In my opinion, the most scaring venomous snakes to keep in captivity (in a zoo, and only in a zoo, with mentor OK), or not to say, I would not love to keep them never ever, are: 1. Black mamba 2. Boomslang 3. Inland taipan 4. Egyptian cobra 5. Maybe bushmaster snakes 6. Blue krait (or kraits in general) (because of pre-synaptic neurotoxins bungartoxins) 7. Russels's viper What are yours?
African rock python Najas Spitting cobra King cobra Russell's viper Inland taipan Golden lancehead Black mamba
Yeah, as both rock python species are really feared because of their potent venom...just like the infamous ball python. ^^ Are both of you mighty wranglers of snakes and the English language aware that fearful = timid? Which might be true for some snake individuals, but probably isn’t the flashy expression you were going for in the first place...
Further to a request Nikola has sent via PM, I am now changing the thread title word-for-word to his preferred option.
The scariest venomous snake is the one that just bit you... Otherwise, I respect (not fear) all “hot snakes”, but upset solid individuals of the King Cobra, the Black Mamba, Eastern Brown Snake, Coastal and Papuan Taipan, various large Naja, Bitis and Crotalus sp. specimens are a different sight to behold. The Fierce snakes I have worked with so far have been, except for occasional fits of temper, quite pleasant.
What are your favourite Crotalus spp.? I would love to have (in a zoo), Mexican West rattlesnake(s) (C. basiliscus) and/or Crotalus durissus. And favourite Naja spp.? Mines: N. pallida, N. siamensis and N. melanoleuca. I saw Crotalus durissus and Naja melanoleuca in Tierpark Hellabrunn last November.
Dark specimens of Crotalus cerberus & white Crotalus mitchelli pyrrhus Naja samarensis, Naja nigricollis and high white Naja siamensis.
