The Mighty Cobra - Snakes in (da) Hoods!

Midnight - my Equatorial Black Spiting Cobra (Naja sumatrana); rescued from a house call by a friend as a baby

not a baby anymore

Likes to posse for the camera



This is a full view of his enclosure

He's also a movie star. Find him on YouTube at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_HCKEtHH8Y or

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCsM_8ZMGQk

He likes to hide in the skull most of the time which aids in cleaning his tank.
(Secure skull+snake inside in separate container with snake hook)
My only hot snake. I don't intend to handle him for any reason... not gonna risk it especially if no hospitals in Malaysia stock anti-venom of any kind.

Not originally endemic to the Peninsula, they were imported from Thailand by the thousands to quell rodent infestation in oil palm plantations during the 70s. Since then they have become part of the of the local fauna.

that is a BEAUTIFUL snake, I love cobras.

nice to see you psted midnight up.

That's an amazing snake...not something i'd own..but WOW thats a beauty!!!

Nice one -- I'm glad to see that the enclosure is quite tall and has three latches.

So have you ever had to "distract" him with a decoy that looks like it has eyes to keep him from spitting at you? I've seen videos where they mistake the zipper pulls on a backpack for eyes quite easily.

That's a beautiful snake. I would love one.

thnx guys... and for clarification there are 7 latches... all due respect to people who attempt intimate communion with such creatures by free-handling. But there are still things in this world I have left to do.

Awesome snake!! He looks fast as all hell!

OT: Isn't LQ venom more potent than a cobra's?

probly is...but a cobra would inject way more in one bite than an LQ i presume...id have to check to make sure..but thats my assumption feel free to correct me lol

I think Gabe got it right -- a scorpion can only inject a tiny drop of venom, but if you've ever seen footage of a cobra spitting, they can produce a LOT of venom.

haha more than alot they look lke lil super soakers

that is one very beautiful snake. great that you posted it.

Looks cute as a baby.

man thats awesome i always wanted a viper but i dont think im ever going to get one

Guess what guys... On my first night back in my hometown of Kuching in Borneo (Sarawak, Malaysia) I bagged this beauty Steve Irwin style while road herpin with me in-laws. Crazy

A full-grown 4ft long Equatorial Spitting Cobra (Naja sumatrana) off-roading on some rural village back tracks. Saw this black streak slidin across the road, leaped out of the jeep and pulled him back by the tail. I was out lookin for scorps and I found a cobra instead so I was rather unprepared and unequipped. I start yellin for them to find a stick to help me pin this guy down. They were so helpful I think I heard them close the door on me.... lol But I bet they were freaked. This guy was so big he wasn't even phased by me.

Eventually pinned him down with a stick and grabbed him back of the head... That's a 1st for me. The head twisted around in my grip so I had to drop him and start again. Sacked him to an empty water holder and I just trembled to my knees. What a rush!!! I gathered he didn't spit at me cos it was dark and he couldn't get a fix on my head cos later at home to get him out of the water holder he spat a 3 ft stream which landed on my knee. This guy is one bad boy... Bellows like a hurricane too.

Now I gotta figure what to do with him before I leave... Might let him loose in some forest reserve. All in a nights work... No scorps that night however. But boy did I come home with one hell of a tale.

Very nice!!!!!!and quite some guts to just bag a cobra unequipped lol...but such a nice catch

why not try breeding it with your other one?

You're so lucky that you can find cool stuff like that in your location!! Me... Well I'm lucky if I find ANY herps around here. I can't even go scorp collecting because I live in the ONLY section of the US that doesn't have any (Northeast).

You're crazy for going out and collecting them yourself lol. Especially having to substitute sticks for snake hooks ;x

That is one hell of a snake!

I love your lil antics haha, i wish i could have been there, i would love to tackle some cobras but as you know im mainly interested in naja naja, id love to find a good 10 footer

Can I say "holy crap?!!?"

Oh man, I' not sure if remember doing anything so daring. I dunno what came over me, I was just so excited to find and "pull a Steve Irwin" back in my hometown. But I think I'll stay away from stingrays lol...

Well I do feel truly blessed to come form where I am... and it breaks my heart to see all the deforestation going around. I'm put up a post on Hike and hunts after this about my latest collecting trip. Got some nice goodies too.

If any of you guys come down to Malaysia... PM me... I'll hook you up. Cheap lodging and I'll be more than happy to personally take you up to the countryside for some herpin if I'm free. Just give me a heads up so I can schedule myself.

Oh scorpio... I live in Kuala Lumpur. That photo is taken in Borneo while I visited my home town for the holidays. I can't really bring back a snake on the plane, unless I wanna star in Samuel L. Kackson sequel. Also I think the two snakes vary vastly in age and to be honest I haven't sexed them yet.

It is a beauty though but if I can't find anyone to take him, I'll have to find a place to release him.

Anyone know anyone in Kuching who would adopt an adult Equatorial Spitting Cobra?

I would love to rehome it
but i dontn live in kuching, anybody wanna help rehome me>?

lol, I'd love to go herping in malaysia! must be some pretty interesting stuff there.