>>--almost, but no cigar. according to numerous references, venom potency of the five ssp. of Dendroaspis is as follows, starting with the most potent:

>>D. polylepis

>>D. viridis

>>D. j. jamesoni (including kaemosae)

>>D. angusticeps--



I failed to specify (very bad) that I meant angusticeps. I wasn't aware (more like forgot) that viridis was that potent. Since I haven't worked with them yet I haven't payed much attention to their stats.



>>i've seen a few angusticeps that would scare the daylights out of you for handling, and polylepis that you could probably freehandle by someone insane. temperment is as individual as any other creature, and i think it's a dangerous assumption to generalize on any species. the "moving up to" reference trivializes the seriousness of keeping mambas, as if they were models of sports car or something similar, and should be discouraged.



I certainly didn't mean to trivialize the keeping of mambas, but as jamesoni venom is 3 times more powerful than angusticeps, I think that makes angusticeps a better place to start.



>>presumption is the root of all error.



I think the only significant presumption I made here was that anyone who's been keeping snakes long enough to be THINKING of mambas would already know that behavior varies by individual. I work with a polylepis that, as you say could probably be freehandled and have worked with 2 other blacks that were by far the scarriest snakes I've ever dealt with (and I've worked with forest cobras, a png taipan and 10 foot kings).



>>keep a Spilotes without being bitten for a year first.



I hear this a lot, but I really diagree. 75% of dealing with mambas is learning to keep your cool and deal with the situation. Working with a nonvenomous snake just isn't going to give you that adrenaline spike that messes with your brain like the first time a mamba climbs your hook... There's something to be said for having the physical pratice at using your hooks on a squirming snake, but that doesn't mean you'll be prepared for an unhappy mamba.
-----
Larry D. Fishel

Side effects may include paralysis

and death but are generally mild.

[ Show Entire Thread ]