H. Hemachatus strike

H. Hemachatus strike

Postby MrG » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:01 am

I got these few interesting shots, pitty about the last one OOF. :smt012

Image

Image

Image
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Re: H. Hemachatus strike

Postby Quintin » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:18 am

Cool series of pics MrG.. Was this a strike or a spit?

I have read numerous times that one can read a rinkhals OR other cobras body language when they are about to give a full-on strike or just a mock strike... Apparently when the neck and back are arched way to the back like that, then one can expect a full on strike??!!!

Not too sure how accurate this is though as I have had a cape cobra and a snoutie full on stike without arching their backs as mentioned...

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Re: H. Hemachatus strike

Postby drummer » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:47 am

Have noticed that rinkhals tend to arch their backs like that most of the time...
what the hell is wrong with me?
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Re: H. Hemachatus strike

Postby Quintin » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:52 am

@ drummer.. Which is true! :oops:
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Re: H. Hemachatus strike

Postby Loslappie » Thu Oct 09, 2008 10:29 am

I can usually predict when mine is about to spit, that last pic looks like a spit, they will usually hiss while lunging forward, and at times with such vigour that they acually "slap" the ground!
At times he leans so far back that it seems as if he is going to fall right back, so I think because thay dont spit per say, the have to sort of launch the venom.
But I just love these snakes and cannot wait to encounter one in the wild!
If it hasnt yet, it will!
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Re: H. Hemachatus strike

Postby fredsmith » Thu Oct 09, 2008 10:51 am

Loslappie, is it true Rhinkals have a very distinctive smell?
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Re: H. Hemachatus strike

Postby Loslappie » Thu Oct 09, 2008 10:58 am

Fredsmith, coming to think of it yes, the cage of the Rinkhals does smell rather different to the other snakes, and my cages gets cleaned often. And because I have Astroturf I swop them often and wash the others, but somehow his cage always have a strange smell. Cant describe it though.
I thought he is just musking me.
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Re: H. Hemachatus strike

Postby armata » Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:13 am

I have encountered many cape cobras in the wild. When you creep up on them they do one of two things; if its warm they just slide off. If its still early morning they will raise the head and hood slightly and give the 'who are you' sort of look. If you approach closer they then hood defensively but usually vertical. When a strike is iminent they do lean back into it.

As for juveniles, well they are just strike strike strike!!!
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Re: H. Hemachatus strike

Postby MrG » Thu Oct 09, 2008 2:48 pm

Some are pissies and some are not. One I donated to Nasicornis is one of those that just wont stop rearing and spitting. The two I caught yesterday can almost be free handled so placid they are. I have found that the smaller, as armata said, sub adults provides the most fun and are more aggressive than most of the adults I caught.
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