Dendroaspis polylepis -Black Mamba

[zero&stich]

D. polylepis is one of my favorate snakes. I amire the black mamba alot, but would never own venemous animals, except maybe rear fanged.

Anyway I'm not sure what the status of them are but was curious if anyone has a mamba in their collection? If so, I would love to see photos of them. :) ;)

Thanks. Heh, I love these guys alot.
Oh ya, what type of venom do they have again? Hemo or neurotoxins? Or both? I just enjoy reading about them, and now re-reading can not locate the type of venom they possess.
Thanks again.

[ChurleR]

They have primarily neurotoxins, and probably the fastest acting venom of any snake. I suppose that's fitting for one of the speediest creatures without legs.

[zero&stich]

How's their venom compaired to Tiapans, in terms of is their venom as equally as deadly?

I agree from the re-reading and re-educating myself, seems like they are the cheetahs of the reptialian world. Is it true they can strike 4-6 feet? If so, YIKES!

I hope some have mamabs in their collection. :) Pictures would make my year. Thanks for the help ChurleR.

[Bartman]

Ive seen inland taipans at the top of every most venemous list. Black mambas are usually 4th or 5th

[cantil]

How toxic a taipan is relative to a black mamba is sort of an apples and oranges question isn't it? It's pretty safe to assume that you're pretty screwed regardless of which one happens to bite you. Personally I don't keep large elapids and never will but the black mambas I've seen personally have always reminded me of a living piece of steel cable. They have this deliberate economy of motion that's just creepy beyond belief and when they pause mid-motion they always look unnaturally still to me. I find them more disturbing when they're moving slow then fast. Just a personal observation. From those I've talked to their care isn't particularly demanding provided they have spacious cages, trap boxes, and a handler with the experience to deal with them (as I said though, this is all second hand).

Cheers.

[psilocybe]

All mambas have highly neurotoxic venom, however D. polylepis has the most toxic, and delivers the most in a bite. Taipan venom has other components that cause different symptoms (i.e. massive blood clots which use up the clotting agent and cause massive hemoragging). They do have the highest L.D. 50 on most lists, but dead is dead and a black will kill you just about as quickly, so it's really a moot point. They are also known for multiple bites (like 4, 5, 6) if given the chance, but one will do you in very quickly if you do not get IMMEDIATE medical attention...Cantil's description of blacks is spot on, they inspire the same awe as O. hannah does...an immediate respect for the animal and what it's capable of. Anyone who didn't respect a mamba they came across is probably no longer with us.

Carewise they are pretty simplistic and undemanding, but only the most experienced of elapid keepers should even consider getting one.

[psilocybe]

Forgot to mention that there are quite a number of mamba keepers (not me yet) who frequent these forums and pictures of blacks are not hard to find.

As for being able to strike 4-6 feet, that's nothing really special. Most snakes are capable of striking at least 1/3 of their body length (and easily 1/2 if really motivated), so considering blacks can attain lengths of 12 feet, 4-6 feet of strike range is pretty normal.

[C.ADAMANTEUS]

Dont know the LD50 of either mambas or taipans. Agree above, either bites you and yer skrewed.
Would much rather receive a lethal envenomation from a snake with neurotoxic venom than hemotoxic venom.
Was bitten "mildly dosed" by Crotalus Cerastes cerastes in 1985 in the palm, and I thought the pain would kill me alone. I was lucky and recieved treatment in time to stop the necrosis, and coagulating of my blood. But it swelled to just above my elbow.
Would rather just go into a neuro induced coma, sound less painful.:D
Rick

[cobraman]

They do have the highest L.D. 50 on most lists, but dead is dead and a black will kill you just about as quickly

Actually the Black Mamba would kill you much quicker than the Taipan due to the action of it's venom. While it does not have the high toxicicy rating of the taipan, it has a MUCH faster acting venom. I would take a Taipan bite any day over a Black Mamba.

Please don't bother to give me greif about the below picture. I would NEVER do that again. That was just plain STUPID!!!

[cobraman]

Here is a better pic

[cobraman]

OK, Maybe one more

[SnowSnake]

Ray,
Can you show a pic of its' enclosure?
I also love black mambas but I prefer gaboons :D

[cobraman]

It is in a 48" Neodesha, with hide box and branches to climb. Sorry I don't have a pic of the cage.

[C.ADAMANTEUS]

Originally posted by cobraman
Actually the Black Mamba would kill you much quicker than the Taipan due to the action of it's venom. While it does not have the high toxicicy rating of the taipan, it has a MUCH faster acting venom. I would take a Taipan bite any day over a Black Mamba.

Please don't bother to give me greif about the below picture. I would NEVER do that again. That was just plain STUPID!!!
Cobraman, Actually that was my point.:)
If yer gonna get dead cuz of a snake bite, personally, i would rather it be fast than slow.
I wont give you grief over the "STUPID!!!" thing thing shown above, cus I get yelled at for similar stuff, like grabbing rattlers by the tail to pull them from bushes, or holes.
We dont always do what we know is smart.
Nice Mamba.
Rick

[ChurleR]

Eh, he'd rather take a hit from a Taipan so he could live long enough to get emergency help. If you want to die in about 20 minutes, let a mamba strike you a couple of times in the chest. It won't be painless though, I believe they have some nerve-hitting antagonists in their venom that light up your dendrites and cause a pretty hefty dose of "Ow".

[C.ADAMANTEUS]

May have misunderstood his meaning.
As for wanting dead? HA! there are many other faster, and less painful ways, if I was looking for that.
Dont know a lot about mambas, or taipans. Doesnt surprise me to here about these "nerve hitting antagonist" though. There is evidence of Crotalids here in the US that are showing evolution in there venoms. Used to be the Mojave (C. scutulatus) was the big worry, with neuro, and hemotoxins, now they are finding more and more southern Pacifics (C.v. helleri), that are also starting to pack BOTH, when they never did before.
Interesting though to learn of these antagonistic properties of the Mamba. Most Neurotoxic venom (at least what Ive read) doesn't cause much pain, just shuts things down.

[zero&stich]

I give big thanks to everyone in this thread. I learned alot. I do not know much on hots, just the minor specifics, I guess. Cobraman, thanks for the photos. I actually did run a search(forgot about that, thanks to the person that pointed that out.)

Not sure who mentioned Gaboons, but I amire them also.
Again, thanks for all the informantion guys. :)