I would say Naja siamensis, Naja naja and Naja mossambica are ok starter cobras. Most important is to start with snakes between 0 and 1 year old I think. Having some experience with small Elapids like Aspidelaps for example is also a good choice!

Really thanks to everyone! In the end all of you said newborn snake is the safest way to start naja kepping, and chose one from the smallest species...this it what I'll do for sure.
Thanks again!

i am not an expert nor i have a previous experience with naja spec. even i am interested to start with najas...from a lot of guys and posts i am thinking about: naja annulata(rare spec.till now),naja annulifera.due to allergic reactions spitters are excluded and more cleaning maintenance...naja atra are more defensive than kaouthias.kaouthias are more than average defensive but predictible...
but between naja naja and naja kaouthia??i want your experienced thoughts.
also stefan you are the first who say about mossambica please explain.

They both become pretty large. Most of them are pretty docile but I know some kaouthia that are pretty psycho. I don't know, I would go for Naja naja between these two.

Cheers, Ro.

most of the naja annuliferas are the same in size with naja naja..and as you said Ro pretty docile...a very good starter naja in my eyes to take a baby-juvenile to grow with it....but hoping and expect your thoughts..

Naja annulifera is also a good option if you want to go for a more docile snake. Everyone I raised from juvenile became laidback animals after 1,5 years of hooding. Now they rarely do and of my Naja sp. one of the easiest cobras. They also become pretty large though and quick as well.

Remember that everything I write is pure my own perception and experience. Some people may have experienced something totally different with the same species. I have to say that most of my cobras are pretty relaxed animals. But I always am prepared for the worst of course.

Cheers, Ro.

thanks Ro i know that opinion may differ a lot,but i want to tell me which is the easiest cobra...whenever i buy a naja i want to buy the most "docile"easygoing naja but i will treat it and handle it like pseudohaje goldii...thats my thought for all venomous snakes...

I think I would suggest Naja annulifera. Out of the cobras that I've kept these seem to be the most docile out of them. Mine settled down pretty quickly as hatchlings and now they almost never hood and never strike. They do get rather large but if you're getting it as a hatchling I don't think that would be an issue. Just for reference, my male just turned 4 this year and he's over 6 1/2ft long. It would also get you used to handling a larger cobra if your goal is to keep N.melanoleuca in the future. I keep both Naja melanoleuca and annulifera and can't really say that they behave the same but at least it would be a step in that direction with the size and all.

-Jamie

In my opinion the best to start is just the one which appeals to you. I don't see any reason to start with any other species than that of your first choice.
9 species have been declared here as suitable for starters, and i can, depending on my personal experience, add another one: Naja sputatrix. In my collection, the pair of Javan Spiiting Cobras are the most docile cobras at all. That does not mean that other people do not have oppsositional experience with those and you will not have bad luck by getting really mad specimens.
As an example, my Naja annulifera are in bad mood most of the time and try to attack me - that includes jumping out of the cage and haunting me for two or three meters, whereas both of my subadult Naja melanoleuca are pretty calm and easy to handle. Beside those, i have another single specimen from another locality, attacking endless with open mouth and biting everything. Worst cobras to handle and really dangerous are my "subfulvas" - but a friend of mine declares his specimens as very calm and easy to handle....
As others here wrote, you should handle some species/specimens under supervision of a experienced keeper first, that will give you a feeling for these creatures and will teach you about what these snakes can do and what they can not.
Actually, i don't like these questions and these topics, just because the perfect starter species does not exist in my opinion, but the (almost) perfect preparation and attitude does....
regards
Peter

I have to agree but do you even not see a problem in starting with Naja melanoleuca or Naja nigricollis? My Naja nigricollis were all calm animals but they get large real fast.

In my opinion is there just one that's def. not a starter and that's a Naja melanoleuca.

Cheers, Ro.

If we use the maximum size as a criterion, we would have to sort out more species additionally to melanoleuca (including "subfulva) and nigricollis: Naja haje, Naja annulata, Naja ashei, and Naja annulifera (annulifera should easily grow to 250 cm in captivity according to some keepers).
Other criteria are different venoms, behaviour (which is individually very different), spitters or no spitters, availability etc.
Keeping snakes is a "two party-adventure" and i always wonder why these "beginner-questions" have to be treated unilateral by regarding only the snake's part.
Most important criterion in my opinion is the human participant and its attitude and education.
There are no "wrong" snakes, just "wrong" keepers. I can see that here casually during my training sessions, some people are able to handle almost everything, including larger Naja species, quite easy and circumspect very soon, whereas others need a "stop, i'm sorry, this won't ever be your job!"
regards
Peter

What about Naja Samarensis?
This is my dream snake, gotta start with real hots first but.
Is it a good first Naja species to keep?

this topiclike some others never gonna stop....if you arent a german or a dutch guy is very difficult to have a proper training before obtaining your first naja as for example...they doesnt exist even serum depots for the worst case scenario. so guys like me depends lot in questiong and try to find what is a snake that that fit in their knowledge.
i will ask personally who CAN and WANT to be my tutor-mentor in europe??and i will try to arrange things...even more than one are welcome to taste different point of views and many tricks to be revealed

Some specimens of the Visayan Spitting Cobra (Naja samarensis) can show a very nervous behaviour during their whole life, this includes spitting and attacking everything moving in front of the cage. So if it happens to you to get one (or more) "mad" specimen(s), you need a proper terrarium with suitable hiding places - and you should be prepared for seeing your snake(s) not very often.
I personally would suggest to have some handling practice with others, more calm species before starting with samarensis.
Please note: Samarensis venom is a very bad mixture, containing not only neurotoxic, but also cytotoxic and cardiotoxic ingredients. No specific antivenin available.
regards
Peter

I think the snakes with the worst attitude is the best and the calm ones are the worst.
Many cobras are very beautyful and interesting.

I agree 100% Peter!

I keep 2,1 Naja samarensis from 2 different locations . All 3 are really extreme nervous and aggressive.
They never spit but would bite every time they´ll get a chance for it!
In the cage they are calm but if you touch the doors they´ll jump against the pane...
All my other Naja ssp. stand up and thread, the Samarensis go on the staight way to you!
And a last different to the most other Naja: Samarensis is a fast and handier climber! They come through the branches like a arboreal colubrid...

I would never sell a Samarensis to a beginner in Naja ssp.


In my opinion is Naja siamensis a good Naja to start.
It´s a very nice cobra with a moderate size. The most Siamensis don´t spit.
I keep 6 and all forget they are spitting cobras!

Allright, thanks for the info. I already tought samarensis ain't a good option to begin with. Only naja's left i really like are; Naja atra, Naja naja, Nala pallida and Naja nivea then.