Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i have been thinking about getting some popes tree vipers and was wondering how big dothey get , how toxic there venom is, and do they have any special requirements.
thanks
zack

I asked a similiar question on a different forum. Here is what someone told me. I wouldn't recommend them as beginners.

"In 1997 I was bitten by a WC Popes' tree viper on the left hand while placing a water bowl in the cage. I was, at that time, young and dumb and under the assumption that I would never get bit. I did. 15 minutes post bite my hand felt like it had been smacked with a sledge hammer. 30 minutes post bite I arrived at the ER in morehead where they freaked out and shipped me on to UK. Half way to UK the lights went out and I don't remember much else about the next few days, so here is a brief summary.

8 days in ICU
2 days in a normal room
2 more days in ICU for a severe antivenom reaction - Kidney problems.
10 vials of the old North American polyvalent.
3 months in Phsical therapy
A lifetime full of stiff knuckles
$80,000 in hospital bills.

I'd say thats a little worse than a copperhead bite."
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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
0.1 black king snake '01
1.1 black milk snake '01&'02
1.1 pueblan milk snake '03
0.1 red milk snake '02
1.1 African house snake '03

Shows how variable symptoms can be. I attended a talk by a fellow (who was a very experienced HOT reptile importer) who was there in the field as groups of men removed from bags (with their bare hands)Popes Vipers that were fresh caught into a large bin. He said they considered the bites a minor inconvieience. In fact, at least two were bitten while he watched.

I could hardly call the man a liar, because he had the photos to prove it.

I think these two examples well illustrate that sensitivity to venom can yield nasty results vs the opposite.

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

the two men considered there bites a minor inconvience? they must have had some sort of immunity towards popes venom or are they just not very venomous

Popes can reach 82cm (roughly 32". Their venom is not life threatening (except under unusual circumstances like extreme sensitivity).

Care is simple. Put snake in proper size aquarium for it's length. Spagnum is best for the bottom. A branch should be supplied.

Most will start on lizards but all will eventually take mice. Mist DAILY.

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