christmas cobras

[cantil]

I've never been much for elapids but just got a couples aspidelaps infuscatus for christmas and they are the CUTEST freakin' cobras i've ever seen. Anyone have any tips and tricks they'd like to share. I set them up on cypress with a trap box and H2O bowl. Their tiny!!!!!!!!!

I'll post pics when I've got time.

[skin78]

well that is a great x-mass gift :) I would love to have a gift like that :D But if they are to small to eat mice sometimes pieces of chicken work for them.. But I would rather try to get them on pinkymice or even take a pinkypump but that is my oppinion :)

[Jeremy]

Congtrats! Amazeing snakes to work with! I currentlyt have 10 various ssp of coral cobra and would never part with them. You are going to fall inlove for sure!

Now, onto husbandry. If babies I would keep them on paper towel untill they are atleast a year old. You do not want them swallowing subsrate. That would be a death sentance. I would give them several layers of paper towel and expect them to spend more time under it then in their hide. Also, give them a small water bowl of cource. Idealy you want to give any snake a bowl that they could soak in but I almost garuntee they would never do so! I have only ever seen one of my coral cobras drink and I have been keeping them foir 3 years!!!

When they do get some size on them I wouldnt use cypress. It retains too much moisture. Instead try aspen or even crushed walnut shells if yopur looking for somthing natural. These guys need zero humidity except for maybe a slight mist durning shed cycle.

Feeding should not be a problem but if they are reluctant. try day old live pinks first. I have had several babies that would not touch dead but jumped all over life and eventualy came to. That has been the extent of my feeding probs with them. They usualy take dead day old pinks strait from the egg! When they reach adult hood expect the males to go off feed every once inawhile but the females usualy eat all year round (except when getting ready to lay eggs). If you really have stubborn ones I suggest trying lizard sent for this is their primary food in the wild.

Also, make sure to keep them seperate except when breeding. Females get much larger then the males and can and somtimes do eat their partners. These guys are also big time snak eaters in the wild which explains the tendancy for caniblizim.

One last note on hpouseing. Make sure the substrate is deep enough for them to submerge under. They like to burrow and it helps their egos I think:-)

Well, if you need any more assistance please feel free to ask. If I dont have the answer I can get it for ya.

All the best my freind and congrats,
Jeremy