Zhaoermia mangshanensis

[ZooCon]

Here are some pix of the Zhaoermia mangshanensis from China, hope you guys like it.

Young Fella

http://www.zoocon.com/Images/Ermia_mangshanensis_06.jpg

Sub-Adult Male
http://www.zoocon.com/Images/Ermia_mangshanensis_42.jpg

http://www.zoocon.com/Images/Ermia_mangshanensis_43.jpg

[Vanan]

Wow! Never knew such a snake existed. I take it you're from Asia? Beautiful species.

[lostwithin]

Wow, stunning animal. I read your post in the wanted section, there is a specific Asian species of snake that I’ve been looking for, But I cannot find it anywhere in North America, If you think you could help me, let me know and I’ll e-mail you exactly what I’m looking for.

Thanks,
Devon

[dave68]

Wow now thats camo!!!

Dave

[ZooCon]

Hi,
Yes i'm from China. I think these should be the largest pit vipers in Asia, females get over 6 feet easily.

[psilocybe]

WOW! BEAUTIFUL SNAKE! ME WANTS! LOL

[Vanan]

Wow! 6ft?! Can't help coming back to look at your pics. The color and pattern of them almost makes em look like they're made of water. How difficult are they to maintain in captivity?

[JD@reptiles]

thats AMAZING

[Big_V]

Just looking at that snake im trippin out. That second pic makes my eyes go blurry so quickly. AMAZING

[cantil]

I've seen them available twice, once on bushmaster reptiles site and once from another supplier. My recollection is they were in the $5000.00 U.S. ballpark. In terms of how hard they are to maintain I've heard anecdotally that they need cool temps and that some of them will take live hamsters, beyond that I don't believe theirs that much info out their. Like everything from the Chinese mainland their extremely hard to get. Pretty as heck though.

Cheers.

[ZooCon]

HI,

Thanks for the replies. if you are looking for vipers from China, send me an e-mail and let me know what you are looking for.

The Z. mangshanensis isn't too hard to keep, they are from the mountanous regions in Hunan province and suposedly restricted to only one area. Feeding isn't a problem with most, adults will take guinea pigs/hamsters and juveniles will take mice.

Young Fella Doing the Deed

http://www.zoocon.com/Images/Ermia_mangshanensis_12.jpg

Adult Male Eaing Fisrt Day He Arrived

http://www.zoocon.com/Images/Ermia_mangshanensis_16.jpg

Thanks for looking.

[-WilleM-]

just beautiful,saw them before on the internet but I don't think you'll find them often in europe:(
good luck with them!:w

[Tim and Julie B]

That is a freakin amazing snake. Absolutely amazing.

[Ptindy]

Wow, I'd give my whole collection, all 3 of my sisters and a months rent for one of those. Awesome

Mike

[atheris]

Very nice . This is a largest Asina pitviper. Adult can weight 5 kg. This species also can spit venom ! Its been proven by A. Gumprechti. And like pic author mentioned there only one know locality in
Pingkeng Mang Shan area, Hunan Province , China. On altitude 700-900m above sea level.

[Mustangrde1]

Well all i can say after seeing those is Im dust. My wife will see them and want them. Not to mention I want them. Guess its time to set up a cool room and locate someone selling them lol.

[Kimo]

After seeing pics like those...i'm kicking myself for swearing off Hots....Oye!

Absolutely Beautiful!!!

Josh

[ZooCon]

Thanks for the E-mails, I've talked to A. Grumprecht about this species, and I don't recall him ever saying he proved it spits, and I doubt it spits. I'm sure I have played more of them than most people and i've never ever been able to make one spit, not matter how badly I piss it off, which is not an easy thing to do since they are mellow and calm snakes by nature.

They aren't hard to maintain, you just need a large cage with lotsof floor space and a bit of climbing room. They are semi-arboreal, but spend most of their time in the open. They don't like to hide, probably because they are the top predator in the mountains where they are found.

They don't really require cool temps. Keep them at the same temps you would North American colubrids and they will do fine.

[atheris]

Originally posted by ZooCon
Thanks for the E-mails, I've talked to A. Grumprecht about this species, and I don't recall him ever saying he proved it spits, and I doubt it spits. I'm sure I have played more of them than most people and i've never ever been able to make one spit, not matter how badly I piss it off, which is not an easy thing to do since they are mellow and calm snakes by nature.



Im positive that it spits and proven by Andreas Gumperchti. When Klaus Dieter Schultz was visiting in Gumprechtis place and tryed to piss off the snake it spits right in to terrarium glass !!

This is happened only once, but thats enough to prove such thing !

[dr greenlove]

Simply stunning, other than that words fail me.:D

[Mustangrde1]

Spitter???

Are we talking Spitting by intent or is it projectile spitting?

Spitting by intent would be such as Spitting cobra like Naja pallida

Projectile spitting would be such as secreating venom and then with a hard puff projecting venom such as Naja Kaouthia have been know to do.

[LdyDrgn]

I...so.... want!!! WOW!

[Matt]

wow, thats amazing...never heard of a spitting viper, thats interesting!

[ZooCon]

The "spitting" some may believe the Z. mangshanensis to be capable of is mostly likely venom being propelled foward from the fangs when the snake is striking.

If it happened only once and never in any other place it doesn't really prove it spits. Its fangs are normal without ducts that point forward. I see not way this species is able to spit.

Like iI said, I've handled quite a few, over the years. I tried to test the spitting theory out and it doesn't spit. If it did spit, I'm pretty sure at least one of the 70 or so individuals I've handled would have splattered me by now.

Just now own observations.........

[viperZack]

Hey Sam, that you? Great looking snakes man, wish I could afford such a beauty! Good to see you around, Derek

[ZooCon]

Hi Derek,

Yeah its me. Thought you seen these pics already? Don't worry, one day you'll have one.

[viperD]

Yea, i probably have seen them all before, but still just as sweet every time i see them! Do you have any pics of the kings from your area?

[ZooCon]

Yeah I have a few pics they are a bit crappy, difficult to get close enuff with my point-shoot camera to get decent pics.

[dick visser]

Thanks for the replies. if you are looking for vipers from China, send me an e-mail and let me know what you are looking for.

He ZooCon.

I did send you an E-Mail for about 2 weeks, but untill now you never answered it...why??


In 2002 I was at A. Gumprecht's hause in Köln - Germany and see the Zhaoermia he had at that time. They where over 2 Meter long and there was a cloth bevor the terrarium window. I asked him why that cloth was hanging there and he tolt me the animals where spitting poison on the window's when something moves befor the glass after a period of complete motionless silence. He showed me the cristalised poison which was still on the windo at some places. I have to say this where allmost fully grown snakes. Maibe juvenill snakes of this species dont spit, but its only a guess.

Greetings **** Visser.

[michaelman25]

you all clearly know what it is but can someone fill me in


i am a newbie to venomous i am a boidae person

[little_dragon_]

I was just wondering what the common name for that viper is in the henan province?

[Bartman]

Wow that is one of the most amazing snakes ive seen to date. Your very lucky to work with someting of that beauty. As well, your photography skills are top notch in my book :D

Thanks for posting!

[ZooCon]

The Chinese name is a bit difficult to out out with letters.

**** Visser: Sorry i did not receive any e-mails from you. I keep several adults and have had many pass through here, none spit, not even freshly caught wild ones. I can't really believe they spit when i've been handling and seeing numerous specimens here and many that pass through and one would d it. Even when i purposely tried to elicit the response. I find it weird that Gurmprecth has to keep a cloth over the front of th cage, these snakes are so calm they could care less around people moving around outside, much less become aggravated by movement and spit on the glass...

These are just my own observations.

[dick visser]

Hello ZooCon.

I did send you 2 E-mails. Well, never mind, we can do coresponding here.

...well actualy I never saw Zhaoermia spit...I just saw the crystallized venom on the terrarium glass at Gumprecht's snake-room. When the venom was not of Zhaoermia maibe Gumprecht himself spit it on the glass....?(gggg)
At the other hand, I'm not sure whether the crystallized 'stuf' on the terrarium glass was actualy venom or not. So I wil stand to your observations and wil only belive Zhaoermia can spit venom when I see it my self.

Like some other snake keepers I also ones like to have a pair of Zaoermia mangshanensis in my terraria. Do you have the possibility to arrange an eventual purchase for me...?

Greetings **** Visser.

[ZooCon]

Hi ****,

Sure we can arrange a pair for you, where are you located? if you mail me send e-mal to info@zoocon.com we can talk business on e-mail.

Right now i have 1.1 WC adlts available, but someone has spoken for them, but he has not sent any payment. I'm sold out of potential CB for the next 2-3 seasons, so right now only WC adults for sale.

Drop me a line.

[liltattyprinces]

Holy smokes, Those pics took my breath away. Absoutly sutnning animal. you are truely luckey to be able to work with such an amazing creature.

[GHOSTSNAKE]

BEAUTIFUL !!!!!!!!!
I WANT TO TOUCH IT!!!!!!!!!!!

[chas*e]

A beauty for sure

[TheRedDragon]

That snake is absolutely stunning! Wow! :jawdrop:

[Hei]

oh... as I remember that this species is in Endanger species list in China, how come you guys can get it LEGALLY?

[ZooCon]

Yes, ours are legally obtained, but i know that there are many that are illegally obtained.