Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'll post some more pics once they are out of the silver phase.

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John Light

Fantastic looking little guys! Congrats on the clutch

Gorgeous clutch of snakes. I personally don't work with any elapids and you're obviously alive enough to post those pictures, but is it reasonably "safe" to hold them like that while they're hatching?

I have to say I agree. These aren't birds that imprint and think you're 'mamma.' Invoke a defensive response and even a baby cobra is capable of delivering a potentially fatal envenomation. At the very least it may give others bad ideas.

Nice clutch at any rate! Costly, but nice! Just exercise caution, at least in photos published for the world to see.
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Chance Duncan
Science Teacher, Herp Enthusiast, and Reptilian Conservation Proponent
www.rvexotics.com

Honestly safe is relative. They are venomous snakes and are more then capable of giving a bite bad enough to put you in a grave. That being said many cobras generally don't bite at birth. I have heard many breeders say that till they shed and get their first meal it's less likely to take a bite. These guys are very defensive at this size and are quick to flare up. Extreme caution must be taken and "at your own risk". Not all cobras are like this, I've heard many say black pak's will come out of the egg opened mouth, hood and strike and then disappear back into their egg! I have two adult pairs of black pak's so hopefully I will produce them this comming season although I will not be risking this move. Free handling is not something I generally practice and this was a one time thing. I don't recommend anyone doing it! Thanks for all the kind comments, these are my favorite cobras and I'm extremely happy to be lucky enough to keep them alive in the hobby!
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John Light

Thanks for the response, I was quite curious! I've got a friend who breeds monocaleds and said his come out ready to kill something, but the ones you were holding looked like anything but the miniature death machines that they are capable of being! That being said, the clutch looks great and again, congratulations.

Although they hood up and strike it's done closed mouth. I've seen it done with monocled cobras as well, normals and albinos. Still not a smart practice.
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John Light

Once again Great Job.

Fantastic lookig animals. I am new to cobras so pardon my question should it seem obvious, how do you know they are "western" versus "eastern" Indian Cobras? Is there a color or pattern variation or is it just knowing the locality?