Hello to everybody.
I'd like to have some advices from all of you. I've been reading all the posts in this forum regarding the naja genus, and I'd like to start keeping one of these gorgeous snakes.
I already have a couple of elapids (Aspidelaps L.L.) and have keeped and breed a lot of colubrids, rear fanged and racers as Boiga, C. Radiatus, Spalerosophis, Psammophis, Hemorrhois and more.
I really like Naja Melanoleuca, but I read many times that is one of the calmer Naja but it can change humor from calm to savage in a moment. Is it a problem for a keeper who has an experience like mine or I should start with something else?
I'd like even to start with a Naja Kaouthia, but Melanolauca it's my favourite, even because I read in more articles that is one of the most intelligent and curious naja, and it will be nice to "grow with" one of them.
I'd like to know the experiences and advices from the experienced keepers, to reguate my future choice.

Thanks for your attention.

Alex

Hey Alex,

I have read more about Naja melanoleuca being more crazy than your average cobra, but I have kept 6 over the years, and none acted that crazy. But I think it is more about the particular specimen, rather than the specie. I was told that Naja samarensis are crazy acting cobras, but I just imported 3.3 and they are rather calm compared to many other species of Naja I keep, like Naja oxiana and Naja sumatrana.

Your never going to get experience keeping Naja species, until you keep Naja species or work with someone that does keep them. I have to say that until 1999, I only had experience with Crotalus, and Agkistrodon species, and then in 1999, I bought an albino and a normal Naja kaouthia, and a “Black Pakistan” form of Naja naja. All were yearlings, and about 60 - 65 cm long. I had no previous experience with elapids at all. I read what I could before I got them, so I would know how to care for them, and contacted friends that did have elapids when I had questions. Those friends lived to far away to go learn from them in person.

If you buy hatchlings of any specie, that are already feeding well, you can learn more about them as they and you grow, and you will not have your hands full with a very large Naja, such as Naja melanoleuca. DO NOT try to tail any hatchling venomous snake. They are light enough to use just a hook. I see too many people that seem to want to touch everything. I don't know who they are trying to impress, but it is a stupid thing to do. Unless you are sexing a snake, or administering medications, there is really no reason to touch them, until they are over 1 m in length, and then only hook and tail.

As you did here, NEVER hesitate to ask questions. The only stupid question is the one you didn’t ask.

Thanks a lot Randy! You've been really clear and gave me the answer I'd like to have!
Eexpecially in the last part... talking and advicing for these things should be always done as you did.
I'lle be in Hamm in march so I have a lot of time to think about it and do the best choice, and as you said, to get always more informations about najas to keep them as they should be and be safe.
Thanks again for your great advices Randy.

Alex

Your welcome Alex,

As far as what Naja is the best to keep? I say keep what you like, but buy hatchlings. Some Naja species will get much bigger than others, so cage size becomes an issue for people without much room. Also, you should make sure antivenin is available for whatever species you decide to keep.

I agree on everything with Randy besides the Naja melanoleuca. I had some as well in the past and even when you buy them as youngsters, with proper food they grow like maniacs in their first year. Quite a handfull for a first cobra. I think the're the hardest cobras to handle when they are in a bad mood.

Naja naja would be a good starter and I still have some.

Cheers, Ro.

Your probably right Ro, I've never had one as a hatchling. I've seen hatchlings for sale at shows, but never raised one from a hatchling. I guess if melanoleuca is your favorite, you better grow as fast as it grows.

After keeping a lot of different vipers I started with a pair of Naja kaouthia, hatchlings.
I think it is important that you can grow with the snake and learn how they act.

Cheers.

Thanks to all of you, you've been very helpful to me. I have no mentor who keeps venomous, only books, so I decided to ask in this forum, and I found what I wanted.
Start with a newborn snake to grow with will be certainly the thing I'll do, and for a keeper who never had a naja like me will be surely a beautiful experience, even learning how to not risk with it.

Thanks again!

Alex

Hi there,

As I've been keeping almost exclusively Najas for now, I can only approve what has been said:

Let yourself grow with a Naja youngster. But, as far as I have 2.1.0 Naja melanoleuca adults, I can only give you the advice to check one of the other specie first. They grow very fast, and, when they're in a bad mood, you have a huge Naja to handle and to take care of. This require a big enclosure if you want to keep it in a terrarium. Even as youngster they can be quite.... Nervous!

For my opinion, the species you can go with "easily" to begin in the Naja keeping are the small asiatic species (N.atra, N.siamensis) and some african one (N.haje, N.nivea). BUT you have to be sure to have the serum. In case of an accident with those animals it can become dramatic if you don't get proper care.

And as already said, find you someone to have a formation with those species. Even if you have to travel a bit, I know for sure a couple of people who could welcome you and offer you a proper formation for a couple of days.

Just a picture to show an adult grown N.melanoleuca. My bigger male with 2m30. When it gets angry, it's always a thing to get him where you want to.

What the others said...

Get a hatchling (your Aspidelaps experience will help you with those), and I would recommend starting with one of the smaller species (Asian, e.g., N. kaouthia, or something like N. nivea or even N. pallida if you are happy with spitters) to see how comfortable you are with a 1.5 metre cobra before buying something that can grow to 2.5 m. And, most important, if you have the chance, get some good mentoring.

About the melanoleuca...

I think the hardest size is when they are still fairly light weightwise but allready 1.40 or so. They don't have the weight yet to hold their heads down more easily. So for me personnaly the 1,5 year olds are more dangerous. They come up easy because the're so light and they can be skiddish as well. Older animals are calmer in most cases. But you have to be ready for that one time the animal suddenly get spoked because of something. Then you notice how they can be hell. Small or big.

I almost only keep Elapidae and had or have almost every Naja and others available but the melanoleuca really has my respect.

Impressive animal btw Lucas.

Cheers, Ro.

@ Ro
Yes Ro, I know it too, it's the same even for viperids, as lighter they are as bigger are the skids and jumps they can do, and as you said when they get more heavier they calm.

@Wolfgang
Sure Wolfgang, I don't know how you did, but you mentioned the three Naja I prefer Naja Kaouthia is what I like more of the "small" sized cobras to start with, and Naja Nivea (the golden one) is beautiful too!
But regarding Naja Pallida, do you think a spitter will be ok as "starter naja"?

I do agree with Wolfgang. But just keep in mind, as for I am concerned, Najas are not "starter snakes" anyway . From there, just make your choice with the few comments up there. And get some mentoring. It's really the best way to get it's own.

@Ro

Thanks. My trio is now on that average size (the one that laid a clutch this summer). Huge animals. And the real impressive thing is that they kept their agility and their "mamba head shaking". I just tried to explain, although I agree with everything you said, that when a cobra like this one has a real bad mood, it's very hard to handle them properly.

Cheers.
LucasC.

Thanks again to all of you for your interest in my case and all the advices you gave me.
I remember once a friend of mine told me that there's a guy who breeds Naja Kaouthia in a city not so far from me (2:30h by car), anyway from eight years that I keep and breed snakes, and I would even travel trough Europe for some mentoring about these beauties.
I trust your advices as you're experts and you know best how to do with Najas... I don't like doing things in a hurry, but doing them well, so I'll continue to get informations and follow the road on which I have benn addressed from you

@ Lucas
I forgot before... very stunnig Melanoleuca!

I think you should reconsider buying a Melanoleuca until you have handled a few species of Naja and also at least a few adults or bigger individuals of Elapids.
Naja Melanoleuca is one of the biggest venomous snakes in the world and as far as im concerned should be placed in the same category as D. Polylepis and O. Scuttelatus as one of the more advanced Elapids as far as handling goes.

I keep a pair which are both starting to approach 2 meters in leng and both are about 2-3 years old.
they are already a handful and it wouldnt surprise me if they exceeded 2 meters by quite a bit.

I understand your faschination though there are plenty of snakes that i really liked when i saw them in a book or in someones collection but then i got to work with them and they proved to be moderatively interesting, but the Naja melanoleuca has retained its place as my favorite Naja because of their unique behavior and personalities as well as their beauty.
And at the moment its the only Naja i keep and together with my mambas one of the vry few Elapids.

If it has to be a species from the genus Naja, I would recommend Naja nivea (get started with sub-adults, not newborns). They don't grow that big, are usually not aggressive (some specimen are, though), and they are active during the day so you see more of them. Also, there are nice colors available. After 30 years of venomous herping still one of my favorite species.

Hi Klaus,
i'm not an expert in Naja but i thing Nivea to begining it's not a good idea:
So, yes in most cases they are calm and non agressive, trouble is the potent venom.....
I repeat, i'm not an naja's expert but i think like said Wolf and Lucas, Naja legionis is a good species to begin with.....
PS: About Nivea or other naja venom, sure, the best thing to do is to never have a bit....

I don't think Naja legionis is a good starter. One of the only cobra species that will keep their natural attitude. The ones I know and the ones I've kept and keep are all pretty defensive.

Cheers, Ro.

why do you see cobras with attitude as " Bad " beginning cobras? if you have a cobra ho is calm evry time you handling it you will be nonchalantly and the mistakes comes..with a cobra ho has attitude and can be hard sometimes to work with you now that evry time i handling this cobra i must be alert...i dont say that he should start with Melanoleuca...or nivea ho has a very potent venom and are a very sneaky snake...if i was you i should start with maybe Naja atra? Kaouthia? Pallida? or a another cobra ho will not be so big as adult but have attitude.

i dont say that evry one else has wrong what they saying but this is " my way as i see it "

We both just said the same. Naja atra would be a good one if you're looking for small and attitude.

Cheers, Ro.

yes i agree with you Ro i also think Naja Atra would be a good choice..


Best Regards: Sebbe