In the field

[GarterGuy]

Very nice looking cobra, looks like it came through it's ordeal pretty good off. Love cobras, just the venom stuff gets in the way of keeping them for me. Think that's why I like garters, they're nice and active and alert like cobras, but with out the nasty nuerotoxins.
Roy

[Stefan-A]

Think that's why I like garters, they're nice and active and alert like cobras, but with out the nasty nuerotoxins.
Roy

It's not nasty, but it does seem to be neurotoxic. At least according to what little info I have been able to collect on the subject.

Besides, cytotoxins are nastier. No, I don't have anything to back it up with, but purely as an exercise in imagination, getting killed with neurotoxins or hemotoxins seems nicer.


James,
Any suggestions for a first venomous snake? Any suitable Vipera (not berus)? I have no intentions of getting bit.

[adamanteus]

James,
Any suggestions for a first venomous snake? Any suitable Vipera (not berus)? I have no intentions of getting bit.

Definitely Copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix), Stefan! Really pretty, settle well to captivity, breed readily, available in Europe and if things go terribly wrong the venom isn't very potent (comparitively speaking). I love them to bits!

Some of the other European Vipera species would be interesting too, V. aspis etc. But watch out for the venom there, some are more potent than they're given credit for.