Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i'm interested in getting a cobra but i would like to start out with something small and was wondering if anyone could tell me which are some of the smaller cobra species.

I would do some research.If you are qualified to own a cobra you should know the answer to this question.I am not trying to be rude but this is a novis or beginner question and neither should own a cobra.Owning a cobra is not a light simple question one just decides one day.Years of experience along with years of research give you the edge of credibility in this hobby.When directing questions you word them in such a way that we already know you have experience.This hobby is in enough peril for any of us to take such a question lightly.You can pm me if you do have experience and are credible and I will send you in the right direction.Like I said I am not trying to be rude just cautious for this hobby and your life.
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Archie Bottoms

Very eloquently stated Archie!

Bill

np

If you have the experience to own hots and your first has to be a cobra get a monocled. They are readily availible, easy to care for (for a non native venomous), and don't get too huge. Chances are all the cobras are gonna be bigger than you're looking for. If you get a cobra you're gonna end up with a 5' or bigger(sometimes MUCH bigger) snake. Cobras don't just sit there. They are all over the place and will crawl up the hook right at you. Make sure your ready for that.
Good Luck
Steven

Monocled don't get too huge? What??? I have seen many six-footers!
For a small cobra, try SheildNose or Cape Coral cobra's. Why hasn't anybody mentioned that?

Randal Berry

Randal I would of suggested that and only that.My shield nose cobras I had in the early 90s were like keeping hognoses very simple to keep I wish I had never sold them.But the question seemed to easy to answer and I wanted to know I was giveing advice to someone who knew what they were doing.They have not reposted so I stand by saying they may not need any cobra.
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Archie Bottoms

Why does it seem everyone on kingsnake nowadays wants to talk bad about everyone elses posts? I don't think a six or eight foot snake is huge. The 13 foot burme that i just helped a man with cancer find a home for was huge. I couldn't pick it up by my self. A snake the size of my daughters corn snake shouldn't be put in the same catagory. Many cobras get much bigger than monacleds, and i saiid right in my original post they all got fairly large. So why the sarcasam? I was just trying to help some body. Just be cause you have a different opinion dosen't mean you should be little someone elses. This is sopposed to be a community.

Steven should we not know more about the keeper before we give advice on the kept.I think your post was sound just not accurate .I had hoped the original poster would chime in and let us know something about himself.To me a cobra is a big buy that should be well thought out.That is just me.
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Archie Bottoms

I agree that unprepared people shouldn't get into hots. Our opinion isn't always gonna stop some people. Its better to have informed uneperienced people than someone with no idea whats up at all. All cobras have the potential of being a big guy. It depends on what you cosider big. If the poster isnt ready i agree he should find a more suitable animal. My second post was just pointing out that we can discuss our differeces in opinion rather than be sarcastic. I'm not mad or anything, just felt like my input was unappriciated

Monocle cobra is a seriously deadly snake. Don’t be fooled because they’re $90.00. They are very pissy and they will bite. I have an Indian and the difference to a monocle is night and day. The venom will dissolve your flesh, too. I know they can be tamed, which is not good to promote to novice wanna be cobra owners, but really it should be considered an advanced speedy exotic, not for beginners.
I would like to see this forum be a little more active and friendly too, I’m offering my opinion, not meaning to put anybody off.

np
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Archie Bottoms

ONE OF THE WORST VENOMOUS BITES I'VE EVER SEEN WAS AN ALBINO MONACLE COBRA BITE TO THE TOP OF A FRIENDS HAND. HE CALLED ME INSTEAD OF 911 AND IN THE 10 MINUTES IT TOOK ME TO GET TO HIS HOUSE HE WAS COMATOSE AND WAS IN INTENSIVE CARE FOR 4 DAYS AND ON LIFE SUPPORT FOR TWO DAYS. EVENTUALLY THE ENTIRE TOP OF HIS HAND ROTTED OFF. HE UNDERWENT NUMEROUS SURGERIES AND STILL LOST THE USE OF TWO FINGERS AND HAS A PERMANENTLY DEFORMED HAND. NOT A HAPPY THING...
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

Steven,

I wasn't being sarcastic, merely pointing out what you said:

"If you have the experience to own hots and your first has to be a cobra get a monocled. They are readily availible, easy to care for (for a non native venomous), and don't get too huge."

Monocleds DO get big, as I said, 6' plus. Mind you, not as big as a King or Forest cobra or even an Ashe's cobra. However, the topic at hand is "small cobra species" and I don't believe Monocled's fit that category. Monocled's, in my opinion, are absolutely the worst FIRST choice for a cobra, especially if someone doesn't have experience with cobra's. I suggest start with something smaller, like Sheildnose, etc. Untreated monocled's bites makes body parts fall off, and that ain't good.
Detah soon follows, and that ain't good either.
Tis' only MY opinion Steven, and don't take it personal.

Randal Berry

*Death soon follows...

First off let me say that i appreciate everyone's concern and advice.
i agree with steven and archie. i honostly am just interested and i would never get any pet (doesnt matter if it is a dog or a cobra) with out doing my research first. i am currently working under 3 people one of which was one of the first, if not the first, person to own spectical cobras in the southeast. he doesnt keep cobras anymore and i barely work under him anyways. the main person owns every native venomous to florida along with a gila and a albino western diamondback.
i understand completely that cobras are infinitly more agile then vipers. i dont have my permit yet and wont get it for another 7 months or so.
i have a lot of time to think about what i want to get.
no doubt my question was a novice one. this PROBABLY is because i dont own or havent worked with even this family of snakes. i dont know how i made it seem like i knew what i was talking about. however, i am incredibly interested in cobras but the problem is i dont know anyone with them.i wouldnt want my first cobra to be a king (duh!)

i'm just looking for more information. Isnt that the first step to experience?? searching the internet for info can be very very flakey. two different care sheets can be polar opposits.

i talked to the guy from diamond reptile breeders and i was really fascinated when he told me that they will recognize their owner. he also said that coral cobras are a pretty small species. any comments?
also, archie could you tell me more about your shield nose cobras?

The coral cobra is about the same as a shield nose.I would say they are the best elapid to start with period.There venom I do not believe has ever killed a healthy adult.That is one snake you can not go wrong with if you take all the propper percousions .As Randal said they stay small around 2 foot.
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Archie Bottoms

While monocled cobras are readily available, they are not a good starter elapid. They have VERY nasty bites. The one good thing about a monocled cobra is that they are often "clumsy" unlike cape cobras etc which tend to me more calculating... however this can also be bad as sometimes they go all out and aren't a typical dumpy monocled cobra and catch you off guard.

With that being said Aspidelaps are great starter elapids in my opinion. The best starter cobra would be one in someone else's collection. Take the time to find someone to mentor you and work with their animals before getting your own.

Nobody recomended a Water Cobra.There very "uncobra" like.They do get larger than Coral Cobras ,but the "Indian" is the last place to start. There is also a different AV for Indian (Naja naja) and the Monocled (Naja kaouthia).The Thai Av won't work that well for an Indian bite and the Indian Av won't work well with a kaouhia.

Good point on the antivenin!
However, I have a pair of water cobra's that are about 6', so they don't meet the criteria either. (Small cobra species)