Mouthful from a Mfezi

[wildfrontier]

My son Matthew took this pic of a Mozambique Spitting Cobra that I caught.
The snake made an unwelcome guest appearance at the local pub.
The bartender (one of our darker brethren) almost turned white when the spitter made himself known on top of the bar.
I was then called and had to get him out of one of the cupboards under the bar where he tried to take refuge (the snake, not the bartender).
Matt took the pic during the release.
I had the snake by the tail and he had had enough and turned around and gave me a mouthful.
If you look closely on the pic, you can see the two streams of venom.

[@ndy]

Nice !

[Daimondbck]

Nice pic,hope you bargained beforehand with the bartender for free beers for you at the bar once you removed it..!

[Bushviper]

That could even qualify for the action shot photo competition.

Yes snake venom in the mouth is something you do not forget although its not as bad as in the eye.

These are such an ungrateful species. Even when you save their lives and are busy releasing them they still spray you.

[BOOGY]

I agree with BV enter it !

[Silvrav]

Yip, enter it definitely a good shot!

[deleray]

Talking about spraying venom, I took it in both eyes from a black necked spitter on Christmas Eve. Was not the Christmas present I was hoping for and something I never want to happen to me again. It took about 3 days to totally clear. I was naive in never quite realising how painful getting venom in your eyes would be.

[Eyelash]

Great pic man !A comp. winner if you ask me...
@deleray...Did you take any pics of your eyes after the mishap ?

[Silvrav]

deleray, that is definitly something I do not want to happen to me. As eyelash asked, any photo's?

[deleray]

Yip I did, but on my blackberry and to be honest all you can see is two closed and swollen eyelids :-( (not very flattering photos)

I was unpacking about a few dozen snakes and moving them from transport containers to racks, some of them being spitters (while entertaining the extended family on Christmas eve). My protective glasses were on and off constantly as it was so humid. In the midst of everything I decided to peek in one container to be sure of the contents and, as I opened it (with my glasses on top of my head), he was waiting for me and gave me a full shot from about 10cm away in both eyes.

It took me about 5 seconds to get to the tap and wash it out, it did not make one bit of difference. The pain was intense and immediate. All i could do was walk around in circles outside, swearing, for about an hour. I basically lost my sight about an hour after it happened and came back about 3 hours after that (myprodol and beer were my only comfort).

For the next two days the eyeballs felt bruised and scratched (limited pain) and constantly weeped an off colour green liquid which crusted.

I spoke to a few people and they suggested I just ride it out. I am not sure if this was the right way to go, but could not think that going to the doctor would make much difference.

I am now pedantic about wearing glasses when dealing with spitters.

Oh yes, and don't expect any sort of sympathy from anyone close to you --- "you want to keep those things then that is what will happen"

[Silvrav]

@deleray...ROFL for most of your article.

I know what you mean about the sympathy. Every time I get bitten by my JCP, my wife just gives me the stare and giggles.

Question? would milk not work better then water to get rid of the venom?
I am just referring to chemistry here with the milk having a low PH balance...I am mite completely wrong.

[deleray]

The only thing I did not try in the end was pee! Milk, water, special eye drops - nothing made much difference. You finally resolve yourself to the fact you are an idiot and must suffer, albeit quietly.

[wildfrontier]

@silvrav and delaray,
In my experience, milk is not a good candidate for washing the eyes out, as the bacteria in the milk could lead to secondary infection. Plain (clean) water, (or pee, as it is sterile) is suitable. Although when you get it in the eye, you run around looking for anything close at hand to rinse out your eyes!
Some anesthetic eye drops from the chemist will help (along with the beer) to ease the pain.

[Silvrav]

Some anesthetic eye drops from the chemist will help (along with the beer) to ease the pain.

What about tequila?

[deleray]

Even better