Venemous look a likes?

cantthinkofone

Arachnodemon
Joined
Apr 27, 2012
Messages
702
Hello. I was just interested in what non venemous snakes try to impersonate venemous to keep away would be predators. Just interested. I know false water cobras (cobra hood) and milk snakes (coral snake) what else?
 

Tarantula155

Arachnobaron
Joined
Dec 1, 2012
Messages
494
Hello. I was just interested in what non venemous snakes try to impersonate venemous to keep away would be predators. Just interested. I know false water cobras (cobra hood) and milk snakes (coral snake) what else?
There are many. You can use Google or Bing, they are there for a reason.

I know another species of snake that impersonate venomous snakes is the viperine snake.
 

jake9134

Arachnosquire
Joined
Jan 5, 2011
Messages
91
cornsnakes look kinda like pygmy rattlers and I have observed them rattling their tail against plastic and stuff in their cage when spooked. can only imagine what it would sound like in leaf litter.
 

bchbum11

Arachnosquire
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 10, 2008
Messages
105
There's a decent book that covers these for US species. US Guide to Venomous Snakes and Their Mimics. Good read. Like Marc said, there are a lot of them.
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
11,500
I'm not going here simply because nearly all the web pages about 'imposter' snakes are extermination/elimination oriented.
 

skar

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Jan 19, 2010
Messages
434
Western Hognose snakes are a great start ! ! They are venomous but they don't have extreme venom to kill you . (well... anythings possible)
They flatten their head like a cobra, hiss and shake their tail (like alot of snakes) to mimic a rattler.
Get a female as they grow larger. I wouldn't consider them a stepping stone but they have alot of attributes you were asking about.
 

cantthinkofone

Arachnodemon
Joined
Apr 27, 2012
Messages
702
I am not interested in a stepping stone to hots as my state has an anti hot law but thanks for the info.
 

cmack91

Arachnopeon
Joined
May 19, 2012
Messages
42
Look into the Nerodia genus, or water snakes. They mimic cottonmouths/ water moccasins. IMO, theyre one of the best mimics out there (that I know of).
 

pitbulllady

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
May 1, 2004
Messages
2,290
Look into the Nerodia genus, or water snakes. They mimic cottonmouths/ water moccasins. IMO, theyre one of the best mimics out there (that I know of).
Nerodia are very good pet snakes, but honestly, being around so many and having been around so many Cottonmouths, I don't see much resemblance at all. For me that is like saying that Pit Bull Terriers and Bullmastiffs look just alike. Nearly ALL non-venomous snakes will flatten their heads and puff up their bodies to some degree if they feel threatened, and Water Snakes aren't any more prone to doing that than Rat Snakes or Garters. The Hognoses, with their "Cobra" impersonation, are better candidates, although once tame they refuse to do the hooding thing. If you REALLY want a non-venomous that looks like a deadly venomous snakes, all the time, without even feeling threatened, AND you don't mind the very distinct possibility of being bitten, get a Viper Boa(Candoia aspera). These snakes are almost dead-ringers for the Death Adder(Acanthopis sp.), right down to that rather unique head/snout shape. Problem is, though, most of this species are not the most handleable of snakes, and are rather prone to biting. Once in awhile you will find a nice one, though. They also, like the White-Lipped Pythons that they share their home range with, need high humidity, so they really do well in sweater box enclosures or snake racks rather than an aquarium-type enclosure, and they tend to be secretive snakes, needing a hide box, not frequently out in the open, so if you want a display animal for people to look at, they're not a very good choice.

pitbulllady
 
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