LEGION!! Check this out....

[CutMeMick]

Legion, I was on line reading up on the news and I saw this over on MSN.

Check it out and give your thoughts.

Boomslang vs. Chameleon - MSN Video#

[LEGION]

Yeah, Boomslang's are pretty cool. Interesting as they are a colubrid, and have fangs situated far back under the eyes. They have to grab and chew the venom in, as their fangs are grooved and the venom isn't injected, but just sort of falls off the fangs, unlike vipers or elapids which inject it.

Most colubrids are harmless, like ratsnakes and kingsnakes, but the boomslang is one of the most potent snakes on the planet. It's venom is hemolytic and cytotoxic. Funny as one can be bit by a boomslang and show no signs of envenomation. BUT; say 24-36 hours have gone by and all of a sudden you're f#cked. Once the venom takes hold and one hasn't had antivenin, then you WILL die, very horribly. Basically your organs dissolve, and blood comes from every pore and opening in your body. Like having Ebola.

Funny thing is, the antivenin, even when administered, doesn't always work. I have a friend in S. Africa who has some boomslangs and he was telling me about a guy who got tagged by one. The guy went to the hospital, was there for like 30 hours, had antivenin{a small amount} administered, and left. He supposedly walked out of the hospital; got 4 blocks down, and collapsed with a pool of blood around him.

Sad thing is, people can buy these things for like $70. Most dealers are scrupulous, but some aren't and can you imagine some kid going to a snake show and ggetting one? I use to have a couple, but they didn't really do anything for me; plus I didn't like feeding chameleons and lizards to them.

Well Mick; I just wrote a novel on something no one will care about

I love snakes

[Spicoli]

Yeah, Boomslang's are pretty cool. Interesting as they are a colubrid, and have fangs situated far back under the eyes. They have to grab and chew the venom in, as their fangs are grooved and the venom isn't injected, but just sort of falls off the fangs, unlike vipers or elapids which inject it.

Most colubrids are harmless, like ratsnakes and kingsnakes, but the boomslang is one of the most potent snakes on the planet. It's venom is hemolytic and cytotoxic. Funny as one can be bit by a boomslang and show no signs of envenomation. BUT; say 24-36 hours have gone by and all of a sudden you're f#cked. Once the venom takes hold and one hasn't had antivenin, then you WILL die, very horribly. Basically your organs dissolve, and blood comes from every pore and opening in your body. Like having Ebola.

Funny thing is, the antivenin, even when administered, doesn't always work. I have a friend in S. Africa who has some boomslangs and he was telling me about a guy who got tagged by one. The guy went to the hospital, was there for like 30 hours, had antivenin{a small amount} administered, and left. He supposedly walked out of the hospital; got 4 blocks down, and collapsed with a pool of blood around him.

Sad thing is, people can buy these things for like $70. Most dealers are scrupulous, but some aren't and can you imagine some kid going to a snake show and ggetting one? I use to have a couple, but they didn't really do anything for me; plus I didn't like feeding chameleons and lizards to them.

Well Mick; I just wrote a novel on something no one will care about

I love snakes

Jeezus Legion......Have you ever met a Snake You did NOT like ?? Very Immpresive

Maybe we can find a boomslang and toss It in Bilbo's Itty-bitty Pants for a surprise

[LEGION]

Yeah, Boomslang's are pretty cool. Interesting as they are a colubrid, and have fangs situated far back under the eyes. They have to grab and chew the venom in, as their fangs are grooved and the venom isn't injected, but just sort of falls off the fangs, unlike vipers or elapids which inject it.

Most colubrids are harmless, like ratsnakes and kingsnakes, but the boomslang is one of the most potent snakes on the planet. It's venom is hemolytic and cytotoxic. Funny as one can be bit by a boomslang and show no signs of envenomation. BUT; say 24-36 hours have gone by and all of a sudden you're f#cked. Once the venom takes hold and one hasn't had antivenin, then you WILL die, very horribly. Basically your organs dissolve, and blood comes from every pore and opening in your body. Like having Ebola.

Funny thing is, the antivenin, even when administered, doesn't always work. I have a friend in S. Africa who has some boomslangs and he was telling me about a guy who got tagged by one. The guy went to the hospital, was there for like 30 hours, had antivenin{a small amount} administered, and left. He supposedly walked out of the hospital; got 4 blocks down, and collapsed with a pool of blood around him.

Sad thing is, people can buy these things for like $70. Most dealers are scrupulous, but some aren't and can you imagine some kid going to a snake show and ggetting one? I use to have a couple, but they didn't really do anything for me; plus I didn't like feeding chameleons and lizards to them.

Well Mick; I just wrote a novel on something no one will care about

I love snakes

Jeezus Legion......Have you ever met a Snake You did NOT like ?? Very Immpresive

Maybe we can find a boomslang and toss It in Bilbo's Itty-bitty Pants for a surprise

Lol; nah, I wouldn't do that to Bilbo. He's actually my buddy; so I'd just shoot him for fear of being forced to listen to him cry until the venom took over.

JK, I wouldn't wish that kind of death on someone. And Bilbo's my boy

[Kev]

Ah glad the witch hunt or should I say hobbit hunt has been called off for a while.

I actually used to have a snake growing up. It was a garter snake and I called it streak cos it had red white and yellow streaks running from head to tail.

It was a very pretty snake I thought, and completely harmless.

I neglected him though I'm sad to say. When I bought him the guy at the pet center said they could go without food for two weeks so I only fed him once a fortnight.

I used to give him earth worms and very occaisionally little guppy fish.

He wasn't very big but he was quite loveable in his own way.

I think he lived about 6 years, not sure if that was a good lifespan for him or not?

[CutMeMick]

Yeah, Boomslang's are pretty cool. Interesting as they are a colubrid, and have fangs situated far back under the eyes. They have to grab and chew the venom in, as their fangs are grooved and the venom isn't injected, but just sort of falls off the fangs, unlike vipers or elapids which inject it.

Most colubrids are harmless, like ratsnakes and kingsnakes, but the boomslang is one of the most potent snakes on the planet. It's venom is hemolytic and cytotoxic. Funny as one can be bit by a boomslang and show no signs of envenomation. BUT; say 24-36 hours have gone by and all of a sudden you're f#cked. Once the venom takes hold and one hasn't had antivenin, then you WILL die, very horribly. Basically your organs dissolve, and blood comes from every pore and opening in your body. Like having Ebola.

Funny thing is, the antivenin, even when administered, doesn't always work. I have a friend in S. Africa who has some boomslangs and he was telling me about a guy who got tagged by one. The guy went to the hospital, was there for like 30 hours, had antivenin{a small amount} administered, and left. He supposedly walked out of the hospital; got 4 blocks down, and collapsed with a pool of blood around him.

Sad thing is, people can buy these things for like $70. Most dealers are scrupulous, but some aren't and can you imagine some kid going to a snake show and ggetting one? I use to have a couple, but they didn't really do anything for me; plus I didn't like feeding chameleons and lizards to them.

Well Mick; I just wrote a novel on something no one will care about

I love snakes

That's crazy man... That little fucken snake can do all that.

LEGION what snake is considered to be the smallest but most venomus?
Cause this boomslang sure looks small/thin....

[LEGION]

Mick, the smallest, most venomous snake would have to be the Saw Scaled Viper. Curiously, it kills about 20,000+ people every year. They are found in Africa, Israel, Palestine and other parts of the middle east. Also India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Word is that those 20,000+ people that die are ones bitten mostly in India and the island of Sri Lanka. Mostly it has to do with the fact those people walk around with no shoes and there is little antivenin available.

They have a powerful hemotoxic venom that causes massive internal bleeding. They average about 2 feet, maybe a little larger. Small heads, small venom glands, but one bite can kill probably 6 or 7 people.

The most toxic snake in the world is the Inland Taipan. 1 milligram can kill a grown man, or several thousand mice. 1 milligram is an M&M cut into 1000 pieces, and one of those pieces is 1 milligram!! One bite from an Inland can kill 150 men over 200pounds. Pretty potent

Damn I'm a geek

[:::PSL:::]

Mick, the smallest, most venomous snake would have to be the Saw Scaled Viper. Curiously, it kills about 20,000+ people every year. They are found in Africa, Israel, Palestine and other parts of the middle east. Also India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Word is that those 20,000+ people that die are ones bitten mostly in India and the island of Sri Lanka. Mostly it has to do with the fact those people walk around with no shoes and there is little antivenin available.

They have a powerful hemotoxic venom that causes massive internal bleeding. They average about 2 feet, maybe a little larger. Small heads, small venom glands, but one bite can kill probably 6 or 7 people.

The most toxic snake in the world is the Inland Taipan. 1 milligram can kill a grown man, or several thousand mice. 1 milligram is an M&M cut into 1000 pieces, and one of those pieces is 1 milligram!! One bite from an Inland can kill 150 men over 200pounds. Pretty potent

Damn I'm a geek

Have ya ever been bitten by any venomous snake?

[LEGION]

I was bitten a couple of times by some native species here in the states; but was lucky they were dry bites and no venom was injected. I've had a couple of real close calls with some cobras. Got grabbed one day on my sweatshirt and was lucky, as she had let loose alot of venom. Also been grazed by a fang, which was scary.

Cobras are pretty predictable in their movements and the way they attack, so it is pretty routine with them, though you always have to watch them closely. Cobras always hood up before they strike, and the weight of their hoods forces them to strike in a downward position, though some will jump at you. Forest cobras, cape cobras and egyptian cobras are notorious for their aggression, and will chase a person and strike repeatedly, so it can get pretty intense working with them. I have 2 cape cobras, one adult and one juvenile. The adult male is a close relative of Satan

Here is a guy that gets bit all the time. He almost died 2 months ago from an eastern diamondback rattlesnake. Scroll down and you'll see him in the hospital several times. Cool guy; but kind of crazy

Hunter Serpentology / MedFlash

[Diane]

Here is a guy that gets bit all the time. He almost died 2 months ago from an eastern diamondback rattlesnake. Scroll down and you'll see him in the hospital several times. Cool guy; but kind of crazy

Hunter Serpentology / MedFlash

That guy is frickin insane!!!!!

Those pics of his hand, and fingers are disgusting!!!

[LEGION]

Here is a guy that gets bit all the time. He almost died 2 months ago from an eastern diamondback rattlesnake. Scroll down and you'll see him in the hospital several times. Cool guy; but kind of crazy

Hunter Serpentology / MedFlash

That guy is frickin insane!!!!!

Those pics of his hand, and fingers are disgusting!!!

Yeah, they are gross; but you need to see some pics of people bitten by a fer-de-lance or russell's viper to really appreciate grotesqueness Sh#t be dripping black goop and falling off

[Spicoli]

I was bitten a couple of times by some native species here in the states; but was lucky they were dry bites and no venom was injected. I've had a couple of real close calls with some cobras. Got grabbed one day on my sweatshirt and was lucky, as she had let loose alot of venom. Also been grazed by a fang, which was scary.

Cobras are pretty predictable in their movements and the way they attack, so it is pretty routine with them, though you always have to watch them closely. Cobras always hood up before they strike, and the weight of their hoods forces them to strike in a downward position, though some will jump at you. Forest cobras, cape cobras and egyptian cobras are notorious for their aggression, and will chase a person and strike repeatedly, so it can get pretty intense working with them. I have 2 cape cobras, one adult and one juvenile. The adult male is a close relative of Satan

Here is a guy that gets bit all the time. He almost died 2 months ago from an eastern diamondback rattlesnake. Scroll down and you'll see him in the hospital several times. Cool guy; but kind of crazy

Hunter Serpentology / MedFlash

I gotta tell ya Legion Bro, I work with some CRAZY Ferrel cats and aggressive rabid "shockie" dogs all day, every day But two words on what you do and that video for me ......F!!K THAT .You got me and all the power to you.Nerves of steel Indeed my man. Just be careful chief,serious!!

[LEGION]

I was bitten a couple of times by some native species here in the states; but was lucky they were dry bites and no venom was injected. I've had a couple of real close calls with some cobras. Got grabbed one day on my sweatshirt and was lucky, as she had let loose alot of venom. Also been grazed by a fang, which was scary.

Cobras are pretty predictable in their movements and the way they attack, so it is pretty routine with them, though you always have to watch them closely. Cobras always hood up before they strike, and the weight of their hoods forces them to strike in a downward position, though some will jump at you. Forest cobras, cape cobras and egyptian cobras are notorious for their aggression, and will chase a person and strike repeatedly, so it can get pretty intense working with them. I have 2 cape cobras, one adult and one juvenile. The adult male is a close relative of Satan

Here is a guy that gets bit all the time. He almost died 2 months ago from an eastern diamondback rattlesnake. Scroll down and you'll see him in the hospital several times. Cool guy; but kind of crazy

Hunter Serpentology / MedFlash

I gotta tell ya Legion Bro, I work with some CRAZY Ferrel cats and aggressive rabid "shockie" dogs all day, every day But two words on what you do and that video for me ......F!!K THAT .You got me and all the power to you.Nerves of steel Indeed my man. Just be careful chief,serious!!

Lol, I wouldn't say nerves of steel, but thanks. Indeed, I will work with mambas before I tangle with a ferret cat. Any cat is hell on wheels when provoked, and can really mess a person up. Granted, they don't have venom, but what a mess they can make when cornered

If I had nerves of steel I wouldn't cry while trying unsuccessfully to ride a roller coaster or getting in an airplane. We're all willing to do things others might not Different strokes for different folks I suppose.

[Diane]

Okay, being that I'm pretty new here, so I wouldn't know this, but what do you do Legion? Do you work with snakes on a daily basis?

[LEGION]

Okay, being that I'm pretty new here, so I wouldn't know this, but what do you do Legion? Do you work with snakes on a daily basis?

No, I don't do it as a job, if that is what you're asking. I just keep them as a hobby, and have always had a passion for reptiles; especially venomous. Something very primal about them, and I am in awe of an animal who has no legs, arms or ears but yet is probably the most adaptable animal on the planet. Not to mention the day to day of having to deal with any one of several animals that can destroy me......

If you ever really want to know what the word "focus" means, work with a wild caught, freshly imported 8 or 9ft. egyptian cobra that is PISSED OFF; then you might understand the true definition of that word