Elephant Nose Snake????

[KITKAT]

Anyone ever seen this species of snake, or know anything about them? This guy showed up at our local aquarium store. He is apparently 100% aquatic... never crawls out on land. The store owner knows nothing about these snakes, and I cannot find anything on google either.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/elephant_nose_sign_070807_001.jpg

The scales are weird too... they are kinda like little points that stick up.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/elephant_nose_snake_070807_1c.jpg

[Josh]

cool looking scales

[Stefan-A]

Nice find. :) Acrochordus sp.

Acrochordidae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrochordus)

[Morph]

Nice find. :) Acrochordus sp.

Acrochordidae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrochordus)


An interesting centance on Wikipedia:

Numerous attempts have been made by both zoos and private reptile collectors to keep them, but in all cases, they have been reluctant to feed and prone to skin infections.

[Stefan-A]

I noticed that too. Follow the link in wikipedia, it will tell a bit more about the problems.

[GarterGirl]

Wow!

That is one cool snake!:cool:
I don't no anything about them!
Are they endangered?

[Morph]

I think its amazing. the link given on wikipedia says that they are a strong snake and yet can't carry thier body weight on land.

[sschind]

Here is a link to a website dedicated to them.

Pictures and Captive husbandry Information on the Care of Acrochordus filesnakes. acrochordus javanicus arafura arafurae granulatus filesnake (http://www.acrochordus.com/)

[Serpentine99]

That person who wrote that website that you posted sschind, made it sound like they are absolutely hopeless to keep in captivity.

[sschind]

I haven't really looked at the site but I don't doubt your assessment. I did see on another site though that they claimed they were relatively easy once acclimated.

I think this is one of those species that is best left in the wild. Like WC mandarin ratsnakes and draco lizards (among others) Granted there is a guy who has succeeded in not only keeping draco lizards but breeding them (much like Marcia and the mountain horned dragons several years ago) but the majority of these are destined to a slow death in captivity simply because the general public is not aware of what it takes to keep them. It's a double edged sword I guess. If none are imported we don't have the opportunity to learn about them but if they are imported most are doomed because of our lack of knowledge. Personally I like the doom and gloom approach. For animals that are delicate, make it sound like they are impossible. This will hopefully scare off many who are not so dedicated. If someone is still interested then tell them what needs to be done.

There are plenty of animals out there that make wonderful pets for the average person without having to resort to purchasing something that is impossible for all but the most dedicated to take care of.

[Lee]

The one at reptile gardens in rapid city looked healthy and I do believe it was feeding as it was a good size at probably 4'-5'.

[adamanteus]

I've only seen these snakes on the TV, but I have spoken to people who have tried to keep them, with little success. I guess that if they must be kept, they are best with specialist keepers who have the time and money to create the environment they need.

[Stefan-A]

Personally I like the doom and gloom approach. For animals that are delicate, make it sound like they are impossible. This will hopefully scare off many who are not so dedicated. If someone is still interested then tell them what needs to be done.

There are plenty of animals out there that make wonderful pets for the average person without having to resort to purchasing something that is impossible for all but the most dedicated to take care of.

I can't say I completely agree with that approach. :) The cold hard facts about its difficulty should be enough to scare away most people that are incapable, and the rest probably won't admit it to themselves anyway.

I know I lost interest in this snake the second I noticed it was aquatic. :D That it's notoriously difficult to keep certainly didn't make it more attractive.

[adamanteus]

That it's notoriously difficult to keep certainly didn't make it more attractive.

Some snake keepers are more "collectors" than serious enthusiasts. So a rare animal with such a reputation would be appealing to them. This will always be the case.:(

[Stefan-A]

Yeah. That's probably what the snake in the opening post will have to deal with. :(

[adamanteus]

I hate it when a new "novelty" snake comes on the market...you just know thousands will die.

[Stefan-A]

I hate it when a new "novelty" snake comes on the market...you just know thousands will die.
We're experiencing the same thing with the rough green snake (Opheodrys aestivus) right now. All that are sold right now, are wildcaught and very few even know how to care for them properly.

And I could of course be wrong, but I think the same thing might be going on with Dasypeltis in Sweden.

And here I am, still dreaming of garter snakes and eastern milksnakes. :D

[adamanteus]

I have an empty 4 foot viv and an old table lamp....Mmmmm, wonder where I can buy a Komodo dragon.:rolleyes:

[Stefan-A]

Couldn't even keep a V. timorensis in a 4 foot viv. :D

And I always get the urge to clean my shotgun whenever somebody starts asking about crocodilians..

[adamanteus]

Gulp! Never mentioned them!

Stefan, save me looking it up...what the scientific name of the little spiny tailed monitor?

[Stefan-A]

Varanus acanthurus?


Yeah, I looked it up. :D

[adamanteus]

Thanks Stefan. I like them, small enough to manage but still a monitor. I saw some in a shop a couple of months ago, very nice.

[Stefan-A]

Did a bit of reading, seem nice. A couple of people here keep them, apparently. Still, I'd like to get my hands on a Lacerta viridis or some North American Eumeces.

Of course, they won't be seen in any local shops in any decent towns, there's usually nothing for me there. ;) :D

[ScimitarX]

We've got a group of 4 varanus acanthurus, lovely little monitors, they are constantly moving about and climb on everything unless they are slleeping. Will be selling 2 of them when we definitely know we have a pair that we can breed.

[adamanteus]

Claire, let me know when you're selling. If the price is right I might be interested. I don't care about the sex.

[ScimitarX]

Ok, you'll be the 1st to know when they are ready, shoudnt be too much longer as they do show some breeding behavior.

[adamanteus]

Thanks Claire. X

[KITKAT]

I hate it when a new "novelty" snake comes on the market...you just know thousands will die.

Well if not, then at least thousands will get too big to be kept! I predict that even if the public became able to keep this species, they would ignore the potential size they can reach, and then have a crisis with an animal that is too big for their capabilities... just like the Iguana.:( :mad:

[Stefan-A]

Like the iguana, yellow anaconda, many pythons, caimans, monitors.. Red-eared sliders get bigger than expected and are probably the most famous example.

You're right and there are plenty of examples of how it has happened with other species.