In the field

[adamanteus]

I think he was about 3' by the time that pic was taken. I had him 18 months and never took a decent one. It's weird, I've had so many reptiles come and go over the years that I took it for granted, I struggle to find pictures of anything now. Wish I had the time again!

[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

[adamanteus]

He was a fantastic animal, I was quite sorry when I had to let him go. But as you say, the danger is just too great to justify keeping such a snake for longer than necessary. I had him for 18 months, long enough to get some experience of dealing with a fast, intelligent, venomous species.

[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]

If I had to choose, I'd go with neurotoxins. But to be honest I'd rather not get bitten at all!

[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.

[drache]

Why not V. berus? Are they cranky?
Their venom isn't that strong either.
The one I met in the wild did not seem aggressive, but I also didn't try to pick it up.
Rhea

[adamanteus]

Personally, I've always found V. berus really difficult. They just don't like captivity. Or maybe it's me, missing something vital?

[Stefan-A]

Copperheads are among the candidates. I actually expected them to be more venomous.

What about V. ursinii? I saw some for sale a few months back and I've seen CB ammodytes, wagneri and latastei for sale, too.

I've heard V. berus being called difficult by people with decades of experience, so I'm not going to even consider that one.

[adamanteus]

All of those would be on my list! Especially ursinii and latastei. I didn't know you could buy them! I think ammodytes has a pretty potent venom.