Cb'12 Hemachatus haemachatus (Rinkhlas) - Page 2

Louis Jacobsz · 04-16-12, 03:08 PM

Here's two more of the rare green variety I'm currently working with...I hope you guys like them because pictures do not do these snakes justice !

Regards.

BarelyBreathing · 04-16-12, 03:30 PM

That first picture is really cool.

Robyn@SYR · 04-16-12, 07:04 PM

Not familiar with these at all. Interesting!

**millertime89** · 04-17-12, 01:51 PM

That first picture is fantastic!

Will0W783 · 04-17-12, 02:37 PM

I've only seen them available maybe twice in my 8 years of snake-keeping... DTS Herps currently has them for sale for $500, but I wouldn't trust that guy as far as I could throw him. It is seriously tempting though.....

Louis Jacobsz · 04-17-12, 03:34 PM

Thanks for your comments and complements guys !

I'll post some interesting facts about these for you guys tomorrow.

@Willow783, He's prices are way to high ! But don't worry, I'll be sending some over next season...

They're just a must have for any venomous keeper !

Regards.

jaleely · 04-17-12, 08:30 PM

If i ever find a local person to mentor me in hots i would love to get into them. These are so cute!

Will0W783 · 04-18-12, 07:18 AM

@Louis Jacobz- I'll be keeping my eye out for them!

Btw, how do their temperaments compare to other cobra species? My only experience is with N. kaouthia, and they aren't terrible, as long as you keep aware of their movements and body posture.

bushsnake · 04-18-12, 08:43 AM

These give live birth dont they?

**millertime89** · 04-18-12, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bushsnake

These give live birth dont they?

I may be wrong here, but I thought elapids laid eggs.

Louis Jacobsz · 04-19-12, 01:58 AM

@Willow783, Most of them will calm down very well in captivity and will stop spitting and in some cases even hooding up. But you'll get the odd one that will always be highly aggressive.

@Bushsnake and Millertime89, Millertime89 you are correct in thinking all elapids lay eggs but these are the rare exception to the rule ! They give live birth as Bushsnake stated!Read more below...

Rinkhals are a unique species of snake, thus they are the only species in their genus. They appear to be cobras but they are in fact not true cobras. They have keeled scales where other cobras have smooth scales and as mentioned above they give live birth while other "true" cobras will lay eggs !

Rinkhals also has the amazing ability of raising their body temperature higher than that of the surroundings even on cold days !

Non-captive specimens can be highly aggressive and will not hesitate to defend themselves. Their first defence will be fleeing but if that's not possible, they will raise a large portion of their body off the ground, displaying an impressive hood (like true cobras). If this doesn't deter their attacker they will spit/spray their venom, with rather good accuracy it seems. If all of the above fails they will play dead as seen in the pic.

Regards.

shaunyboy · 04-19-12, 04:01 AM

very interesting species mate

especially the part where they play dead

are there any other venomous species that play dead ?

great thread,thanks for sharing

cheers shaun

**millertime89** · 04-19-12, 02:12 PM

That's crazy! Thanks for the knowledge.

Louis Jacobsz · 04-19-12, 02:51 PM

It's always a pleasure millertime89 !

@Shaun, in South Africa the rinkhals, snouted cobra (Naja annulifera), forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca) and even the boomslang (Dispholidus typus*) have been known to sham death when threatened or stressed. I know there's a couple other species exotic to SA that's also known to play dead.

* Not confirmed.

Regards.

BarelyBreathing · 04-19-12, 03:41 PM

That's really cool. Thanks for sharing.