Housing/husbandry for False Water Cobra?

[MegF]

I always use hooks to remove my hydros from their cages to be certain they know it's not feeding day My female the other night being ravenous actually bit herself, the tub edge and probably would have nailed me if I hadn't had her on the hook and tailed. For the most part though, I find them very easy to work with and quite docile. These animals have been handled regularly since hatching though.

[Joel La Rocque]

I truly believe that constant contact, even if is only face to face from behind the glass is one of the most important aspects of NOT becomming a bite victim. Most disagree with me however that is normal, Snakes do recognize the people who feed and care for them. The one problem with a FWC as you mentioned is the feeding response! Of all the animals I have had, the FWC is tops when it comes to attacking its meal and anything connected to it. Truly a Noble snake Joel

[MegF]

I will agree with you there Joel. My snakes absolutely know me and are completely different when I handle them as opposed to someone else. While they are still docile, they tend to be a bit more nervous and will often come back to me if I'm standing nearby. I think the feeding response of the FWC is one of the reasons I like it so darn much. I don't think I've ever had a snake smack it's "lips" like one of them during eating. If they were a person, they'd be the fat redneck on the couch with the beer and chicken wings! It's truly amazing how fast they eat food.

[Will0W783]

Lol. If you like ravenous eaters, you should get a tiger ratsnake...mine is a speed-eater. I've never seen a snake chomp food down as quickly as this guy does. He just goes nuts too- tail drumming, flipping around, it's quite fun to watch. He eats f/t, but still attacks it like it's alive. From what I've read, tiger rats are one of the quickest, if not THE quickest, eaters of the snake world- Youtube has some good videos of them chowing down.

[MegF]

I could only get pictures of my cobras eating as my durn phone doesn't have video. I'd say the hydros would probably equal the Tigers. My female literally took down a medium rat in about 30 seconds. It's the "lip" smacking and smashing of the prey around the tub that makes me crack up. I'm surprised they don't sit back and belch at the end of it all! They eat f/t too. I can't imagine if the sucker was alive. They chew up the poor thing!

[Will0W783]

Lol, yeah, my FWC Rogue goes into full-body convulsions and twisting/thrashing about and charging the mouse. He wont' eat f/t for me, so he gets a live mouse. I'm trying to get him onto f/t- any pointers?

[siz]

I'd love to see a video of those guys chowing down if either of you can get one
Kim, why don't you try strating off with a F/K and see how he takes that?

[Will0W783]

Ok. I will try that. I just feel bad for the mice- he's so violent about it...

[MegF]

I've never had an issue getting any snake to take f/t. Hot, hot hot and offering with tongs if they've never had f/t before. I heat directly in the hot water changing it often so that the rat is very hot. Dry the fur with paper towel and then offer on tongs. If you have to, wait a little longer before attempting to feed the first time. My hydros were so hungry after they shed that they probably would have eaten a plastic mouse if offered. I don't need to use tongs with my hydros at this point though. I put the rats in there and then put the snake in the tub. they find it immediately. For fun I'll grab one with tongs to watch the hydro "chase" it with an open mouth across the tub. Crazy animals!

[Will0W783]

Thanks Meg- I will try again with him. We always heat the rats/mice up very hot in water and dab them on paper towel before offering to any of our snakes. I have over 30 snakes, so feeding time gets interesting- all those heads pressed up against the front of their tanks asking for food..."me next, me next!!". So far, Rogue seems wholly uninterested in f/t but I'll keep trying, maybe a little hotter next time. I feed every other week.