False Water Cobra constricting?

[SSSSnakes]

I have noticed that my False Water Cobra when eating live prey, constricts and uses venom to kill the prey. Has anyone else noticed this behavior?

[SSSSnakes]

Bump. No one has any info or opinion on this topic?

[EL Ziggy]

Hi Jerry, I know nothing about FWC's except they're beautiful animals and I'd love to own one if they weren't hot :). All my critters are constrictors. Best wishes buddy.

[Sublimeballs]

How quickly does it take for the live prey to succumb to the FWCs venom? If its not to fast acting it wouldn't supprise me. I don't have any experience with the species so I can't really help, sorry.

[SSSSnakes]

How quickly does it take for the live prey to succumb to the FWCs venom? If its not to fast acting it wouldn't supprise me. I don't have any experience with the species so I can't really help, sorry.

I normally don't feed live, but I had a live chick and gave it to her. She chewed up on it fast and held on but also constricted it at the same time. It took about 30 seconds for the chick to die. Both my friend and I notice that she was constricting the chick. I also notice that when I had restrained her the other day to check her out, she really constricted my arm.

[SnakeyJay]

It does not surprise me to hear that a rear fanged species may/will also adopt constriction in the act of killing prey.. It could also be a case of them using the constriction as a means of restricting the preys movements while the venom works and is "chewed in", this would greatly reduce the chance of injury to the snake during the process. :)

[SSSSnakes]

It does not surprise me to hear that a rear fanged species may/will also adopt constriction in the act of killing prey.. It could also be a case of them using the constriction as a means of restricting the preys movements while the venom works and is "chewed in", this would greatly reduce the chance of injury to the snake during the process. :)

That makes a lot of sense.

[SnakeyJay]

That makes a lot of sense.

Every now n then I try n string together a coherent sentence ;D

[Tsubaki]

I had a hognose with a fierce feeding response that would wrap around a prey and then chew on it for a while, the rest did not even try and just ate it right away. :D

[LiL Zap]

I would love to see a video of this.

[snake_ghost]

I had a hognose with a fierce feeding response that would wrap around a prey and then chew on it for a while, the rest did not even try and just ate it right away. :D

My little boiga does the same!!! She took her first fuzzy mouse and gripped the tongs as well:D

[mclund]

I worked with FWC's for about 6 years. They would "pin" prey in corners or the floor, but I don't ever remember seeing them constrict. They were probably one of the most food aggressive species I have ever kept. Often launching themselves out of the enclosure to grab a food item from tongs. Awesome species to work with!



Matt

[SSSSnakes]

I would love to see a video of this.

I have 2 problems with your request;

1- I normally do not feed live

2- I don't know how to post a video on a forum.

[snake_ghost]

I worked with FWC's for about 6 years. They would "pin" prey in corners or the floor, but I don't ever remember seeing them constrict. They were probably one of the most food aggressive species I have ever kept. Often launching themselves out of the enclosure to grab a food item from tongs. Awesome species to work with!



Matt

Really. I would love a FWC. My local reptile shop has one in. Seen him hood up once. I liked it ;)

[simpleyork]

never fed my falsy anything live, just gobbles down the F/T feeders. I have a nightsnake that in an effort to get it to eat resorted to feeding it a rubber boa that had refused to eat ( I tried all the common reptiles from its area, including garters, gophersnakes, racers, sagebrush lizards/ eggs,(most wereDORs)) was neat to see the venom work with such a small rearfanged species, afer finding that he would take Boas, I am using fresh DOR's that are found while road cruising. oh and he didn't at all try to constrict the constrictor
http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af276/simpleyork/P1020670_zps63153c42.jpg (http://s1015.photobucket.com/user/simpleyork/media/P1020670_zps63153c42.jpg.html)

[charlesc84]

I just fed my false a live hopper mouse... It killed the mouse in seconds by constriction. The hoppers eyes almost came all the way out. I know people say they're just "holding" the prey, and I know in most cases that is what they are doing. But in this instance, it was constriction. Next time I do this I'm gonna take video.

[IW17]

I'd like to see that. My girl doesn't constrict at all but I only feed f/t.

[charlesc84]

I'd like to see that. My girl doesn't constrict at all but I only feed f/t.


The breeder I got him from said her adults constrict when she feeds them larger prey. That seems to hold true, because the few times I fed him before I offered fuzzy mice and he would just grab them and swallow them... But he did push them against the glass like a gopher snake.

Maybe if you try larger prey with your girl she'll do it. I'm thinking they constrict whatever they can't just swallow alive.

[IW17]

She gets fed plenty big. But being pre killed I don't think she ever will. But I'll keep an eye out.

[DrummingT]

I know nothing about FWC's except they're beautiful animals and I'd love to own one if they weren't hot :). All my critters are constrictors. Best wishes buddy.


Well, know this. False Water Cobras are not hot. They are rear fanged (which is a misnomer as they have large rear teeth, not fangs). Their venom is also very mild. False Water Cobras are not considered dangerous and are freely sold through the mail via the usual FedEX and UPS shipping.

Hognose snakes are also rear fanged and "venomous", and represent the same sort of danger as the FWC.
_

[SSSSnakes]

Well, know this. False Water Cobras are not hot. They are rear fanged (which is a misnomer as they have large rear teeth, not fangs). Their venom is also very mild. False Water Cobras are not considered dangerous and are freely sold through the mail via the usual FedEX and UPS shipping.

Hognose snakes are also rear fanged and "venomous", and represent the same sort of danger as the FWC.
_

FWC have the same toxic venom as a Timber Rattlesnake. Fangs are any teeth that allows venom to inter into the system, being hallow, grooved or other wise. The term HOT refers to the fact that the snake has venom, regardless of it's toxicity. Some states do have FWC listed as venomous snakes regardless of what FedX and UPS thinks. Hognose have a milder venom, but still posses venom. There are many reported cases of Hognose bites causing swelling. Rear fang snakes have a poor delivery system, but if you are allergic to the venom it could cause death. It's like saying a gun with blanks is harmless, but Brandon Lee died from a blank loaded gun. It can happen. All snakes with any kind of venom should be taken seriously.

[Derek1]

Jerry is correct. I'm a beekeeper and everyone will have a different reaction to a sting as they would with a "mildly" venomous snake. Personally a bee sting doesn't phase me, but 1 sting could kill the next person if they are allergic.

[Minkness]

Wow....such neat facts o.o

Still want a hognose eventually though lol.

Aren't some garters rearfanged though? I think I remember reading something about that once...

[millertime89]

Aren't some garters rearfanged though? I think I remember reading something about that once...

No. Some people think their bite is venomous but that's not true.