Cobras!

[lydhagen]

Hey!

I'm from Sweden, and that means that i'm not so familiar with the cobra species you keep in the U.S.
So, wich species are the most common, and least common?
What species do you have?

Best regards, Emil :)

[Mustangrde1]

Emil form what i see imported most and on most sellers list i would say Monacle Cobras are #1 then on to Egyptian 3rd would be a guess but I would think its either Kings or one of the spitter families.Maybe Ray or BW might know more.

[Jeremy]

Hi lydhagen,
As was stated, Naja kaouthia (Monacled Cobra) is probally the most commonly seen sp here in the states. There are also alot of Naja naja (blk paks(Pakistan morph), Indian, Sri lanka), Naja nigricollis, Naja nevia and as of late, alot of Naja haje.

Personaly I keep Naja annulifera annulifera, Naja nigricollis and Naja kaouthia.

Heres a pic of my male baby annulifera and sub adult female kaouthia, just for fun.

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/756banded_eygpt1-med.jpg
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/756mvc006s-med.jpg
Hope this helps! BTW, do you keep any cobras?

All the best,
Jeremy
P.S Naja pallida is also farely common nowadays.

[lydhagen]

Hey!

Thanks for your answers! I do not keep any cobras, but i'm going to a guy that helps me to learn how to handle them. I know alot about them, but i dont have any experience handling them.

I was really confused when i read youre answer because in Sweden, the black packs are soo unusual, and i'm not even sure if they exist in Sweden. Allsow N. nigricollis is really rare seen, and thats to bad, couse it is one of my favorite species. :(
It is the same with the cape cobra, N. nivea, i'm not sure if it exists either...

But in Sweden the N.pallida is one of the most common species, an allsow N, siamensis, N. haje, N. annulifera, N. Kaouthia

Best regards!
Emil Lydhagen

[BWSmith]

Let's not forget the Forest Cobras (Naja melanoleuca) at every turn ;)

[lydhagen]

hehehe, ofcourse not! Are they common in the U.S? In Sweden, they are quite rare, but they exist... Mostly at "zoo's and so.

Best regards!
Emil Lydhagen

[BWSmith]

Most people I know that keep elapids have had a forest at some point or another. I am still amazed how many people get them for a first cobra just because they are cheap.

[lydhagen]

Oh! The are NOT suitable as a first cobra, because they grow so big! And are, what i've heard, quite agressive. But really nice cobras anyway :D

How about the asian spitters? Like N. sumatrana, N. samarenis, and N.atra? Are they common?

[Mustangrde1]

Spitters are somewhat common however I wouldnt keep them do to their nasty habit of spitting and I hate the taste of venom. Their momma didnt teach them its rude to spit.

[reverendsterlin]

no spitters for this old man lol, already have a crot that will wind up spraying everyone in 5 ft striking at the screen during cage cleaning. Love those albino kaouthia though.