopped at the point in just about every book that says that venomous snakes should not be kept by anyone other than experienced zoo keepers! Karl Posted by Buzztail1 on July 9, 2001 More than asked I learnt much more than any book can offer. For one,, i learnt that if a delicate species does not live out a full,happy ,healthy life in captivity ,then it does not belong in captivity. While others are having success with a certain species,, if you are not ,then more studying is needed or the assistance of a more experienced herpotologist. Listen to your captives ,a book may state that no hide is needed,(As an example), but if you feel the snake in question would be happier with a hidespot then it should be given. For my next comment i may be mocked,but i hope there is room here for herpers of all breeds. I firmly believe after over 20yrs of keeping herps that snakes aswell as other animals have Extrasensory perception. I learnt that by approaching my herps with a calm ,yet fully alert, ready for the unexpected attitude,seemed to lessen deffensive behaviour in normally deffensive species. Yes ,i believe snakes know when harm is intended. Al Posted by Alanviperideahyde on July 9, 2001 learning I say all over the above. While I have an extensive collection of books on herp(about 200 at last count plus mags). I always learn new things from my and others collections. When you stop learning you start dying, Scott Posted by BLACKSNAKE on July 9, 2001 All of the above While studying the available herp literature is a crucial part of this hobby, it is not a substitute for hands-on experience, as there are many things to learn from first-hand observation and experience that are difficult to obtain from the literature. Posted by Nightflight99 on July 8, 2001 When I started, there just wasn't that much literature and what there was, was not aimed at herptoculture. So, I've got to say: "All of the above." Posted by filthy on July 4, 2001 Hooking I had never read that a snake would sit on a hook the first time that I tried it. Now I never pin any of the rattlesnakes, copperheads and water moccasins that I find. There are a lot of things that you can learn from books but there is an equal amount of knowledge that writers overlook, assuming that it is common knowledge. Posted by Anonymous on July 4, 2001 comments i've learnd alot from reading but more from having them i deal more in the deadly then none but i think it's been a great learning experients for me and i would recomend it to any one. chris Posted by Anonymous on July 3, 2001 books you can't learn too much from books. Posted by bitisatrox on July 2, 2001 To post a comment, you must be logged in. If you are not a member, become one now!