Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm thinking of acquiging one or a pair of these animals, and I'm curious about a few things. I know this snake gets large, 4 to 9' according to a book I have. I know that their venom is pretty hot. I also know that they generally eat fish and frogs in the wild. How difficult is it to switch them over to rodents? The animals I'd be acquiring are babies, so I'm hoping they would be easier than the adults. Could there be any physiological downfalls to feeding them a diet of rodents rather than what they are used to? Generally I wouldn't have much of a problem feeding a snake what it eats in the wild, especially since I can get fish for like 10 cents each, but I don't like the idea of getting a rarely-available baby snake and loading it full of parasites right off the bat. Anyway, I'd appreciate any help with my questions. If you have any more input on this species, I'd also appreciate that as well.
-Chance

Apparently they're not aggressive and are quite timid in the wild. The major problem with them is that they're a huge elapid with a virtually unknown venom to which no current antivenom is prepared (because in the wild, where they're almost entirely aquatic, they tend not to bite people). So the chances of a bite being life threatening must be considered as high. Spawls and Branch (The Dangerous Snakes of Africa - 1995) suggest that antivenom for other large african cobras/mambas may prove useful (I beleive SAIMR polyvalent covers most of them) but, as mentioned, it really is an unknown quantity.

Just a thought, Lee.

>>Apparently they're not aggressive and are quite timid in the wild. The major problem with them is that they're a huge elapid with a virtually unknown venom to which no current antivenom is prepared (because in the wild, where they're almost entirely aquatic, they tend not to bite people). So the chances of a bite being life threatening must be considered as high. Spawls and Branch (The Dangerous Snakes of Africa - 1995) suggest that antivenom for other large african cobras/mambas may prove useful (I beleive SAIMR polyvalent covers most of them) but, as mentioned, it really is an unknown quantity.
>>
>>Just a thought, Lee.

Hey Lee. Thanks for the information. I don't currently have that book but would like I get it. I do have the Reptiles and Amphibians edition of the Dorling Kindersley Handbooks, and it gives a little bit of information on them, but nothing about their venom. Evidently their reproduction is still a bit of a mystery as well, because none of the sources I've found will even list clutch size. I'm sure there is someone out there that knows about it though, because c.h. babies occasionally come into the US, obviously from gravid wild caught females. Anyway, a really interesting snake nonetheless. I'm having trouble deciding whether I want to take on one or two of these guys or just up my boomslang colony. Decisions...decisions...
-Chance

>>Apparently they're not aggressive and are quite timid in the wild. The major problem with them is that they're a huge elapid with a virtually unknown venom to which no current antivenom is prepared (because in the wild, where they're almost entirely aquatic, they tend not to bite people). So the chances of a bite being life threatening must be considered as high. Spawls and Branch (The Dangerous Snakes of Africa - 1995) suggest that antivenom for other large african cobras/mambas may prove useful (I beleive SAIMR polyvalent covers most of them) but, as mentioned, it really is an unknown quantity.

SAIMR is prolly what I'd ask for before going ont her respirator, but from some anecdotal reports I have heard, I suspect their vnom is very different from that from other cobras. Apparently, according to Thomas Madsen, in parts of Lake Taganyika, you can see Boulengerina and Naja melanoleuca fishing side by side. Naja melanoleuca will bite a fish, which will flap and struggle, and the snake will then take it to the shore and eat it there, still alive. Boulengerina will bite a fish, and the fish will be dead in seconds. No idea what relevance this has for bites to humans, but it certainly suggests *something* is different about their venom,

Cheers,

Wolfgang
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I've followed the banter on your forums with interest. I have a healthy interest in venomous snakes, especially those of the elapid genus. I think virtually all of you guys are far more braver than I will ever be. I know while I can admire an elapid for hours, I could never bring myself to keep, touch or raise one. That said. I am curious if the infamous Oxyuranus Microlepidota is kept in captivity by private collectors such as those who frequent this forum. Perhaps even the experts such as Wolfgang Wuster ?

The other question is; I am a bit confused as to what exactly constitutes a true cobra. I've noticed through some reading up on elapids, that the Indian and asiatic species tend to have a wider hood to spread as opposed to their African cousins, who merely flatten the neck for a slightly wider throat area. Is that the dividing factor, and if it is, which of these are considered "True Cobras". Many thanks. Look forward to responses.

Brian.