Snake

[murni]

We are getting a lot of one type of snake in the house. It is about a foot long, slender, pale yellow underneath & bright yellow & black horizontal stripes on top.

Does anyone know what it is? We have a guide to Thai snakes but it is not listed in it.

Thanks in advance

[ilyushin]

TIGER SNAKE (NOTECHUS SCUTATUS)? Extremely dangerous! Please check immediately. Also know as the " two stepper" ( it bites and 2 steps your dead).

[chang35baht]

Scaremongering at it,s best Ilyushin.

I believe that the tiger snake you refer to is indigenous to Australia.If someone had one as a pet and it had escaped then that may explain the presence of a single tiger snake. Poor Murni is saying that he has had many of these snakes in his house so I think it may be some other species. Quite possibly just as venomous.

[Sir Burr]

Have looked in my field guide and come up with three possible snakes, all non-venomous:-

1. Striped Keelback - Amphiesma stolata.

2. Malayan Bridle Snake - Dryocalamus subannulatus.

3. Common, or, Painted Bronzeback - Dendrelaphis pictus.

Let us know what they are, when you find out.

[earlofwindermere]

You can pick up a book at most larger bookstores in Chiang Mai called "Snakes and Other Reptles of Thailand." It has photos of most snakes.

[Tywais]

Scaremongering at it,s best Ilyushin.

I believe that the tiger snake you refer to is indigenous to Australia.If someone had one as a pet and it had escaped then that may explain the presence of a single tiger snake. Poor Murni is saying that he has had many of these snakes in his house so I think it may be some other species. Quite possibly just as venomous.

The snake description sounds like a banded krait (BTW this is the one called a "two-stepper") and is extremely dangerous, 5 times more then the king cobra.

[Farma]

I've found this site to be very helpful. It also lists the local names if you know them.

http://www.toxinology.com/fusebox.cfm?fuse...region_terms=13

Click on the name of the snake and it opens a page with plenty of detail and photos if available.

Hope it helps

[Tywais]

Banded Krait: If this is what you have, get help!

"Characteristics: Kraits are found only in Asia. This snake is of special concern to man. It is deadly--about 15 times more deadly than the common cobra It is active at night and relatively passive during the day. The native people often step on kraits while walking through their habitats. The krait has a tendency to seek shelter in sleeping bags, boots, and tents. Its venom is a powerful neurotoxin that causes respiratory failure."

Edited September 24, 2005 by tywais

[cmsally]

If the bands run across the body (not head to tail) sounds like a krait. The bands can be from white to yellow. Wouldn't say it was particularly slender but head tends to merge into body, rather than having a pronounced head.

SurvivalIQ Handbook: Survival Skills - Krait description, habitat and picture - Poisonous snakes and lizards

If you live near a big river and the snake travels mainly on the ground chances are it is a krait, many found near banks of Ping River in more rural parts. Normally not long around less than 1m

[Sir Burr]

The OP stated that the snake had "horizontal stripes". I take this to mean the stripes run the length of the body. ie striped, not banded.

[Tywais]

The OP stated that the snake had "horizontal stripes". I take this to mean the stripes run the length of the body. ie striped, not banded.

Depends on your frame of reference, how you are holding the snake, how many changs you have had to drink. Need the OP's feedback to see what he really meant.

[Fosa]

Possibly Muellers Blind Snake (Typhlops Muelleri) if the lateral yellow stripes run length of body. I've found loads over the years usually under compost or rotten wood.Sluggish unless poked! Harmless according to herptologist from Zurich zoo who came to look, examined one and tossed it to me! Quick google but found no photos. Fosa

[murni]

Sorry!! I meant vertical bands. I have the book on Thai snakes but they are not in there. One small point I am a she not a he!

It is a very beautiful little snake & the girth is less then that of a pencil.

Thanks again

[Sir Burr]

Sounds like a clutch of eggs has hatched nearby.

Easy to tell if they are Banded Kraits as the evenly spaced black and yellow bands encircle the body.

If your snakes have a uniform pale yellow underside, then, they are not Banded Kraits.

One more suggestion. It could be a Laotian Wolf snake - Lycodon laoensis.

Am still interested to hear what they are when you find out.

Edited September 24, 2005 by Sir Burr

[mumbojumbo]

I always thought that the two step snake was the small lime green snake with no bands which they call the bamboo viper-?

[Tywais]

I always thought that the two step snake was the small lime green snake with no bands which they call the bamboo viper-?

You are correct and that was one snake nicknamed as such in Vietnam, some say the original two-stepper. When I was stationed here in Thailand during the Vietnam era everyone knew the term was applied to the krait. Possibly scare tactics, but believe me it worked - still paranoid about snakes.

Edited September 24, 2005 by tywais

[Johpa]

I always thought that the two step snake was the small lime green snake with no bands which they call the bamboo viper-?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You are correct and that was one snake nicknamed as such in Vietnam, some say the original two-stepper. When I was stationed here in Thailand during the Vietnam era everyone knew the term was applied to the krait. Possibly scare tactics, but believe me it worked - still paranoid about snakes.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, the stories about the "two-step snake" and other assorted similar names were all nice myths easily traced to the Vietnam war era and probably earlier with more research. These snakes are certainly most venomous, but nothing like the myths. I know a few old time villagers who have been bitten by these snakes, including the green tree viper, who suffered indeed, but lived another many years with some scars and a great story to tell their grandkids. But yes, before modern medicine I am sure villagers died from the rare snake bite.

I do know one grizzled old rice farmer who, the story goes, was bitten by a green tree viper, went to the local hospital where the doctors gave up on him and then sent him home to die, a common scenario in rural Thailand. But not wanting to die, and having little faith in the city doctors, he went to old Uey Khiow, a K'mu medicine man (mo boraan) who used some old spells and blew magic upon the man and he survived. The man does have a rather unique depression in his calf where he is clearly missing some muscle tissue. Such stories keep people going to Uey Khiow to this day for a little of that old time medicine. Never underestimate the power of the placebo effect if you believe. Our village also has ol' Lung Man who specializes in the fabulous riak khwaan ceremony, a ceremony my wife set up for my son when he was very young and in poor health. Trouble is there in nobody to replace these traditional medical practitioners.

And I may be wrong, but I don't think a single US soldier died from a snake bite in Vietnam despite the many stories to the contrary.

[p1p]

The Banded Krait:

and Multi or many Banded Krait:

are both found around Chiang Mai. Both are highly dangerous, the Multi Banded Krait being somewhat more so. I must stress, these are extremely dangerous snakes. However bites are very rare.

The venom is a neurotoxin, meaning it affects the nerves. It blocks transmissions between nerves and has the effect of shutting down the autonomic nervous system. It will stop your heart and your ability to breathe normally.

If you, or anybody you know is bitten, you need to lie the bitten person down, relax them, immobilise the bite area and bandage tightly. i.e. If the bite is on a limb, bandage tightly from the bite site up to the torso and splint the limb. Try to keep the bite site higher than the rest of the body. Keep the bitten person calm and get them straight to hospital. (Phone ahead to say you are coming and describe the snake, the area of the bite, symptoms if any and any other information they may require. Be prepared to give CPR assistance.

Please forget talk of "two step" or other ridiculous tales. They are dangerous in that they can make people feel needlessly secure. Krait neurotoxins normally take effect from 2 to 15 hours after the initial bite, so you will probably be unsafe even after a dozen steps or so!

Furthermore, the fangs are so small that you might even be unaware that you have been bitten. There may well be no fang marks and no particular pain from the bite area. Take no chances, get Anitvenin treatment as soon as possible. With the Multi Banded Krait, you have approximately 50% chance of survival if you are treated.

Specialist medical advice can be found HERE

.

Lastly, I am trying to set up a snake collection and removal service here in the North of Thailand, (for both venomous and non-venomous varieties.) If you have a snake problem, please contact me and I shall hopefully be able to help you shortly.

[Maejo Man]

We are getting a lot of one type of snake in the house. It is about a foot long, slender, pale yellow underneath & bright yellow & black horizontal stripes on top.

Does anyone know what it is? We have a guide to Thai snakes but it is not listed in it.

Thanks in advance

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sounds very much like a Striped Keelback, and extremely common in Chiangmai especially around rice fields or vacant blocks of land. Non venomous and grows to around 60cm on maturity. See below.....

[leebeeUK]

The Banded Krait:

and Multi or many Banded Krait:

are both found around Chiang Mai. Both are highly dangerous, the Multi Banded Krait being somewhat more so. I must stress, these are extremely dangerous snakes. However bites are very rare.

The venom is a neurotoxin, meaning it affects the nerves. It blocks transmissions between nerves and has the effect of shutting down the autonomic nervous system. It will stop your heart and your ability to breathe normally.

If you, or anybody you know is bitten, you need to lie the bitten person down, relax them, immobilise the bite area and bandage tightly. i.e. If the bite is on a limb, bandage tightly from the bite site up to the torso and splint the limb. Try to keep the bite site higher than the rest of the body. Keep the bitten person calm and get them straight to hospital. (Phone ahead to say you are coming and describe the snake, the area of the bite, symptoms if any and any other information they may require. Be prepared to give CPR assistance.

Please forget talk of "two step" or other ridiculous tales. They are dangerous in that they can make people feel needlessly secure. Krait neurotoxins normally take effect from 2 to 15 hours after the initial bite, so you will probably be unsafe even after a dozen steps or so!

Furthermore, the fangs are so small that you might even be unaware that you have been bitten. There may well be no fang marks and no particular pain from the bite area. Take no chances, get Anitvenin treatment as soon as possible. With the Multi Banded Krait, you have approximately 50% chance of survival if you are treated.

Specialist medical advice can be found HERE

.

Lastly, I am trying to set up a snake collection and removal service here in the North of Thailand, (for both venomous and non-venomous varieties.) If you have a snake problem, please contact me and I shall hopefully be able to help you shortly.

I saw what looked pretty much like the Multi-banded Krait, (according to this information), last night (Sunday 6th July) on the grounds of Kawila Wittayalai School, where I teach, a couple of miles from Chiang Mai town. I would say it would have been no more than 18 inches long, stretched out (I didn't try this!!) and steadily went on its way past me as I pulled up, on my bicycle, outside the house I'm staying at. I probably passed about two feet from it, initially not seeing it at all (!!), and observed from maybe 4, 5 ft as it headed off into nearby grass towards the water. There's several ponds and dykes on the large grounds and I have also seen a few larger, though still quite slender, dark green snakes, between 2 ft to the longest, maybe 6ft. Anyone know what these are? One actually slithered into the back wheel of my bike one afternoon, trying to speed across the road as I passed. Only a bunch of The kids alerted me! I've now seen, I think, seven snakes of varying sizes and colours and in different environments, including an 18inch brown snake seen in the Ayutthaya area and four footer going like the clappers along the Mekon River. No expert, and suitably apprehensive (is that the right word?) when I see them, I am nevertheless an interested observer. Fair warnings of how dangerous some of these may be are very gratefully received.

Edited July 7, 2008 by leebeeUK

[p1p]

A couple of points worth noting. The OP describes snakes that are pencil sized and about 30cms long. These could be a juvenile of any number of species including the Siamese Cobra and even a King Cobra hatchling. They will need to grow a bit and show adult colouration before the species can be identified for sure.

The Kraits, which are not common, tend to have a much larger girth by the time they are 30cms or so long. They are highly venomous but tend to bite very rarely, being normally quite docile. Their fangs are also fairly small, so they need to hit bare skin to do harm and envenomation tends to take a lengthy period. You will normally be okay if you are within 24 hours of a supply of antivenin. (Stocks are held at Maharaj and Maerim Hospitals.)

[Flatouthruthefog]

Scaremongering at it,s best Ilyushin.

I believe that the tiger snake you refer to is indigenous to Australia.If someone had one as a pet and it had escaped then that may explain the presence of a single tiger snake. Poor Murni is saying that he has had many of these snakes in his house so I think it may be some other species. Quite possibly just as venomous.

I'm no expert (after all, 'ex' is a has-been and 'spurt' is a drip under pressure) but I have always understood that:

1. Yellow and black are the danger signs of nature, whether they be on a snake, spider or what have you.

2. If you kill small young snakes (rather than gently throwing them out somehow), Mummy snake will soon come looking for vengeance! Not a pretty sight and i know 2 rural farangs to whom this has happened.

3. Generally, snakes are more worried about you than you should be about them. They tend to lash out only when taken by surprise.

[realthaideal]

Take a pic of the snake and maybe post in the gen forum or in the farming/ ag sub-forum. I know there's some sub-forum most go to for id'ing critters from 'round the house. Either way, to best end our speculation, grab the camera phone or keep the point n shoot handy to grab a pic next time.

[Dustoff]

I have lived with and around snakes all of my life and have to say that the chances of you being bitten by a snake are far less than being struck by lightning. Especially if you play golf.

Snakes are not the least bit interested in biting you - unless of course you screw with them, even accidently, and even then they will frequently thump you with their nose to warn you off. I should be so forgiving..

We here in Thailand live in kinda snake country so caution is always advised just as when we cross a busy street.

In the home, dig into low cupboards slowly and with some semblance of awareness. And if they are coming into your home, investigate why and how to prevent that. Weather seals are available at the HomePro kinda places that you can stick on the bottom of your doors and that should do it since snakes have been condemned by god to crawl on the ground onto eternity - it's that apple thing..

Once bitten, kill the snake immediately, even if it means another bite, and take it with you to the hospital for identification.

But then, if you are not in extreme pain within one minute, don't bother - you are in no danger.

Edited July 7, 2008 by Dustoff

[bergen]

Scaremongering at it,s best Ilyushin.

I believe that the tiger snake you refer to is indigenous to Australia.If someone had one as a pet and it had escaped then that may explain the presence of a single tiger snake. Poor Murni is saying that he has had many of these snakes in his house so I think it may be some other species. Quite possibly just as venomous.

I'm no expert (after all, 'ex' is a has-been and 'spurt' is a drip under pressure) but I have always understood that:

1. Yellow and black are the danger signs of nature, whether they be on a snake, spider or what have you.2. If you kill small young snakes (rather than gently throwing them out somehow), Mummy snake will soon come looking for vengeance! Not a pretty sight and i know 2 rural farangs to whom this has happened.

3. Generally, snakes are more worried about you than you should be about them. They tend to lash out only when taken by surprise.

Nature has also created a lot if "look a likes" which needs further examination before categorized

[Loaded]

I saw near Huay Tung Tao something like the banded krait except I'm sure it had orange and black hoops. I regularly cycle around the 5km exercise track and often surprise snakes as I whiz around the corner as they rest on or near the track. Scares the life out of me though. I've also seen the small smooth green snakes around there and the other day came upon a green and brownish thing about 1.5m long, again he got my heart thumping.

[FarangCravings]

We are getting a lot of one type of snake in the house. It is about a foot long, slender, pale yellow underneath & bright yellow & black horizontal stripes on top.

Does anyone know what it is? We have a guide to Thai snakes but it is not listed in it.

Thanks in advance

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sounds very much like a Striped Keelback, and extremely common in Chiangmai especially around rice fields or vacant blocks of land. Non venomous and grows to around 60cm on maturity. See below.....

Well in that case UG you sold me a duff book

I went on a road trip not long back off road and saw 5 snakes in less than 1 hour one of them was a beautiful juvenile with a red and yellow head bout 6 inches long.

Got a great close up picture of it (well Tipsy Did)

Now while i am well versed in snake identification and handling in the Americas i am not so here in Asia so

that was the reason I wanted to purchase the book and i looked up the species and it was a Juvenile keelback and low and behold its a poisonous snake.

No deaths have ever been reported although symtoms can be severe if bitten

I'll be round for my refund later

On a serious note

Treat all Snakes with extreme care and leave them alone.

Unless you are 100% sure of its identification consider it poisonous

(that's not an excuse to kill it)

[richoz]

We are getting a lot of one type of snake in the house. It is about a foot long, slender, pale yellow underneath & bright yellow & black horizontal stripes on top.

Does anyone know what it is? We have a guide to Thai snakes but it is not listed in it.

Thanks in advance

Interested to know.. where in CM are you?

[Flapman]

....Weather seals are available at the HomePro kinda places that you can stick on the bottom of your doors and that should do it since snakes have been condemned by god to crawl on the ground onto eternity - it's that apple thing..

Beg to differ. I used to rent a house in a soi in C-Mai old city, near Wat Chedi Luang, and had a resident Golden Tree Snake (Chrysopelea ornata - see p66 of 'Snakes and Other Reptiles of Thailand and SE Asia, by Cox, Van Dijk, Nabhitabhata and Thirakhupt'). Looks greenish-yellow from a distance, but its really golden scales on black. One day I saw it climb vertically up a 6inch-wide and half inch deep indented channel in the wall! I never saw it fly - in fact they sort-of glide a bit. Only mildly poisonous, with grooved back fangs carrying the poison. I found a sloughed off skin on the living room floor one morning.

[Gary A]

Golden Tree snakes and Kraits are particularly easy to identify. Both the Blue Krait and Banded Krait have very pronounced rings around their body. We have some small snakes with stripes running the length of them. I don't know what they are called but I call them garden snakes. I think they are harmless. My dog stepped on one and all it wanted to do was to get away. My dog is afraid of snakes and I'm not sure if the snake or the dog was more afraid. We also have a number of Golden Tree snakes and they too are harmless although they are pretty quick to try to bite if cornered.