Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking into false water cobras at the moment, and was wondering what you think. I have never owned any venomous snakes before but you have to start somewhere. Anyways what are the specs on them, how big, temperament, do they really hood up and what details you can provide. I have tried to research but I guess they are rare I cant find any info on them anywhere. Does anyone have any photos of them hooding, if they do? A reptile shop by my house has a few for sale, and told me that there venom is like a bee sting, but I dont trust him, 2 yrs ago I bought a burm and he told me that they only get 8 ft long, wow, now I have a 14 ft female. I think he just wants cash, any help would be greatly appreciated.

The FWC's are awesome snakes but should require care. They are considered venomous, of course different people disagree to the extent. I have been looking to pick a pair up for awhile now and will probably get some at the Daytona show. They are relatively unaggressive but can have a wicked feeding response. They get big and yes they hood but not like a cobra really.
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1.0 snow corn snake '02
0.1 butter corn snake '02
0.1 hi-red corn snake '02
0.1 CB KY locality corn snake '02
1.1 Texas Baird's rat snake '00
0.1 black rat snake '03
1.1 Het for albino and albino radiated rat snake '02&'03
1.1 tri-color hognose snake '03
1.1 albino striped Cal king snake '01
1.1 black king snake '01
1.1 black milk snake '01&'02
1.1 pueblan milk snake '03
1.1 African house snake '03

Ok...They are not aggressive, but can be VERY TERRITORIAL. Best to use a hook to remove them from their cages. Feed response is fast....FAST and HARD. When out of their cages they normally calm and are ok to handle.

When one of these "hoods" that means watch your hands.

The bite is venomous and can produce severe local pain but is not dangerous unless you are sensitive to venom.

They can get over nine feet.

Food is rats or mice.

Young specimens should be misted daily.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

when the pain occurs is it ok to use a drug like aspirin or tylenol to help? i know i have some other drugs for pain relief prescribed from the doctor but i was looking to aquire an FWC and if i were bitten would these have any negative affects to the venom causing side effects? although i would like to not get bitten you cant stop the inevitable but i can sure try!

I would be careful with pain relief since there are neurotoxins in the venom that can cross-react. Things like asprin, tylenol etc. should be fine but avoid any product containing codeine or similar. You won't die from the pain so sometimes its best to just grin and bear it.

Cheers
Bryan
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Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry
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Australian Venom Research Unit,
University of Melbourne
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Population and Evolutionary Genetics Unit,
Museum Victoria
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http://www.venomdoc.com

Hi

Instead of being so focused on what to do if you get bitten, try and be more focused on what to do, to NOT get bitten Always use glowes when handling them and a hook off course!! Only handle them if it is absolutly necesery.

Just because the are rearfanged, they still pack a good punch

When thats said, they are an awesome snake!!! They do hood up, but they dont stand up like a cobra, they are lying!!! looks pretty cool, but thats when u deffenetly dont want to handle them!!! Woud'nt say they are a great beginner, but like u say, gotta start somwhere
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Keep it real

Mark

http://www.slangehobby.dk (this homepage is in Dansih, but I have pics of my animals!!!)

Hi everybody,

I'm looking to get one or a pair and have been wondering how large of an inclosure do they need when they get to be six or eight feet? do they need somthing like a cat litter box of water or is a large water bowl good enough?
Have a good one

Jason