Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do any of you keep false water cobras? I've read so many different opinions on the strength of their venom, some comparing it to a hognose and others comparing it to a rattler. I'm considering getting one but I haven't decided if I'm ready for it yet. Have any of you experienced a bite first hand?
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People Who Say Money Can't Buy You Happiness Obviously Don't Know Where To Buy A Herp

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Langi, there is no question that they have potent venom. They just do not have a very good delivery mechanism. I have raised two up from babies and feel comfortable handling them with a hook and tailing them. I also have a pair of the thick gloves sold at midwest and I would not worry when using those, they are just not that easy to use. From the list at the bottom of your post, I am a little concerned because you don't have any really big snakes that have STRONG feeding responses. Mine have feeding responses comparable to adult indigos. They literally knock the cage door open at feeding time! There was a gentleman at the Columbia SC show that mentioned he had been bitten and the snake held on for five minutes...but I did not get to hear the outcome of the bite. Maybe he will chime in here? If you do decide to make the jump to Hydronastes, I suggest getting CB babies and grow up with them. Best wishes
Bob H

Thank you very much to the three of you. My Taiwan beauty has a very strong feeding response although from what I've read and heard about FWCs it's nothing comparatively. My situation is a little complicated. A very close friend of mine recently passed away and he had a large collection of snakes that all needed to be taken care of. The first time he showed me his water cobras I just fell in love with them. He has a female that is 3-4ft right now and very easy to handle. I never got the chance to see him feed her but she always seemed very calm, only hooding a couple times. So what is your opinion now with this new info? I don't own any large snakes but I've been working with large pythons and boas for about five years now, so I'm not entirely without experience at least.

>>Langi, there is no question that they have potent venom. They just do not have a very good delivery mechanism. I have raised two up from babies and feel comfortable handling them with a hook and tailing them. I also have a pair of the thick gloves sold at midwest and I would not worry when using those, they are just not that easy to use. From the list at the bottom of your post, I am a little concerned because you don't have any really big snakes that have STRONG feeding responses. Mine have feeding responses comparable to adult indigos. They literally knock the cage door open at feeding time! There was a gentleman at the Columbia SC show that mentioned he had been bitten and the snake held on for five minutes...but I did not get to hear the outcome of the bite. Maybe he will chime in here? If you do decide to make the jump to Hydronastes, I suggest getting CB babies and grow up with them. Best wishes
>>Bob H
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People Who Say Money Can't Buy You Happiness Obviously Don't Know Where To Buy A Herp

1.0 Cornsnake 1.0 Ball Python 0.1 Cal Kingsnake 0.1 Bearded Dragon 0.1 Leo Gecko 0.1 Taiwan Beauty Snake 0.1 Chilean Rose-haired Tarantulas 0.1 Egyptian Sand Boa, 0.0.1 Pink Toe Tarantula, 0.0.1 Red Footed Tortoise 0.1 Western Hognose
0.0.1 Mexican Fireleg Tarantula 0.0.2 Emperor Scorpions

I would say give it a shot. Just be super careful and maybe invest in a a hook to take the animal out of its enclosure. I used to keep large Cribos that weren't the friendliest but they seemed to calm down when I took them out and realized they were not being fed or about to be attacked. I would coax them with a hook and bring them out. Never bit.

3-4' rane definitely helps as well is if she was already tame. Good luck!

I've had a pair of gigas that I've raised from hatchlings for around 3 years now. They are very interesting captives. Much has been made about their venom, but here is my take on it.

It is true that FWC venom has been compared to that of rattlesnakes, the species I've heard most often being Crotalus atrox (Western diamondback). That sounds scary, but you have to take a few things into account. For one, WDB's are not really all that toxic, drop for drop. In fact, comparitively, their venom is actually fairly weak. WDB's are dangerous because of the sheer quantity of venom they can inject in a bite, which can be upwards of 750 mg or more for large specimens. That is at least 50 times or more the amount of venom even the largest of FWC's could deliver in a bite, even from a prolonged chew. The risk of serious envenomation from a FWC is slim at best. If you do get bitten, and experience signs of envenomation, the most likely scenario is that you'll be a bit uncomfortable for a few hours...and that is IF you show signs of envenomation (many people have been bitten and even chewed on without any signs of toxicity developing).

All that said...treat them with caution, as you would any venomous snake. They do have a monster feeding response, and some are more than willing to bite at any sign of provocation (and certainly food). A bite from a large FWC can be very painful, but not neccesarily because of the venom. They have EXTREMELY powerful jaws. I often times hear the sound of cracking skulls when mine chow down on a rodent...they are like the bulldogs of the snake world. They are very enthusiastic chewers, and I would imagine a motivated biter would be fairly difficult to remove from yourself.

As long as you are an adult in good physical condition, I could see no reason why you couldn't keep FWC's. As I said, even a "severe" bite from one is not likely to proceed past some localized swelling and pain. There have been rare instances of swelling spreading past the site of the bite, but nothing that was even close to what anyone would consider life-threatening.

I myself have not had the displeasure of being chomped on by mine (though not for their lack of trying ), but even though the risks are minimal, I would do my best to avoid it. Don't let that keep you from acquiring one (or more) though, because they really are cool snakes.
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Abhishek Prasad

I have a trio of large FWC over 7'. All of the above info in good. I free hand mine and yes I got hit. The bite was not that bad more like that of a hornet and I did get a little dizzy. I have been handling hots for well over 20 yrs and I have gotten my share of nasty bites. I classify the FWC as a non-lethal bite and not to worry about BUT THAT IS ONLY MY OPINION.

If you do choose to get one please follow the advice of getting a baby and until you get to know the snake use hooks and treat them with respect.

I agree. They are very explosive feeders and very strong animals. You should be fine raising CB babies and using caution when feeding or handling. You may want to do a search on here as there have been posts in the past regarding bites.

Good luck.

I have kept this species and can concur with the feeding response....these animals are almost explosive when they smell food! Anything moving has a chance of getting an exploratory munch....

I was bitten on the finger by a small individual and can tell you from first hand experience that it hurt...However, there were no systemic symptoms of envenomation, and (as stated previously) this species just doesn't have a very efficient venom delivery system.

-Kris

You mentioned in your last post that you buddy had some "water cobras"...though I'm certain that you are referring to H. gigas, since you referenced it in the title and have called them False Water cobras previously, I just want to state that there is a BIG difference. Water cobras (Boulengerina sp.) are members of the elapid family, and can carry heavy consequences (READ: DEATH) if you are bitten. As I said, I'm sure that was just an omission of the word "false" in your post, but be doubly sure exactly what you are getting, because they are two vastly different animals.
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Abhishek Prasad

Yes, that was just me being lazy, she is H. gigas, sorry bout the miscommunication.

>>You mentioned in your last post that you buddy had some "water cobras"...though I'm certain that you are referring to H. gigas, since you referenced it in the title and have called them False Water cobras previously, I just want to state that there is a BIG difference. Water cobras (Boulengerina sp.) are members of the elapid family, and can carry heavy consequences (READ: DEATH) if you are bitten. As I said, I'm sure that was just an omission of the word "false" in your post, but be doubly sure exactly what you are getting, because they are two vastly different animals.
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>>Abhishek Prasad
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People Who Say Money Can't Buy You Happiness Obviously Don't Know Where To Buy A Herp

1.0 Cornsnake 1.0 Ball Python 0.1 Cal Kingsnake 0.1 Bearded Dragon 0.1 Leo Gecko 0.1 Taiwan Beauty Snake 0.1 Chilean Rose-haired Tarantulas 0.1 Egyptian Sand Boa, 0.0.1 Pink Toe Tarantula, 0.0.1 Red Footed Tortoise 0.1 Western Hognose
0.0.1 Mexican Fireleg Tarantula 0.0.2 Emperor Scorpions