I've studied snakes off and on since about 1962. I read every Raymond L Ditmars wrote. Studying snakes help me learn much about prejudice and other social dynamics. In Viet-nam I was at about the only place in 'Nam that didn't have snakes(Cam Rahn Bay). I was in pest control in the USAF. Someone did bring a baby Elaphe radiata(cousin to the US black rat snake-Elaphe obseleta). I identified it with an ID key the Smithsonian had sent to me. That was the only snake I saw there except for some pickled ones in Saigon.
In 1971 I bought Desmond, the boa constrictor I had for about 27 years. This forum has sort of reawakened my interest. Hope the posting isn't too verbose.
crayguns