Warning!!! epic post, due to finding of new information and feel that i must have my two cents on this particular thread (not much different to any other thread
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arent they mildly poisonous?
I have not seen any evidence of it myself, but Bryan Fry (venomdoc) is very seriously involved in this field. I would be inclined to believe anything he writes as coming from a reliable (although not infallable) source.
This is the first time i have read this after Chris posted the link:
"Seems reasonable mate. Any light headedness wouldn't have been adrenalin but actually a bit of venom as well. Not a drama. Enough to settlle down a frog but not much of a worry beyond that. Interestingly enough, the big Dendrelaphis in Fogg Dam/Kakadu actually have bigger venom glands. We were expecting the slatey greys to have larger. Instead its teeth are a bit better while the Dendrelaphis went the other way and developed its glands a bit (not too much) and doesn't have as advanced teeth. All variations on a theme. When we were doing this study, a guy in Georgia got smacked by an Egyptian Cliff Racer (Coluber rhodorachis). Nice case of mild/moderate neurotoxicity with some flaccid paralysis lasting seven hours. Consistent with our lab results about the high expression levels of three finger neurotoxinx and high level of postsynaptic neurotoxicity level (the average Colubrinae family snake has venom well into the generic elapid level, with some (certain Boiga, Telescopus, etc) having very very potent venom actually. "
Although i am not sure that this was written specifically about punculata or calligastra(according to DSE, wiki, & others)/calligaster (according to James Cook University), i would personally take it as most probably holding true for these species also. i am curious as the what the delivery mechanisms are though, as previously stated, i have been bitten a couple of times having been mistaken for a fish (god only knows how) and i have seen/felt no evidence of any fangs, rear or otherwise. this explains the reaction difference between boiga and dendrelaphis after bites. i am still yet to hear of a single reaction from a dendrelaphis bite, but havnt ruled out the possibility until im 100% sure how these magnificent, under-rated snakes work. I do know that mine only eat live fish, and they eat it live, not dead like a python or elapid would.
Ben mate, i am still yet to meet any of your CTS (or any of your snakes for that matter) but am very much hoping one day i get to see that blue one in person.. absolutely stunning!
Green
Much brighter in the flesh (scale)
When am i going to see pics of this CTS?
I have been searching for a hatchling for a few months now and can't seem to find any advertised,are they are rare snake to find for sale?
Yes, very, especially hatchies and juvies
dont they also emit a foul odour when touched?
I handle mine regularly and have never been stinked. they can as a defense mechanism.. but really dont. i have handled plenty of other CTS throughout my lifetime as well and can think of maybe one occasion i may have been stinked and if that was it, it wasnt that bad... im thinking might have just been wee though. In which case, it is still worse to be pooed on by a beardie IMO
As I understand the major problem with feeding goldfish is that they are filthy animals bred in horrible conditions generally... also I have heard they have very high levels of thiaminase which can lead to thiamine deficiency.
I find using vitamin & mineral suppliment powder works. i have not had any problems.. i only use it like once a month. i know people that dont use it at all and have had no worries on goldies. the big problem with the fish was meant to be a certain medication used for fin rot or something that had a copper base?? i dont know exactly, but dottyback has all the know-how on that particular subject being a fish man. i feed mine guppies, danio's, goldies, barbs and tetras and have had no worries. i have heard a few reasons why mice and rats are bad for them if eaten too regularly and heard one too many horror stories and so am not currently considering feeding on rodents.
They are fantastic snakes to own and although they can be a bit temperamental and take some getting used to, they are by far more active than any python i have ever owned and far more interesting to keep.
Keep us posted on how your colubrid collection comes along, we dont see enough of it on APS in my oppinion
so thats my epic CTS post
Sye
