Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am going to be getting a CB n. pallida and was just wondering how everyone else's experience has been with them. I keep a suphan, indo spitter, two monocled cobras. Just wondering if the keeping of this snake is that different than the species i keep already. I wouldnt think itd be all that different but any advice would be greatly appreciated and help me make this experience great for me and the new friend.

I have worked with several specimens and have kept 4 myself. As neonates/juvis they are extreamly runny and can get quite spitty though not as bad as I thought. Of the 4 I had only one was bad while the rest were just ritering and runny. Id say they are probaly like your Indos were as babies but more likly to run then stand their ground. Was rare that I would get a threat display at all. They seemed to just raise their heads and spit from the belly more so then not.

Sub adults and adults were almost always very calm and wouldnt spit at all. I personaly never have had a pallida 4ft plus spit at me though im sure im lucky. They would hiss when handled but like the babies, never reared much at all.

Id say they may end up being easier then the Asian spitters. As adults they usualy become quite placid though I am by no means trying to state tame lol The one thing that differed in my experince btween asian and african was that the Asian were just always defensive. Though all elapids go nutts at the smell of food they would still rear up when you confronted them (I didnt have Asian spitters, just Kaouthia). The reds would be franticly paseing their cages within mins of bringing food into the room making feeding always an adventure.

I also have noticed that most Naja males seem to become much more placid as adults. The females calmed down too but were always more jerky and neverous then the males in my experince.

I have actualy noticed this across elapid genus, even in Aspidelaps, Dendroaspis, Ophiohagus and what ever the Ringhals genus is (I am sooo out of date on my taxonomy ;

Well, thats my experince with em. They shouldnt be too much of a problem with a seasoned elapid keeper. Just be extreamly cautious of their feeding response and utilize a safe transportation method when cleaning the cages of babies. Adults can be easily hooked and moved. Babies will not sit on a hook lol and because of their jerkiness I would recomend tailing them till 3 ft plus, maybe more.

My 2 cents

that was ment to read I "wouldnt" recomend tailing them till 4 ft lol

Yeah my suphan is a CB05 and that thing will not stay on a hook for the life of me. But the info is much appreciated.

Hahahha...I wonder who has Atrox788's 4 Pallida??

Feeding an adventure is an understatment, check out this video (see link) of a female N. pallida now known as "Psyco".

This is Little Red Riding Hood CBB05. Actually is well behaved and seldom spits, so I let her crawl around a bit on the table. On the same site there is a video of her feeding too. It's a wonder they feed at all with how spastic they can be...

Al

More Fun with Spitters

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Law of Logical Argument: Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

That video is awesome. That thing is pretty aggressive. Hope you were wearing eye glasses or something. My suphan is similar, when that thing smells its food...wow. It almost got away from on two occasions. Ill have to get some video of that thing on here one of these days.

Yes, I wear a full face shield when working those beasties, except "Little Red" who has not spit in some time. I still wear protective glasses though.

Al
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Law of Logical Argument: Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.

I kinda figured you wore something like that i wear work goggles that cover on the sides. My indo spitter hasnt spit in a long time. Have you delt with many other spitters other than n. pallida?

Yes, all of the African Spitter

Al
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Law of Logical Argument: Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.