Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I currently own a male Egyption and wanted to talk to someone who works with them. I would like to share some intelligence, best practices, etc. Would also be good to know someone who has the same animal.

Thanks for your response!

Martin

I am currently caring for 10 of them at our refuge. We've only had them a few months so I don't have a lot to share but here goes.

1) Don't trust them. Some of the ones we have are downright docile at times, but I've also had one that I was hook-and-tailing suddenly turn and strike so hard that although I saw it coming, released his tail the instant he moved and moved my hand, he was able to get his head PASSED where his tail was, working only against his own momentum in mid air! Use hooks and keep your hands clear if you can manage it.

2) Some of ours will take mice that are just laid in front of them. Most need to be teased. Keep the mouse low to the ground and make sure it's nice and warm. (We only feed live as a last resort.)

3) Don't put too much water in his dish or it will just end up all over the cage as he squeezes into the bowl (seems common in cobras?)

4) I hope you like cleaning cages.

5) See #1.

Larry's info is solid. One more thing: Haje are toad eaters in the wild. If you have any problems getting yours to eat mice, you could try scenting with a toad, or as a last resort, feed the toad.

~~Greg~~

Thanks for both of your responses!

The information is always very helpful!

A couple more questions, if I may:

1) Do you keep anti-venom on hand? and if so, where can I obtain it?
2) Do you take your snakes out to feed them in separate containers or do you feed them in the same containers they live in?
I have found other snakes I have owned in the past end up thinking I am their food if I feed them in the same container

Thanks again for your responses!

Martin Nesbitt

In our case, we don't keep anti-venom, but we're in south Florida, the home of the Miami-Dade antivenom bank...

I personally feed single snakes in the cage, and only feed in separate containers when we have more than one in a cage. This is mostly a matter of speeding up the process though since I am sometimes feeding 40-50 snakes in a day and squeezing the feedings in between visitors (who I usually won't allow in the room if I have venomous snakes in feeding containers). I don't worry that much about them learning to expect food when the cage is opened, since I don't go sticking my hand in the cage the way I might with a nonvenomous snake.