Elapid keepers/handlers......

[Mr.James]

I would suggest if you where to purchase an elapid that you get an established feeder from a reputable breeder. I have four red bellies from the same litter. All four I have kept since not long after they where born, I wanted the challenge of getting them started. They are all different. One is feeding on its own on thawed unscented pinkys, very relaxed and friendly. The others not so..one is a nut case refuses to eat anything and likes to bite and try and escape when u open the tub. The other two are being assist fed and scented, personallities are in between. I put it down to natural selection as they have larger litters. All four are housed exactly the same so it comes down to the individual animals. The one good feeder does free handle well but i would not recommend this to anyone else.

 

[Wrightpython]

All rbb young are easy to free handle and i have never had trouble getting them to feed, not that you are suppose to but i use live pinkies on all baby elapids and they all feed all the time, it needs to wiggle people.

 

[Fuscus]

Crystal - Have you been to Snakes Downunder Google Maps at Chliders? During the demo they freehandle RBBS. Of course they won't let you do it but its well worth the trip from Harvey Bay

 

[CrystalMoon]

Crystal - Have you been to Snakes Downunder Google Maps at Chliders? During the demo they freehandle RBBS. Of course they won't let you do it but its well worth the trip from Harvey Bay

It was one of the first places I went to when I moved here in 2010 they are lovely people and they are the reason I went ahead and got my reptile license thanks fuscus

 

[baxtor]

If you get them as hatchies then elapids can and quite often are more relaxed and forgiving than pythons. i dont know why but they are more tolerable as long as there well fed and handled regularly even tigers can be free handled and this year im trying to tame inland tai enough to free handle. They should react similar to colletts and rbb as they seem as docile in tank

While I have found inlands to be very laid back and calm they can and do occasionally just decide to bite. No feed or fear response, just sitting comfortably in hand one moment and next moment a quite deliberate bite, almost like a taste test.
This can of course have quite major consequences so just watch yourself if you do in fact continue with your plan.

 

[scorps]

I keep various elapids but nothing beats the rbbs, mine have so much personality and so active during the day.