Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can anyone tell me if the Indian Water snake,or,Karung,or,achrochordus javanicus,is around anymore?

I haven't seen them on lists for a while, but I'm sure they occasionally show up.

They are very difficult to keep because the succumb to the "mysterious white pustule disease" that seems to kill most Erpeton, Karungs, and Filesnakes in captivity. I have never been able to keep one alive for more than a few weeks, and I have tried Erpeton, A. granulatus and A javanicus, all with the same result.

If I could find someone who could definitively identify the cause and solution to this disease they die from, I would run, not walk, back to find another one to keep. I've heard all the anecdotal rumors, but never found the real solution.

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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, TX

Hi chris,thank you for the reply,.I was reading Raymond Ditmars book,"snakes of the world".,and there is a photograph taken of a Karung,and I've never seen a snake like it.This was back in 1930 or right around there.,He describes this river snake as possibly going extinct becauase of the hunting that was going on back then for it's skin.I'm very happy to know that it is in fact still around.Thanks again,Sincerly,Rick Meherin

Karung is actually the indonesian name for this snake and the name for its skin in the leather trade. They are still widely used for leather in indonesia (along with Homalopsis buccata).

The snake is of couse also known as the Elephant Trunk Watersnakes, Javan Filesnakes, and several other names. I don't think I have ever seen them sold as Karung in the USA.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, TX