The Shelby Thread :) - Page 8

Will0W783 · 05-02-12, 07:20 AM

Rob nailed it- I do not keep antivenim on hand. However, the Philadelphia zoo keeps several Naja species, and provides antivenin for cobra bites around the tri-state (PA, NJ, DE) area as well as MD. I do not intend to be bitten, but I do need to know my options if the worst were ever to occur. I have a plan in place- I keep a binder with a species account, treatment protocol, and description of symptoms/progression for each species I own, along with a copy of my medical records and insurance cards in the snake room. This binder is always accessible, and John and I both know where it is, so that, if one of us were to take a bite, we can grab the binder and rush to the hospital.

Generally speaking, for the keepers who do keep antivenin, they can use it. They have to give it to themselves though. You can ask the medics to help you administer your own medicine. It sometimes can be a fight though.

A vial of antivenin may cost $50-250. A typical bite for most species requires 4-10 vials, sometimes more. Furthermore, once you get through all the paperwork required to import, license, and store your own antivenin, you are upwards of $1000 per vial. The lifespan of a vial is around 3 years. So, you'd need to have at least 10 vials on hand, say it was $1000 per vial, you're already in it $10,000. And you'd have to renew that every 3-5 years, so you are guaranteeing you will spend a minimum of $40-60,0000 over the snake's expected ~20-year lifespan to keep antivenin. A hospital trip for a bite might cost you $40-100,000 but if you are careful and take proper precautions, you should not be bitten.

Will0W783 · 05-02-12, 07:25 AM

The wooden box in the pictures with Shelby is his trap/shift box. I no longer hook/tail him as he's getting big for it and it's a risk I don't need to take. Shelby also loves to musk and poo all over me.

With the box, it is his hide. It is the only thing provided in his cage for him to hide in; therefore he spends a large portion of his time in it. When I need to clean his cage, I wait until he is in the box, glove up and use a long hook to close the trap door and hold it shut while I lock it. Then the box can be safely removed from the cage and I can clean, change water, do whatever I need to do. When I'm done, I put the box back in, use the hook to hold the door shut while I unlock it, stand back and open the door to the box, then quickly shut the cage door. At all times I am holding the hook with my arm fully extended, putting any exposed skin 5 feet away from Shelby. I wear the Venom Defender gauntlet gloves to protect my hands and lower arms. This procedure is a bit more time-consuming, but it's far less stressful for Shelby and far safer for me.

I use the same procedure with the rattlesnake. Arboreal vipers do not use hide boxes, but they are small enough that they can be safely maneuvered on two hooks.

shaunyboy · 05-02-12, 08:56 AM

i know you had a great mentor and have trained hard but.....

your a braver person than i kimberly,theres no way i'd have the courage,to handle venomous using 2 hooks pal

kudo's

cheers shaun

Will0W783 · 05-02-12, 09:31 AM

Shaun, I'd never do that with Shelby or the rattler, but the tree vipers cling on to a hook like it's a branch, and I use the second hook to keep them down at the end away from my hands. They're actually not too bad most days. I've had a few harrowing sessions with the bush viper (she hates everything that exists), but the Wagler's and eyelashes are generally placid and tractable.

You just have to have quick reflexes and be in total, 100% concentration on the snake. No distractions.

AjaMichelle · 05-08-12, 06:06 PM

Shelby is beautiful! What a lucky guy to have such a good home.

Will0W783 · 05-08-12, 07:36 PM

Thank you AjaMichelle.

Will0W783 · 07-17-12, 02:09 PM

I got a few shots of Shelby that I think are pretty neat. He's enjoying his new, 4' x 2' cage. He was hooded up with the light behind him and it just made his hood glow. It's a bit hard to make out the details, but I really like the "evil, glowing cobra" effect.

Will0W783 · 07-17-12, 02:14 PM

He's about 3 feet now and getting thicker all the time. He's definitely getting the stocky adult build of a Naja. Despite their insanely fast-for-a-serpent metabolism, the true cobras are thick, muscular snakes with a stockier build than you'd imagine.

Shelby eats 1-2 small rats every week and a half. If he gets one rat, I feed him again 7 days later. About every 4-5 meals, I'll give him two rats, but then he doesn't get fed again for two weeks. I am trying to simulate some variation in his feeding like he'd find in the wild. He also gets a bit too excited on a set schedule, because he figures out when it's time for food again, and good luck getting him into his box to do any cage maintenance!!

On a good note, he seems to be calming back down a bit again, so I'm hoping that I'm beginning to see his eventual adult attitude. He hasn't been hooding a lot, but instead has been cruising rapidly around his cage and pressing his face against the door whenever I'm in the room. He's figured out that there is a small gap (maybe 1mm) between the door and door frame of his cage and has learned to flick his tongue right through the gap. It's funny....I just keep seeing a pink flicker jutting out of the cage. Silly boy.

MoreliAddict · 07-17-12, 02:17 PM

Is this update per my request earlier? He looks great, Kim. And as I think I've said to you before, you have really good taste in snakes.

Also, shoot some pics of him outside the enclosure next time so you don't get that reflection in front of him.

alessia55 · 07-17-12, 02:59 PM

Shelby is look great

Thanks for the update!! You should make a feeding video some time

RobsCornField · 07-17-12, 03:02 PM

Such a cutie! I will own one of these guys someday... Just not at the moment.

Rogue628 · 07-17-12, 11:39 PM

I <3 Shelby. Enough said

Will0W783 · 07-18-12, 09:30 AM

Shelby doesn't really come out of his enclosure, except in the trap box. I don't handle my hots unless it is absolutely necessary. The pictures where you can't see a reflection were taken by Alessia through the glass of the door- she has software to remove the glare. I am not a great photographer and all I have is my crummy phone camera, so it's hard to get better pictures. Shelbs is crafty and would likely take off if I tried to take pictures with the door open. He wants out to explore, but he can't be trusted. He is a cobra after all, regardless of how cute and innocent he tries to act. lol.

MoreliAddict · 07-18-12, 09:59 AM

Wouldn't you get a clear shot of him when you open the enclosure for feeding? Have someone stand by for that.

EDIT: I see you did this back a page

thanks for the update!