Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Which would be a better choice for a noob? Not noob to venomous but noob to arboreal vipers.
Also which one has more potent venom?

Thanks Jason

Eyelash's are usually much more personable than Squams, also (I believe)less dangerous in reguard's to venom.

My squam is spring loaded. Every time I list the lid he strikes. The Eyelashes stay calm unless I tickle their nose or taail with food.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

There is no antivenin specifically used to treat Atheris bites. Sometimes Echis AV may be used (depending on many factors, it may or MAY NOT be effective, it is basically a crapshoot), but for all practical purposes, there is no "effective" AV for squams or any other Atheris species.

There is AV available for schlegelii bites (Costa Rican poly), and overall bites from these guys would likely be easier (relatively speaking ) to treat than squams.

Just too add my 2 cents...

It also depends if you prefer the venom to have a greater systemic effect(Squam)or have the bitten part ROT off as with the Eyelash. Brings new meaning to the old saying " Choose your poison"

Al
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If you give somebody a match and they can keep warm for a while.
If you light them on fire, They will be warm for the rest of their life.

Thats a tough choice..LOL..I might pass on either and just stick to rattlesnakes...havnt decided though

Rattlesnakes are far more toxic that those two. Plus they're generally larger therefore inject more venom. Try Milksnakes, if you don't want to have to deal with death and possible loss of limb. No mattler what hot snake you keep they will always be risks present.

Al

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If you give somebody a match and they can keep warm for a while.
If you light them on fire, They will be warm for the rest of their life.

I already keep rattlesnakes. Thats why i said maybe i will just stick with them
The thing that makes me the most uncomfortable with the arboreal vipers is the fact they can climb up the hook..
And i'm not really into milksnakes

Ah...Both species (Wags and Eyelash) are a lot easier to manage on a hook than rattlers. They tend to stay put - or if they do move it is slow. Note I am not talking about Atheris here.

Dis a photo session today and the most difficult snake was not my Eyelashes., it was my sidewinders.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

Hello

You have got many replys about this subject but here's my opinion. Choose B.schlegelii they are much more calm and stressfree. I found them easy to obtain and perhaps they aren't that fragile to get diseases (like mouth infection). My schlegelii can be handeled just with one hook because it's so calm.

A.squamiger can be quite nervous and perhaps more agressive than schlegeli. My squamiger doesn't even stay on the hook and it's sometime quite difficult to handel it when it comes to cleaning it's box.

This is just my experience and opinions about these snakes.. there can be ofcourse individuals that act differently.

ps. And if you want species which like to be on display choose schlegelii.

If you are keeping crotalids already, Eyelashes are far less dangerous venom wise then rattle snakes or squams. In my own personal opinion I believe squamigers may very well be more toxic than most rattlesankes.(not claiming this to be fact, only based upon what Ive seen personally)I know people who have bitten by both species of the arboreal vipers and a number of people bitten by various rattlers. The schleg bite was the least serious of all but there is no way to know how much venom was actually injected when bitten. There was tissue damage and massive swelling, recovery was fairly quick also. One good point brought up was there is no AV for squamiger.
As for temperments between the two eyelashes are far more docile and much more attractive in my own opinion. Rattlesnakes I have kept in the past for the most part seemed more unpredictable then either of the arboreals you are considering.

Hope this helps you. Paul