Reptile & Amphibian Forums

There's a guy at my local fair with a travelling reptile show who has three cobras. One is about 8 feet long and he calls it an unnamed species of Ethiopian cobra. Anyone heard anything about these being available? It looks about like a "plain"(not banded) Egyptian cobra.
Just asking, wondered if anyone had any information about them.

It's probably just a ploy to make himself feel special, having an "un-named snake," ohhhh, maybe even a new species to science!! hah In all seriousness, it wouldn't surprise me at all. If this one looks like a typical Egyptian, it probably is. There seem to be quite a few Egyptian variants though, but I'm not entirely updated on all their taxonomy so I'll let others comment.
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Chance Duncan
www.rivervalleyexotics.com

I don't know what the guy has either, but senyor Duncan is right...Naja haje is extremely variable..as is Naja nivea.

~~Greg~~

Thanks-that's about what I thought-it's a typical travelling display-snake cages in an old bus, but his snakes do at least "look" healthy. The guy did clean out a cobra cage(monocled) by hand, with the snake in the cage, while I was there though-how many people on here open their venomous cage in the presence of someone else when they don't know the other persons experience level? I just hope he doesn't get someone here bit and get some new bans made for the effort-I don't have venomous yet, but might get something im a couple years.

All,

How often do you open up a snake cage without knowing who is around and their experience level?

I open cages all the time whilst other people are around at my place (they tend to stand outside the door whilst I am cleaning/feeding/medicating etc)and have a conversation with me. I treat everyone pretty much the same (that is that I treat them as having NO experience whatsoever around any reptiles) unless I know otherwise.

I am yet to have a visitor get bitten nor have I heard it happening.

We have enough sensationalism around venomous snakes (probably self induced by other keepers trying to make out that snakes and their keeping is something is so much more dangerous than it really is) LETS NOT ADD TOO IT! by pedaling more unrealistic risks!

Regards,
Scott

Hi Scott:

Good question! IF, and it's rare, I invite someone to see my collection it's from behind the glass of the cages. I'm not willing to risk someone being bitten during a "show & tell". This applies to experenced people too. I also never ask a fellow keeper to do the same, if they do, they do it on their own.

This chap with his venomous road show is asking for lots of trouble that will spill over and "Bite" us all in the ass.

Cheers!

Al
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"Fighting on the forums is like competing in the Special Olympics, even if you win, you're still retarded."

DH June 2005