Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey guys,

I recently acquired a gem that I have been trying to get for a long long while, a baby Acanthophis hawkei. These are the largest of the Aussie mainland Death Adders and are very rare in collections outside of Australia. Brothers and sisters of this baby girl were exported to USA by my breeder friend but I have no idea what happened to them after that.

Anyway, here are some pictures and a video:

Enclosure:

Mid-shed:

Post-shed:

Feeding:

Feeding Vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqlJrUCA_RE

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We are the best GALATASARAY

Can I just CUTE!

Can ya tell me a bit about the natural history?
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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Sure.

As far as I know;

Described by Wells & Wellington on 1985.

They are the largest death adder species, adults have very big heads and truly amazing coloration. Females are typically a bit bigger and they have big litters, this baby girl had 16 siblings.

They come from Northern Australia, Barkly Tableland. They live on clay rich soil and hide within Curly Mitchell's Grass (Astrebla lappacea). Their environment is very hot in summer and get a bit cooler in winter.

Other than these, classical death adders with very strong neurotoxic venom, caudal luring, viperid features etc.

Feel free to ask questions if you have any.
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We are the best GALATASARAY

Just always like to learn about venomous. Hubby doesnt let me play with them however because I tend to fall down.
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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Yeah, he is reasonable. I almost died once so my wife is pretty harsh on the subject as well. Yet this girl is just adorable, very hard to not to love that face .
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We are the best GALATASARAY

>>Yeah, he is reasonable. I almost died once so my wife is pretty harsh on the subject as well. Yet this girl is just adorable, very hard to not to love that face .
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>>We are the best GALATASARAY

I do agree! Very beautiful! Keep the pics coming!
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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Here is a feeding video that I just shot:

http://youtu.be/l79WD8RpelY
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We are the best GALATASARAY

>>Here is a feeding video that I just shot:
>>
>>http://youtu.be/l79WD8RpelY
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>>We are the best GALATASARAY

Wow! He is much smaller than I thought! How big do they eventually get?
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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3 to 4 feet or so. Knowing her mother, she will probably be around 4. She was born in end of September and she has a lot of growing to do.
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We are the best GALATASARAY

>>3 to 4 feet or so. Knowing her mother, she will probably be around 4. She was born in end of September and she has a lot of growing to do.
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>>We are the best GALATASARAY

Ahhh for some reason I thought she was older! Still a very cute noodle!
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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She was forcefed bits of pinky mice until the last 4 feedings of voluntary full pinkies. She is just gaining size slowly.

(Forcefeeding is necessary as they are initially lizard feeders in the wild when they are born.)
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We are the best GALATASARAY

She wanted to say hello this morning:

I spend 10 minutes every morning to find this girl, if she moves a little!
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We are the best GALATASARAY

She looks almost like a frog or toad there.
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
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Feeding #3 with no complications. I think she is very well settled because she was extremly eager this time, no tricks necessary, no wiggling the mouse etc. She saw the pinky and bit three times in a row in quick succession, holding the food with the last bite. I would not want my fingers there!

Here are a couple pictures:

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We are the best GALATASARAY