Mild HOTS - Mass Information Needed

[Jeepers]

So, at some point in my life, I'd like to have a small collection of snakes that are mildly venomous. Not enough to really hurt you or anything. I do love several venomous snakes, most of them are vipers, but I think a small collection of the mildly venomous would be a nice start. I've had hognoses before(silly little fellas!), though they're more of just poisonous than they are venomous.

Here's the list I have by far, if you know of any other species that are only mildly venomous, do tell!

False Water Cobra
Hognose Snake
Asian Vine Snake
Ornate Flying Snake
Daudin's Bronzeback Snake

Brief descriptions:


(Image from: False water cobra Snake)

As far as what I know for the False Water Cobras, they get fairly large, anywhere between 6 - 8ft., substrate needs to be fairly deep to allow burrowing, ambient temp. of about 79F and basking spot of 85F, water bowl large enough to soak entire body in, humidity needs to be between 70% - 80%, I've read orchid bark is a good substrate for them, I was curious if cocohusk would work as well as that.


(Image from: Western Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus) AKA Mexican Hognose Snake or Kennerly's Hognose Snake (H. n. kennerlyi) )

For the hognoses, the get to be between 3 - 5 ft. long, substrate can be as simple as aspen but needs to be deep for burrowing, shallow shallow water dish as they can easily drown, low humidity, basking spot of 87F - 90F and ambience of around 85F.


(Image from: Asian vine snake, Rivers & Streams, Reptiles, Ahaetulla sp )

Watch for parasites on the Asian Vine Snake and overall health(as far as I know, many of them come with health concerns and hazards to the rest of your collection), arboreal species needs a more vertical enclosure, cocohusk can be used as substrate, large water dish, lots of branches and 'foliage' for arboreal hiding, humidity of 75% - 80%, basking spot of around 87F and ambience of around 79F, can grow between 4 - 6ft. long, mist frequently so the snake can access a source of water on foliage, these snakes can eat mice but may be more willing to accept lizards(anoles, house geckos, etc).


(Image from: Ornate Flying Snake (Chrysopelea ornata ) )

The Ornate Flying Snake is another arboreal species that will need a vertical enclosure, these also may be more willing to hunt frogs/lizards than they are to eat rodents, can grow anywhere between 2 - 4ft.(sometimes specimens can be larger or smaller), lots of branches and foliage needed, frequent misting for water source on foliage, very shy species and may need opaque enclosure or some form of tinted glass for a vertical tank, ambience of 78 - 80F and basking spot of 85 - 88F, high humidity(probably between 70% - 80%, I couldn't get a clear answer on this).


(Image from: Painted Bronzeback | Reptiles and Amphibians of Bangkok )

VERY hard to find information on the Bronzeback... As far as I've read, this is yet another arboreal species that will need a vertical enclosure with plenty of branches and foliage for climbing and hiding, also another species that will more readily accept frogs and/or lizards over rodents, ambience of 78 - 82F and a basking area of around 89F, orchid bark can be used as substrate, prefers high humidity(I'd assume between 75% - 80%).

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Also, ofcourse with these set ups there would be a high on both cool and warm sides, more hides if it's a large enclosure and relevance to the snake's size, and more arboreal hideboxes for the arboreal snakes. I say this because I have a tendency to leave out details that I take as common sense.

Another note, I posted here because about half of these are considered simply poisonous and not so much venomous, so I didn't really think this was particularly suitable for the Venomous thread.

[stephanbakir]

FWC have CRAZY feed responses. I've worked and owned a few and they will almost always charge you when they smell food.

I'm working on getting some CFCs but as far as I know there are only a handful across canada and the states, the only seller I know of is Tom crutchfield and he never has them in stock (they are one of the best cobra mimics) but they are hard to keep, and only really eat frogs.

If you are thinking about getting into rearfang, I'd stay away from boiga until you get some practice, besides hoggies, green vines are easy to keep if your enclosure is set up right (make sure you can find a seller for feeder lizards (not hard at all normally) and they generally only eat live) Fwc are an option but they are twitchy compared to a few other species.

[Jeepers]

Originally Posted by stephanbakir

FWC have CRAZY feed responses. I've worked and owned a few and they will almost always charge you when they smell food.

I'm working on getting some CFCs but as far as I know there are only a handful across canada and the states, the only seller I know of is Tom crutchfield and he never has them in stock (they are one of the best cobra mimics) but they are hard to keep, and only really eat frogs.

If you are thinking about getting into rearfang, I'd stay away from boiga until you get some practice, besides hoggies, green vines are easy to keep if your enclosure is set up right (make sure you can find a seller for feeder lizards (not hard at all normally) and they generally only eat live) Fwc are an option but they are twitchy compared to a few other species.

Haha, you slid right past my head with all those abbreviations. The only one I do get is FWC.

And, yes, I'm well aware they have really crazy feeding responses.

[Will0W783]

CFCs are Chinese False cobras. They are rear-fanged, and stand up to hood much like the true Naja.

[MoreliAddict]

I can't speak for the other species that you listed, but a Hognose is perfectly safe to free handle..

[KORBIN5895]

You worry me a bit. Hognose aren't poisonous.

[MDT]

none are poisonous.....venomous perhaps, poisonous, no....


(i know....magazine/clip.....poisonous/venomous.....i'm a nerd)

[Jeepers]

Originally Posted by MoreliAddict

I can't speak for the other species that you listed, but a Hognose is perfectly safe to free handle..

Yeh, they are. Mine was really docile. Only puffed out air when it was a baby and easily startled.

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

You worry me a bit. Hognose aren't poisonous.

There have been documents of, if you let them chew on you enough to get their rear-fangs in, bites causing swelling of the area(sometimes more severe swelling can occur, as in a large portion of the bitten appendage), and sometimes fever(not too common).

It is largely debated whether the Hognose is actually venomous or poisonous, but I just go the route of saying poisonous, though I at times question this, as some people do claim that Hognoses actually have primitive venom glands. Obviously they are of absolutely no harm to humans, though, and are entirely safe. The only way to get 'envenomated' is if you let it chew on you for a while. As I said, it's still debated on whether it's the saliva of the hognose or that there is presence of mild venom that causes the symptoms. I personally never had any problems with them, but, then again, I was never bitten by mine long enough to get the fangs in.

[Lankyrob]

Poison is ingested, venom is injected. Even if it takes a while for them chewing on you they are still venomous not poisonous. Garter snakes are poisonous

[Jeepers]

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

Poison is ingested, venom is injected. Even if it takes a while for them chewing on you they are still venomous not poisonous. Garter snakes are poisonous

Ohhh, ok, I see what you mean. So poisonous saliva is not a thing then? So then the debate is simply whether it's venomous or not, 'cause I saw plenty of people just saying poisonous instead and that it's not venomous.

The two that are debated, as far as I remember, is the Hognose and Vine Snake, though the Hognose is more widely debated.

[Jendee]

what about copperheads?? I know nothing of venomous snakes (putting that out there first lol) but I live in copper head central and have been told a bite from a copper head is more like a whasp attack

[MDT]

Originally Posted by Jendee

what about copperheads?? I know nothing of venomous snakes (putting that out there first lol) but I live in copper head central and have been told a bite from a copper head is more like a whasp attack

the majority of venomous bites i've treated have been copperhead bites. they are perfectly capable of causing significant damage to an otherwise healthy person. at the very least, a very sucky hospital stay and lots of $$$$ out of your wallet in treatment. not many wasps can do that.

[Jeepers]

Originally Posted by MDT

the majority of venomous bites i've treated have been copperhead bites. they are perfectly capable of causing significant damage to an otherwise healthy person. at the very least, a very sucky hospital stay and lots of $$$$ out of your wallet in treatment. not many wasps can do that.

Yeah, for this reason a copperhead is not on my list, and I'm looking for rear-fanged more than anything right now. Copperheads are abundant in our area, too, but we're told to avoid them unless you're a trained professional.

I was also considering a Mangrove Snake. I've admired these beauties for sooo long but I had no clue they were rear-fanged.

[NBLADE]

Originally Posted by Jeepers

Yeah, for this reason a copperhead is not on my list, and I'm looking for rear-fanged more than anything right now. Copperheads are abundant in our area, too, but we're told to avoid them unless you're a trained professional.

I was also considering a Mangrove Snake. I've admired these beauties for sooo long but I had no clue they were rear-fanged.

Falsies are great snakes, very impressive looking and can get to a decent size, i've had a 9ft male, and still keep them now.

Hognoses can give a good bite, i've never had an issue with them, but a friend of mine was bitten 5 yrs ago in the gap between thumb and hand, and she spent a week in hospital from it, and to this day still gets pain in the bite area. But this is very rare and most people suffer nothing more than a bit of localized swelling.

Mangroves used to be on our DWA (dangerous wild animal) license up until a few years ago, due to the severity of their bites, a mangrove bite will certainly ruin your week, and can cause some real nasty looking bites.

this was a mangrove bite, (not me or my picture)



But they are very nice looking snakes, and are great to keep, should just be treated with caution.

Vine snakes are also very nice, but they are quite fragile, and stress very easily, so are very much look but don't touch snakes really.

[Jendee]

really?? your in ok too not far from me at all maybe a 40 min drive not that copper head venom strength varys upon location. just simply stating lol Im on 3 acres we pull copper heads and a few cotton mouths out of my yard often :/ I have 3 boys( two 6 yr olds and a 7 yr old) luckily they have been taught well and come get me or dad when they spot one. (and we are 10 mins from hospitial)
does anybody know if children that are highly( im talking swells the size of a softball) allergic to bug bites ie mosquitos, bees, ants ect would they react harsher to a venomous reptile bite then a non allergic person??? and do hospitals keep anti venom on hand?? also lol is it true that if you are bite you should tie it off and such??