I do have more pics but I'm sorting through them, resizing, etc.



Gonyosoma oxcephala is a pretty aggressive and fast snake - so I think their personality is perfect



I don't try to calm my specimens down at all as I like their aggressive behavior. The only change from fresh imports to established captives is their willingness to run.



Fresh imports seem to hold their ground and strike at you repeatedly. This is actually a good time to scoop them up with a hook. Once they've been handled a few times they give up on striking and just take off.



I've handled Mambas (greens and blacks), Taipans, Cobras, King Cobras and Coachwhips. All of them rode a hook better than any of my Gonyosoma.



If you pick Gonyosoma up with a hook and then grab their tail they are too strong and can spring off the hook and come right at you. So I either just grap them or "reverse" hook them.



What I mean by the latter is that I put the hook over them rather than under them. Then when I grab their tail and they come at me they are stopped by the hook. But they don't give up so they are essentially braced there (with mouths wide open!).



Enjoyable species but imports can arrive in some horrific shape.

[ Hide Replies ]

• One of my nicer specimens... - chris_harper2, Thu May 15 11:59:47 2003
• Nice looking snake, thanks for the pic. (more) - gofer, Thu May 15 14:25:29 2003
• Gonyosoma oxcephala temperment... - chris_harper2, Thu May 15 14:46:42 2003
• whoops! should be G. oxycephala (n/p). - chris_harper2, Thu May 15 14:48:07 2003
• Thanks Chris, - gofer, Thu May 15 22:32:47 2003