Snakes

[dereklev]

When I eventually leave the big city and move out to the more rural areas I'm getting mongooses, dogs and whatever else I need to keep away snakes based on your experiences!

King cobras in the toilet, you just dont need that with a morning changover do you.

Many years ago I lived in Sri Lanka and a local friend gave me a mongoose as he said there were many snakes around my house.

Have to say that the only time I ever saw snakes around the house was when the mongoose decided to drop off half dead ones to show what a good job he was doing.

He had to go!!!!

[Jai Dee]

When I eventually leave the big city and move out to the more rural areas I'm getting mongooses, dogs and whatever else I need to keep away snakes based on your experiences!

King cobras in the toilet, you just dont need that with a morning changover do you.

Snakes aren't the only nocturnal hunters to worry about either...

Centipedes and scorpions can also be found inside the house at night.

If you have to go to the hong nam in the middle of the night, my advice is to always turn on the light to see if you have company.

[Totster]

We also had a vist from a king cobra at least I think it was as it was just on dark hard to see and the dogs were going off so I walked around to have a look from where I was standing it looked to be 1 1/2 to 2 meters long it took off under the fence. I have started puting in sensor light around the house to make it a bit safer to walk at night. But they are real bad this time of year. I ride motor bikes/ push bike most mornings and lately I see about three every morning. A mate down the road has killed two in his toilet in the last week

Watch your step

Rigger

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If me and the wife see a snake on the road while riding on the motorbike, she will make jam on the brakes and stop to let it pass ( at a safe distance ).. apparently it is extremely unlucky not to do this...

I would assume the lucky part would be not getting bit as you ride past..

totster

[Darknight]

We also had a vist from a king cobra at least I think it was as it was just on dark hard to see and the dogs were going off so I walked around to have a look from where I was standing it looked to be 1 1/2 to 2 meters long it took off under the fence. I have started puting in sensor light around the house to make it a bit safer to walk at night. But they are real bad this time of year. I ride motor bikes/ push bike most mornings and lately I see about three every morning. A mate down the road has killed two in his toilet in the last week

Watch your step

Rigger

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If me and the wife see a snake on the road while riding on the motorbike, she will make jam on the brakes and stop to let it pass ( at a safe distance ).. apparently it is extremely unlucky not to do this...

I would assume the lucky part would be not getting bit as you ride past..

totster

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Probably , Had a cobra rise up at my 4x4 when i passed it in phuket. luckely not on a moped with flip flops on

[kenk3z]

The collary to this is that my new K1 Thai wife regards every little harmless garter snake in the yard as a King Cobra - seen two already - and is scared to go outside now. But a healthy respect of snakes is good as we do have one mildly poisenous variety locally. The "Copperhead" is its name and I also killed one of those recently and had the opportunity to show her what they look like. With a lot of talking about alertness, local snake varieties and avoidance strategy she's going outside some again.

I would never be in a fight with a Cobra using a boomstick - too easy to break. A shotgun, long-handle spade or run would be the best I could do.

Recently was awakened with screams of a scorpion in the kitchen. Garden spider. I thought maybe one had crept into the luggage on the return trip, so it was quite an adrenaline burst......

kenk3z

[toddy]

Fist aid tips for snake bite:

http://w3.whosea.org/en/Section10/Section1...on1024_3899.htm

http://www.avru.unimelb.edu.au/avruweb/pi.htm

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests/repti...snakebitetx.htm

http://www.flyingdoctor.net/travelinfo.htm#SNAKE%20BITES

http://www.cobras.org/cob_7.htm

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the great Links.Most of the Thai sites that I saw said apply a tourniquet, where as these one say to apply pressure to the wound.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

CAUTION: DO NOT EVER EVER EVER APPLY PRESSURE OR A TORNIQUET TO A SNAKE BITE WOUND. IT CAUSES THE POISON TO SPREAD QUICKLY AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE THIS AND SURVIVED HAVE DONE IT IN SPITE OF THE PRESSURE NOT BECAUSE OF IT. LAY FLAT, REMAIN CALM DO EVERYTHING TO AVOID CAUSING HIGHER BLOOD PRESSURE AND GET TO THE NEAREST SOURCE OF ANTIVENOM. I USED TO SELL VENEMOUS SNAKES IN THE UK AND HAVE BEEN BITTEN ONCE BY A DESERT HORNED VIPER AND ONCE BY A POPE'S PIT VIPER. YEP IT STUNG.

[toddy]

When I eventually leave the big city and move out to the more rural areas I'm getting mongooses, dogs and whatever else I need to keep away snakes based on your experiences!

King cobras in the toilet, you just dont need that with a morning changover do you.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Snakes aren't the only nocturnal hunters to worry about either...

Centipedes and scorpions can also be found inside the house at night.

If you have to go to the hong nam in the middle of the night, my advice is to always turn on the light to see if you have company.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Scorpions in Thailand are no problem (from the genus Pandinus or Asian Forest Scorpion) - sting hurts but no lasting damage. Centipedes no matter how small from the genus Scolopendra can easily kill a baby or dog and would almost certainly put even a big guy in intensive care. DO NOT GET BITTEN. By the way, almost all flat bodied centipedes in South East Asia are Scolopendra type. Millipedes no problem.

[devildog683]

my step son was bitten by a cobra a few months ago and nearly died. they had to restart his heart 5 times. his uncle found the snake hiding next to the house that same day, killed it, and ate it. you would think he learned his lesson, but now he tries to find them and kill them himself (3 years old). My wife always has to stop him from going off into the jungle with a stick and some rocks. He says he wants revenge.

[toddy]

SNAKE INFO.

Easy way to tell a Spitting Cobra - they are black and white.

Most common cobra in Thailand - Indian Monocled Naja naja (in two colour phases - normal and blonde).

Isaan Variation - In Isaan, there is a subspecies of Monocled Cobra Naja naja isaanensis - they are karky green/murky yellow in appearance.

King Cobra - rare in Thailand and CITES annex. A endangered species - you really should do all possible to avoid killing them. If found in Buriram please contact me through Thai Visa - I will come and remove for you.

Pythons - two varieites in Thailand. 1) The Burmese Python : Python molurus bivitattus - easy recognized as the 'classic strippers snake. 2) The Reticulated Python : Python reticulata. Longest snake in the world and very very aggressive. Overall appearance is silver. Again both animals are endangered (CITES annex , therefore avoid killing them and if found in Buriram / Surin, contact me for relocation.

[Pink Mist]

had a green snake in the house once, didn't flare up but was fairly aggressive, striking at the broomstick, we live just outside KhonKaen and there is aig lake here, wife says they come from lake, any ideas what type Toddy?

[mpdkorat]

When I eventually leave the big city and move out to the more rural areas I'm getting mongooses, dogs and whatever else I need to keep away snakes based on your experiences!

King cobras in the toilet, you just dont need that with a morning changover do you.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Snakes aren't the only nocturnal hunters to worry about either...

Centipedes and scorpions can also be found inside the house at night.

If you have to go to the hong nam in the middle of the night, my advice is to always turn on the light to see if you have company.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Scorpions in Thailand are no problem (from the genus Pandinus or Asian Forest Scorpion) - sting hurts but no lasting damage. Centipedes no matter how small from the genus Scolopendra can easily kill a baby or dog and would almost certainly put even a big guy in intensive care. DO NOT GET BITTEN. By the way, almost all flat bodied centipedes in South East Asia are Scolopendra type. Millipedes no problem.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Those Centipedes are locally known as Da Kaap and they scare the crap out of me. A few months ago I was watching TV, when I saw one scurry across the floor and under the sofa. I jumped up and informed the wife what I had just seen. Together we slowly moved the sofa out and there was no Da Kaap. Suddenly the wife screamed. I jumped up in the air doing a double backward summersault with a 3 point degree of difficulty and landed on my big toe, causing it to break. I almost landed on the Da Kaap as well. I just remember my wife hitting furiously with broom till it just looked like bread crumbs.

They are dangerous, they move quickly and they can be aggressive. I always move around the house with the light on and check the bedding before going to sleep.

BTW the one we saw that night was about 25 cm long, I’m not joking.

[chuchok]

CAUTION: DO NOT EVER EVER EVER APPLY PRESSURE OR A TORNIQUET TO A SNAKE BITE WOUND. IT CAUSES THE POISON TO SPREAD QUICKLY AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE THIS AND SURVIVED HAVE DONE IT IN SPITE OF THE PRESSURE NOT BECAUSE OF IT. LAY FLAT, REMAIN CALM DO EVERYTHING TO AVOID CAUSING HIGHER BLOOD PRESSURE AND GET TO THE NEAREST SOURCE OF ANTIVENOM. I USED TO SELL VENEMOUS SNAKES IN THE UK AND HAVE BEEN BITTEN ONCE BY A DESERT HORNED VIPER AND ONCE BY A POPE'S PIT VIPER. YEP IT STUNG.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is this INCORRECT?

Edited May 31, 2005 by chuchok

[pnustedt]

I once parked my SUV on a cobra's nest. I had the wife and half a dozen kids with me. They all jumped back into the vehicle and started screaming at me. I was unaware of the problem till I saw them pointing down at my feet - there were loads of the little buggers swirling around my feet.

I was subsequently told that the small ones can pack the same punch of venom as the big ones.

[moebius]

While I advocate saving and relocating versus killing I do find most snake I've had to be a little oily if cooked any other way than on the BBQ or grilled over a fire. Leave the skin and use high heat. The louder the sizzle the better the taste.

If frying, skin first, cut and fry in a (little) clove, if available, and salt in vinaigrette instead of oils or butter. If the snake is somewhat underfed this works really well. If the snake has recently fed and is quite plump go with the barbie or grill. If you happen to have beef bouillon cubes you can make a tasty soup too.

[chownah]

No its just the snake that gets the bad luck. Most snakes in Thailand are totally harmles, but you try telling that to the majority of locals, snake = beating stick. Most locals have no idea on what snake is a risk or not, see snake kill snake is the normal way. Country people should know better but i know very few Thais who will not kill first. Of course a king cobra in the kitchen when you have kids is a different story, but the poor snakes that are not king cobras all seem to suffer for its reputation. I had 3 snakes living in my bathroom at one place, (a type a tree snake can't remember the name now, one a good 4 foot long). I looked them up on internet found them to be non poison type, low bite risk so left them to it. We got on well together, except they ate all the cute tree frogs that used to swim in my toilet bowl!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Up north here in my village they only kill snakes if they are poisonous or if they are big enough to eat. If you see one big enough to eat you grab it near the tail and swing it really fast to hit its head on the ground which will at least stun if not kill it...then you hit the head directly to be sure its dead. Then they immediately build a small hot fire usually using rice straw (you often find them in the rice field so rice straw is near at hand) and throw the snake on to burn off the skin. Doing this quickly is supposed to make them tastier....you can cook it right away or sometime later the same day. Women don't eat snake so much...sort of a manly thing....its good.

[chownah]

We also had a vist from a king cobra at least I think it was as it was just on dark hard to see and the dogs were going off so I walked around to have a look from where I was standing it looked to be 1 1/2 to 2 meters long it took off under the fence. I have started puting in sensor light around the house to make it a bit safer to walk at night. But they are real bad this time of year. I ride motor bikes/ push bike most mornings and lately I see about three every morning. A mate down the road has killed two in his toilet in the last week

Watch your step

Rigger

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Where the heck do you live where there are King Cobras in your Toilet ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

maybe they were'nt King Cobras. Could have been something else.....?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How can you tell a King cobra from a Queen cobra after all snakes don't have balls. And do you know why snakes don't have balls?.....because they can't dance!!!!! hahahahahhhahhahahaha

[ProfessorFart]

Green aggressive Snake?

Possibly a Russell's Viper but they are rarely found in houses as they prefer open fields.

Most snakes will have a good go if cornered and threatened which is why the best thing you can do is to give it a clear escape route and let it go in its own time.

The key is not to get bitten. People only get bitten when they try and get up close and personal with the snake. I too can speak from painful experience of this. Even a bite from a non venomous species can't half hurt so where possible let the snake be or give it an escape route and 'encourage' it to leave by this route from a safe distance.

[toddy]

had a green snake in the house once, didn't flare up but was fairly aggressive, striking at the broomstick, we live just outside KhonKaen and there is aig lake here, wife says they come from lake, any ideas what type Toddy?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If it was very thin with distinctive 'slit' eyes - Vine Snake

If it was patterned but overall green and very thin - Paradise Tree Snake

Those above are 'rear-fanged' - ie have no real fangs but have 'grooves' in the rear teeth allowing venom to drip down them as they chew. Therefore, they have to chew to hurt you and even then the venom will not kill you ... exeption The Boomslang of Africa.

If it was a thick set snake no more than three feet long with a diamond shaped head - Green Tree Viper (or Pope's / White Lipped). Unusual to be in a house. (Front fanged and venemous).

If it was thick set and a really murky colour - Asian Ratsnake (harmless).

[toddy]

CAUTION: DO NOT EVER EVER EVER APPLY PRESSURE OR A TORNIQUET TO A SNAKE BITE WOUND. IT CAUSES THE POISON TO SPREAD QUICKLY AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE THIS AND SURVIVED HAVE DONE IT IN SPITE OF THE PRESSURE NOT BECAUSE OF IT. LAY FLAT, REMAIN CALM DO EVERYTHING TO AVOID CAUSING HIGHER BLOOD PRESSURE AND GET TO THE NEAREST SOURCE OF ANTIVENOM. I USED TO SELL VENEMOUS SNAKES IN THE UK AND HAVE BEEN BITTEN ONCE BY A DESERT HORNED VIPER AND ONCE BY A POPE'S PIT VIPER. YEP IT STUNG.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is this INCORRECT?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, this is incorrect.

[Jai Dee]

Yes, this is incorrect.

[Pink Mist]

The first aid treatment (St Johns senior first aid certficate) still recommended in Oz is to wrap a bandage the length of the limb above the wound. Theory of this is that the toxin travels thru the capilliaries and smaller blood vessels to the mainstream.

Note I said above the wound, not over it.

[chuchok]

The first aid treatment (St Johns senior first aid certficate) still recommended in Oz is to wrap a bandage the length of the limb above the wound. Theory of this is that the toxin travels thru the capilliaries and smaller blood vessels to the mainstream.

Note I said above the wound, not over it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's exactly what the flying doctors web site says too. It also slows down the process of the poison traveling through the lymph system.

[rexall]

I hail from a country that has no real snakes, only the odd two legged variety.

Yesterday, a rather large snake decided to make it's home in a big cardboard box that was full of junk at the back of the house.

Well, you have certainly given me the creeps, ruined my sleep for days to come, and made it impossible to walk around without combat boots! Thanks!

I am in Khon Kaen. This is the first time I have ever lived in a house, anywhere. Yesterday, my housekeeper pointed out a skinny green snake that was trying, apparently, to slither into the house through the louvered windows. I wasn't wearing my glasses, so can't describe it very well.

Anyway, housekeeper was quite agitated, and when I got out the dictionary and pointed to the Thai word for "dangerous" she affirmed. I don't know whether she is just fearful of snakes or if I should have been concerned about the thing. It didn't look particularly dangerous to me, but I'm no herpetologist. I'm not even a boy scout! So we called Mr. Doi the gardener and mighty executioner, and I assume (hope) he took care of it while I was out. I'll have to wait until tomorrow to get the late breaking news.

Other than cobras which are clearly very dangerous, are there other venomous snakes likely to turn up in my garden in Khon Kaen?

Please tell me, no. And mean it !

Thanks for any info.

Aloha,

Rex

[pnustedt]

[Please tell me, no.  And mean it !  

Err - YES! Check out this site

Edited June 1, 2005 by pnustedt

[Jai Dee]

[Please tell me, no.  And mean it !  

Err - YES! Check out this site

Great reference site pnustedt.... that two-headed snake is a bewdy isn't it... you wouldn't know if it's coming or going...

[Thetyim]

Not all snakes are aggressive some are quite friendly

[Pink Mist]

I believe that 2 headed snake originated in Tasmania

[udon]

Rexall. Watch out for the One Eyed Trouser Snake, can be venomous on occasion

[jayenram]

There is a bit more information on this site:

http://www.siam-info.de/english/snakes_poisonous.html

[jayenram]

I believe that 2 headed snake originated in Tasmania

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Isn't it past your beer time Blonco?