local "anaconda"

[Murziukas]

before moult

after moult

I love the texture and attitude - those are some evil ones

 

[Crotalus]

before moult

I love the texture and attitude - those are some evil ones

Very nice Natrix!

They grow fairly large;

 

[Murziukas]

Oh yes, I've read about it. I'm scorpion lover, but cat of my friend caught those and I simply coulndn't resist... I've read that females can get up to 2 meters but I I don't think it's possible to meet something like that here in Lithuania. Also the hissing is absolutely facinating . Yet far they didn't try to bite but I'm looking forward for this exiting expereince
Those are great snakes.

 

[G. Carnell]

Hey
ive caught a 1.5m or so long one in Corsica,
looks like the same sp, they really stink ......!!

smell your hands after you handle them, its really unpleasant

 

[Crotalus]

smell your hands after you handle them, its really unpleasant

No it smells like spring!!!

 

[PA7R1CK]

Great looking snake!

 

[Murziukas]

You are right about the smell George, but it's mostly when you try to catch and handle wild snake. I don't know how to explain it in proper way but I believe it's sort of self defence mechanism. Eventhrought those are not too social, they can get used to your hands and don't do it as WC ones.

 

[Steffen]

Very nice. What subspecies is it? Helvetica, natrix or scutata perhaps?

I have 3 N. n. scutata. Very active animals.

 

[Murziukas]

Hey Steffen, I really don't know subspecie and event have no clue where to look for info. May be there are some sort of key to identify it completely? All I know is that those came form 25 km northwest from Vilnius... Guys if you have papers and experience, please guide me through complete identification (of course if it's possible in domestic conditions).

Best wishes.

 

[Murziukas]

Thing that always amazed me - ability to stretch up to 2,5 times...

P.S. Guys, could you help me to identify subspecie?

 

[Steffen]

Yea Natrix are usually extremely greedy and can swallow huge preys, even weird shaped ones like frogs.

Im sorry, but I believe it's almost impossible to identify af Natrix from a picture, they all look alike. So I can't really help you much. But if you can find some records/references of what species is found in that area, you could get a positive ID if only one Natrix species is found there. All I get from a google search is Natrix natrix, but no info on subspecies.

 

[Murziukas]

Yes, and aggressive upon other "tribesmen". Yesterday as I fed them with some catfish those bastard got in to fight at least 4 times. What's the sad part that there were more pieces available in the tank but both wanted the same one. Somehow... Others pieces simply decayed (the smell is nice when you get back from job and find that mess... :evil
ID: I'm 95% sure there is no available data of subspecies and their distribution maps here in Lithuania... :wall:

 

[Murziukas]

Some more feeding pics

Fed my little one yesterday with small fish. Quite shy snake, had to wait with my camera ready for ~ half an hour for him to do the dirty job. Enjoy.

 

[AnthrpicDecadnc]

Hey
ive caught a 1.5m or so long one in Corsica,
looks like the same sp, they really stink ......!!

smell your hands after you handle them, its really unpleasant

yep sounds like your typical colubrid