Cant take it anymore.. I really want this cobra!!

rocketjawa · 09-01-04, 11:26 AM

I have ALWAYS thought the Albino Monocled Cobra (I just found out its name today... I fell in love with it from a box its picture is on for heat pads) was the prettiest snake I had ever seen...

I think it is going to be my goal to keep as a "first" hot... I have lots of experience with Green Tree Pythons.. a very fast and aggressive species, so I am not 'green' to snake keeping..

ANy advise you could give?/ I am not going to rush into it.. I want to read everything I can first.....

The bottom line is, I am a responsable pet / snake owner who really would like this 'first hot', and I am asking the good people of this forum to please help me prepare myself so I can best keep this snake in an environment that is both safe for the animal and myself.

Thank you,
Tyler

Big_V · 09-01-04, 11:42 AM

First suggestion is to look at the legality of the species. Look into the legal aspect of keeping such an animal, especially the liability if it gets out and hurts someone. You have to remember that these animals can potentially kill you and cause huge amounts of pain to you or loved ones that are bitten. If you still think your ready for one Id really get involved in talks with other people who keep the species and try to get some hands on experience with the snake before you bring it home. In my opinion its better to learn from watching someone else than just learning on the fly.
I know how you feel wanting to keep this species, its one beautiful animal. I too wanted to get either a monocaled cobra or a gaboon but the risks weighed to high for me to keep them. Good luck on your decisions to come.

Vanan · 09-01-04, 11:47 AM

I don't think people can tell you if you're ready or not. It's you who should know if you're ready. Equipment and venomisation protocol aside, it's more a mind thing. Are you ready to look death in it's face? Are you ready to risk your life and the lives of your loved ones? Are you ready to take on an animal which you can't easily dispose of? You'd need to find the right home (venomous-ready) for it. Are you ready to be broke for a long time if there's a need to be hospitalized and antivenin be used? Many questions you should ask yourself first.

I'll leave it to the pros to ask you the more technical stuff. Good luck and all the best!

rocketjawa · 09-01-04, 12:01 PM

Well.. I know enough not to be "scared" of them.. but at the same time, i know to "respect" them..

Thats why I am asking here. I am definately not one of those "I want it so Ill buy it now, then get sick of it in a month and give it away" type of pet owners...

So if I DO do it, I want to do it correctly and safely.

monicle · 09-01-04, 02:20 PM

I would first give you advice on keeping something with a lot less venom first. I personally have a beautiful albino..But could not imagine starting off this way..We satrted off with copperheads.. You also would not be playing with this snake on any sort on basis. You need tons of rats to man.. They are eating machines. We have our in a custom built tank with locks on it..Padlocks..If you need any info e-mail me..

Matt · 09-01-04, 02:59 PM

I know that when someone is set on somethings its hard to talk them out of it, so Im not going to preach to you, i will only offer my opinion being someone that has experience with vipers and elapids....

a monocle cobra IS NOT even remotely a good choice for a first hot. keeping GTPs does nothing to prepare you for a monocle. Again, just my opinion, but you would be making a huge huge mistake....this is not something you want to rush into, be patient, learn first and get something easier first.

rocketjawa · 09-01-04, 03:09 PM

Matt - Yes.. I realize that.. My worry is I dont want to buy something I just dont want.. ya know???

I dont want to get a less ven. snake, then after a few years when I decide Im ready for the cobra, just end up with a snake I never really wanted to begin with?? Is that making sence???

Vanan · 09-01-04, 03:24 PM

It is commendable by some to get what you like not just a good beginer snake recommended by most. The best saying is, the best beginner hot is always someone else's. Do you have any friends who own hots whom you can watch and learn from? Also, equipment wise you'd need hooks, tubes, secure caging (and I don't mean a strong screen lid), secure room.

I'm sure you'll find this info without a problem as there are quite a few good and friendly hot keepers around.

I do have to say that I'm glad to see that you're asking/learning about owning one, before actually getting one. Not many are as smart as to do so.

rocketjawa · 09-01-04, 03:35 PM

Thank you..
My cousin is a biologist and works with all kinds of hots... Being in Ca. its hard to find them as 'pets'..

I am going to ask him if I can come spend some time at the lab he works in and see what they are like, etc...

BOAS_N_PYTHONS · 09-01-04, 04:18 PM

ROCKETJAWA:

Wow your starting a heated debate.
I myself have no experience with "hots" and see I will never own any no matter what. My passion is like my alias and even people would say they would not get into what I like, but I understand your drive to own this cobra.

If anything it is eating at you, in your dreams, always in your thoughts and that is all fine. You even state to Matt that you do not want to grow slowly into this hobby with something less dangerous and something not even wanted. But people here are trying to show you a different view away from the one you see because you are not looking at it from 2 sides. This hobby "hot" is for the most experienced keepers who deal in all the circumstances that can possibly happen.........its no secret snakes bite and some do real damage, but when its "hots" that damage can be fatal as well. I am sure you realise this but the craving to own a cobra without prior experience in less dangerous "hots" is clouding your future in the hobby.

My opinion is do alot of research, email all the pros in this hobby of "hots", if you know direct people with "hots" that you can see and learn from them, and like Vanan stated get a used less dangerous "hot" from those sources, and when you have some experience with a few options out there then the dream of this cobra will be reality.

I mean why do you want/need this cobra so fast....what is available today will be there tomorrow - something I try and live by most of the time.

But for all I know I am just wasting my time adding my 2 cents, and even though you had Green Tree Pythons..........that is not even close to owning a cobra, I rather get tagged 100 times by my GTPs than a close call with a cobra.

Ouch Corey pretty much said what the end result will be if you misjudge that cobra once.

Cya...

Tony

rocketjawa · 09-01-04, 04:33 PM

Thats just it.. I am not RUSHING into it.. I dont want it Tomorrow..... That is why I am asking here, going to spend time at my cousins lab, etc...

Trust me, I have learned the values of patience. I am planning out a cage design, going to buy some books today... etc...

You have to start learning SOMEWHERE.. and I figured it would do me the best good to just come right out, state my experience, and say my goal.

ie: My name is Tyler, I want a cobra, I have no HOT experience but I have GTP experience.. How can I get from where I AM to where I want to BE.

I also didnt mean to infer to Matt that I wasnt willing to have a "starter" snake.. I just dont want an animal that I really dont want...... not for MY sake, but for the animals sake...

I found Coreys comment to be not only rude but uncalled for, since the whole thread was perfectly civil until it.

I have read plenty of "I want my first hot to be a gaboon" threads here and I KNOW how the hot community feels about people rushing into it "unarmed"

Kimo · 09-01-04, 05:21 PM

I'm gonna have to agree here...Coreys remark was TOTALLY uncalled for. All i can gather from this thread is that an individual wants to learn...and is more than willing to put in the sweat to achieve a goal, wich is commendable. And I can see where he's coming from in regards to owning another "Hot" before he gets into this cobra...he seems more concerned about this "Easier Hots" life and care...and stated as much as a responce. Lets suppose he goes out and buys a Copper, then after say a few years moves onto this Cobra...what the hell do you do with a snake that he was never intrested in, let alone a "Hot" one? How hard will it be to find a home for this snake? personally the way i see it, is this individual is weighing all the info here, and trying to make the best choice for his snake, and himself....so where exactly does someone get the right to slander him and his goals?

take a lesson here from RocketJawa....weigh all the info first before you open your mouth.

If it wasn't for the few people here that genuinely want to help people ie. Boas_N_Pythons, BoidKeeper, Stockwell, Cranwill, and the rest of you (whom im sure you know who you are) I'd leave this site due to the individuals whom think they're better than everyone else.

Lets Get Back To Helping This Guy Now!

Josh

P.s. RocketJawa all i gotta say is good on ya! and research research research, but you already know that

TheRedDragon · 09-01-04, 05:27 PM

Agreed. Starting with a Monocle Cobra is not recommended. Most hot keepers would agree. ONE mistake, and you could be paying with either your life or a painful, nasty injury that you'd have to live with. Start with something less agressive, and when you've gained more experience (as in YEARS of hands-on experience with hots), then you could consider getting that cobra. Good for you for taking the time to do the research that is required before obtaining a hot. Keep in mind too; if you can handle one of your regular agressive snakes and not get tagged at ALL, then you're off to a decent start.

rocketjawa · 09-01-04, 05:39 PM

Kimo-
Thank you SO much for the kind words... You can trust me when I say that THIS is one "will be" hot keeper that will do it the way it should be.. and you explained my "starter snake" reasoning perfectly... Its not like getting a corn snake to prepare you for a Python.. Its easy to find a corn a home.. But not a large, agressive rattler, etc...

Red - If GTPs were vemonous, I would be dead 10 times now

But GTPs are notoriously snippy, and all my bites were caused by risks I Would NOT take with a Cobra.. Ie:... I moved the water dish my GTP was hanging by at night when her heat sensors were full blast.. etc...

I have had dangerous animals before that I had to be cautious with.. one being a 4 foot African Lungfish (one of the few fish that can actually bite off a finger!) that I had to feed carefully and watch well EVERY time I cleaned the tank... etc... He never bit me

Kimo · 09-01-04, 05:47 PM

i think you mentioned your cousin does this sort of stuff for a living right? well see if you can get in with him as a volounteer, help clean the place or somthing in exchange for knowledge...or take my approach, show up at his place with a 24 and get him nice and toasty. and bring up his job in a conversation...he should do the rest! lol

But just for the record...i know sweet nothing about "Hots"
just trying to give a helping hand for whatever it's worth.

Josh

**edited because i realized it was his cousin, not his uncle **