Naja (Boulengerina) sp. "Congo" as a Gateway to Elapiedae

[Najakeeper]

Here are the new enclosures for these guys:

[YOUTUBE]E-96eoJfA3s[/YOUTUBE]

They are doing amazing and getting more docile every day.

 

[RzezniksRunAway]

I'd let people borrow my albino Black Rat Snake to test their speed. He was never told he's a new world rat. He's got the worst temperament of any snake I've ever worked with. Straight out of the cage into the air, right at your face. No rhyme or reason to his movements, biting at random, and his absolute favorite move - emptying every bit of anything in his body WHILE flying through the air. I <3 him, but if he was the test for venomous, I'd fail.

Those are some nice looking snakes, Najakeeper. Always love your videos.

 

[Najakeeper]

The water cobras are getting more docile by the day... Really amazing snakes.

Interestingly, they have been refusing fish prey after the complete switch to unscented rodents. I still try to give them fish sometimes and the female decided to eat some today:

[YOUTUBE]Kt8QenTLqOE[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Najakeeper]

I finally managed to move them to their new cage. This is a tall cage and for the first night, they are acting completely arboreal. Here is the male sleeping on a ledge:

I ordered some wire covers for the light bulb. Will come soon.

 

[The Snark]

Given the opportunity, you will find all cobras prefer to be arboreal when not hunting. Safety and warmed by the sun.

 

[Najakeeper]

Given the opportunity, you will find all cobras prefer to be arboreal when not hunting. Safety and warmed by the sun.

That makes total sense but for a lakeside dweller, I wasn't expecting this much. They have not come down in 24 hrs.

Edit: Being arboreal has it's own challanges :

 

[freedumbdclxvi]

Wow, those Naja think they are Corallus with that hunting stretch! Lol

 

[The Snark]

All the cobras, about 80+, at the farm, that have access to trees, remain in the trees all the time. Kaouthai, Hannah and Siamensis and a couple from India I don't recognize. Siamensis don't mind the ground too much and aren't that good at climbing but aren't given anything to climb due to the hazard to the public.

 

[Najakeeper]

Here is my male Congo Water Cobra shedding his skin, they are about 80cm, which should be their max adult size but they are just 18 months old so I guess these will grow. The male is in breeding mode I think because he hasn't touched food since he went into the shed cycle about a month ago.

[YOUTUBE]a0ZFjRqsF-g[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Najakeeper]

A video about the humidity fix:

[youtube]bM42_VnSSSY[/youtube]

 

[Tleilaxu]

I kind of disagree with you, Najakeeper, but not completely. Water cobras are a decent starter, but I think people should start with something local but not super docile. Local so the antivenom is readily available, and not docile so they don't become complacent. I've recommended people get a nasty water snake before a venomous snake so they have practice with a snake with a bad attitude that won't kill them. In my area I think copperheads are a good first. Small, not too dangerous but will make you respect them if you get a bite... when I lived out west I'd recommend sidewinders for the same reasons.

In the US its better to go with a foreign snake since the AV is much, much cheaper than crofab, which is a rip off at over several thousand dollars a vial, so if you get tagged by a north american snake you can expect a medical bill with in the 20,000 to 100,000 range depending on the amount of vials needed.

 

[Najakeeper]

Here are some photos from today:

Naja sp. (Congo Water Cobra), male first, female next:

And here is a video:

[YOUTUBE]wkulskSZVpg[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Najakeeper]

Here are some photos from today:

Naja sp. (Congo Water Cobra), male first, female next:

And here is a video:

[YOUTUBE]wkulskSZVpg[/YOUTUBE]

Still working with this guy with different prey items:

[YOUTUBE]hWFUowSgbKg[/YOUTUBE]