about King cobras.

[JimmyDavid]

I found this pic. I think the speed, size and venom strenght of the King Cobra makes it the most feared snake in the world (at least i think so).

2 questions:
Telling by the pic, how big is that one?
If you get bitten and you have no anti-venom, what are your chances of surviving (percentage)?

[gonesnakee]

I'd say try the Venomous forums LOL, but I'd guess around 10 ft & with no antivenom I'd say less than 5% chance of living after (if)with some serious damages of course. Mark

[Bartman]

I read they are the most intelligent as well.

[JimmyDavid]

Perhaps the venomous forums would be a better choice. You are right gonesankee.

If any mod wants to transfer this thread there it's ok by me.

(by the way, ONLY 10 ft.??)

[BAZ]

Im guessing 13ft.

king cobra venom isnt as toxic as say a specticaled cobra's but they would be able to pump so much into you that you wouldnt have much of a chance to survive. King cobras from Thailand have a different venom than the indian king cobras... there is no antivenom available for indian king cobras. Not many people in india get bit by them so its not worth the cost to produce their antivenom Im told.

[BWSmith]

I was going to say about a 12 footer. Survival from a bite has so many variables: How much venom is injected, locality specific variations in the venom (as Baz mentioned), part of the body bitten, first aid and emergency care provided, and of course, age, size, and health of the victim.

I will also add that, in my experience, hannahs are the most intelligent serpent. I have seen them hold a grudge against one person for over a year. Unfortunately that was me ;) D. polylepis comes a close second on intelligence to me.

[psilocybe]

King cobras are almost universally recognized among snake enthusiasts as the most intelligent of serpents...I had a friend who's king helped him study for a chemistry test, and guess what, he got an A! :D

Seriously though, their intelligence can be either beneficial to the keeper or downright dangerous. Kings become rather accustomed to regular husbandry routines fairly quickly, and learn to anticipate a keepers actions when around their cages. They can be considered to be "calculating", which is not a trait often used to describe snakes. Some peoples kings behave rather well, and don't cause too much of a problem. However, as B.W. mentioned (and he's not the first person I've heard this from), they sometimes single out a handler and act completely different with them than they do other handlers...and it really sucks for you if they don't like you, because a 12-15 ft. venomous snake who actually WANTS to kill you is not good.

As for the venom, as mentioned before, it's not any more toxic (and might actually be slightly less toxic) than true cobras, the sheer amount of venom they are capable of injecting in a bite is TERRIFYING. Death can result within 30 minutes from a large dose, and kings are not really prone to delivering dry bites. They also like to bite and chew, or do a "walking bite". Of course, this means massive doses of venom being injected and if IMMEDIATE medical treatment is not sought, death is almost a guarentee.

That being said, kings are one of the most magnificent animals to walk, er, slither this planet, and it's tragic that their populations have been depleted so much...due to habitat destruction mainly.
I plan on keeping and hopefully breeding O. hannah one day, but I think that's a few years away... :(

[BOAS_N_PYTHONS]

JIMMYDAVID:

I figure 12 - 15 feet.
Chances of survival.......hmmm all depends on your holy beliefs :(

:D

But BAZ and BWSMITH nailed it on the more specific info.

Tony

[WAW]

Yes, they have said it quite well!!