Scary Short "Sometimes I feel like the prey."

[arfcomaddict]

That would have been a SERIOUS invenomation. You often talk about "dry" bites when a snake is being defensive, but clearly that wasn't the case here. Is antivenom available for all three types of mambas you keep? If so, is it one type for all three, or three separate products?

[viperkeeper]

@arfcomaddict Yes, I know that would have been a wet bite. Yes, it's a polyvalent that works very well.

[BWCmike]

0:48 look at the guys face reflecting in the glass. hes looking away and then looks back not a millisecond to soon

[viperkeeper]

@BWCmike Yes, my wife entered the room...

[carollshelby500]

wow thats crazy i would of shit my pants

[MrCubensis1]

Close call. would have never imagined the reach this snake has. that sliding door stopped him/her just enough. one hell of an ADRENALINE RUSH i bet you had after that one. lol. awesome footage. glad you diddnt get snagged.

[viperkeeper]

@MrCubensis1 No, I actually have not had one in years. All in a days work.

[Remro88]

And that's suppose to be a " feeding " response ? Uh huh ... that snake is a killer, it didnt give a dam about the mouse from what it looked but rather tried to bite the mouse holder . What a reach and smooth speed it has, one cannot imagine it until one actually witness it . It had you, eye targeted, even after you dropped the mouse in the cage.

Do black mambas have any predators like the mongoose ?

[viperkeeper]

@Remro88 Mongoose is no match for a Mamba. Some Hawks and other birds may include them in their diet but I really think most will steer clear of them.

[LetzterWille]

WoW lucky lucky^^ mambasamba!

[davekinda2000]

i have heard tht mambas will stand up an chase people , guess its true lol

[viperkeeper]

@davekinda2000 Not really

[jaandil7]

that was swift move by mr mamba......lucky al.....that scared me....

[holmanftw2212]

And the reason love and keep mambas, always keep you well entertained.

[Marktim84]

lolllll did you smack him with the mouse?

[viperkeeper]

@jackienlinda He didn't come completely out and went back on his own.

[jaymusmania88]

just out of observation of the video it seems like you are visibly upset, like your about to cry or that your mad, what went through your head and what were your emotions like after this ordeal?

[nynoname1]

thats crazy! good thing you didnt get tagged! do you keep antivenom? its polyvalent for mambas right?

[viperkeeper]

@nynoname1 Yes

[uguysarefried]

What a slippery little bastard !

[jboomgarden1]

Dang I think I would've crapped all over myself..

[crytun]

wow how far did he get, i don't want you to get bit

[viperkeeper]

@crytun I have no idea

[crytun]

@viperkeeper i know they can stand half their body off the ground. it looks like someone shot him out the cage

[TheRascal5678]

hes gonna get bit sooner or later

[crytun]

i didn't know mamba's fly fish

[skateboardingcobra]

i would love to see a gaboon viper.

[adamanteus11]

he sure knows how to launch an attack ;)

[DanWright1966]

I bet I've watched this better than 20 times and it's frightening every time. I've wondered if there is any sort of plexiglass shield that could be fabricated that the camera could mount into? (Like a steady-cam rig with 18 inches of plexi around it. –something which could be seen through, yet give just a bit more protection for the unexpected –like this video.) Or do you already use something like that?

[viperkeeper]

@DanWright1966 Too much crap to handle which can turn into a big distraction. I prefer to go on my skills & agility.

[hornbuckle56]

I'd say you looked back at just the right time.

[ssssnakeman]

Wow, that was quite a reach al, hate to be washing your shorts mate

[viperkeeper]

@ssssnakeman Shorts were clean mate, had not time to crap in them.

[bigredwrestler93]

that is terrifying!

[AnaphylacticSpock]

A keeper at the St Louis zoo once told me that the whole goal of captive mambas is to discourage humans from having captive mambas... (especially wild caught specimens). Glad you were out of range! Excellent footage for an 'on the fly shot'...

[viperkeeper]

@AnaphylacticSpock WC's are easier than CBB...They have no fear of humans

[krispcream1]

wow thats all i have to say.

[GrayHatLinux]

Do you keep anti-venom on hand for all the snakes you own?

[viperkeeper]

@GrayHatLinux Not all but certainly for the most lethal snakes.

[TheGhostScorpion]

gees... thats the longest strike i ever seen a snake do. some of them can be ill tempered

[spiderwebs7215]

Jeesh Al, that certainly wasn't Tanz! Speaking of her, how is she? I'm relatively new to your videos, but I have been fortunate enough to have watched your video where you sit down with your Tanzanian black mamba.

[viperkeeper]

@spiderwebs7215 Taz is fine....hopefully gravid.

[ManillaRd]

As soon as you turned elsewhere the mamba launched! Ever thought feeding it without fully opening the door? omg...

[Tunerguy23]

Keeper don't u got to have a permit for all those venomous snakes?? between the mamba and the brown no thankx lol

[viperkeeper]

@Tunerguy23 Not currently.

[TimmyGal]

Yikes!! I'd have shit my pants at the sight of that!

[scootkh]

Bit early in the morn for Bourbon and Coke again.....

[raGEEE1986]

wow so fast glad your unscaved al keep these vids coming love em :D

[alherchenreder]

Holy moley! That was an awesome lunge lol. Just found your videos, very cool! Just curious, I'll assume you have been bitten but as for the venom, do you take small doses to build up a tolerance? Or is there a kind of shot like an EPI - pen?

[viperkeeper]

@alherchenreder No, I don't self-inject venom.

[alherchenreder]

@viperkeeper But, if you get bitten do you take something? Or hit the hospital

[viperkeeper]

@alherchenreder I head to the hospital with anti-venom.

[IAMGiftbearer]

OMG! That thing sprung out of there like when you open one of those cans of spring loaded gag snakes! I don't know how it's possible to feed it safely short of wearing full body armour when it can fly across the room like that! Very scary! I'm glad you're OK.

[siegelreptiles]

nice!

[cc519]

O.o Is that Mr. Brown?

[viperkeeper]

@cc519 No, It's a Black Mamba.

[elapidkeeper30]

wow !!!!! that was freaky lol. Bet you had a adrenaline rush after that

[Nomad67]

I saw you turn your head in the reflection in the glass.....was the broken eye contact the "Trigger" for such an explosive response? Glad you're OK!

[Nomad67]

@Nomad67 Sry VK...I didn't read the other comments before I asked my question. Seems a lot of us are on the same page on this one.

[alientsf]

Just how close did he get near you ? Did he go for your face ?

[viperkeeper]

@alientsf I don't know how close he actually came.

[alientsf]

@viperkeeper Ferocious specimen, I'm glad he missed ya !

[Luciesera]

Glad you are ok from Frankie

[MrMrSerdar]

0.45 thats what i call a mamba. Extremly nervous, very dangerous animal. I love them,but very hard to handle !

[MrReptileSmile]

Forget About The Coffee To Start The Day To Wake Up,Holy S**T!!

[Technebrous]

like a missile

[NaturesJewels]

That is a long snake. Glad ur okay.

[fuasshole666]

holy shit man. fast as fast can be

[deeznuts870]

Man he was going right for your throat! That was a close call. Glad to see you still have those cat like reflexes lol. Awesome stuff man keep it up!!

[MrSillyserpents]

need some new unders i know i would

[greenjibbles]

Jesus Al! If you felt faint after the fact I wouldn't think any less of you. I would have pissed myself haha! That's one of those moments that make your blood run cold, like having a gun pointed at you. Glad your ok and the snake is no worse for wear :).

[blueravenfire]

dam, even i nearly shit my pants on this one, you are a brave man to have close calls like this and still work with snakes.

[MiguelFaunos]

you should sell this crazy mamba

[killerspud5432]

Hey Viperkeeper, do Bush Vipers mind being handled, or are they completely against it?

[ilovesensi718]

ahhhhhh wtfffff...........wtf did u hit im away wid? damn man dat got my adrenaline goin now

[LennyG4362]

DAMN Big AL!!!!!! On the slow mo you could see that he actually ran into the glass door on his strike. But, sonnnnnnnn....if he hadn''t hit that door he would have been all over you!! And, from the look of the attack on that dead rat you might have gotten hit three or four times. Pal.....that was close. Whew. Now.......be a good boy and go change your whitey tighties. Lol

[DubStepEdition]

holey fuck il stick to pythons thank you very much

[TheMidnightRider11]

Never a Dull moment in your videos...I live through your bravery...or Insanity....LOL

[thatguy89yeoo]

wow :O i was scared throught the computer screen, cant comprehend how you must of felt glad your okay

[diego8720001]

Is that your wife?! I'm surprised she's even letting you do this? Anyways glad your're fine VK

[MrsViperKeeper]

@diego8720001 Not only do I let him do this, I encourage him. This is his passion (besides me of course) and I wouldn't dream of taking that away from him. We both love interacting with the snakes and can't imagine not having them in our lives.

[DRAGON76]

You certainly have more "Machismo" than any bull fighter i've seen. You are Hardcore!!

Thanks for the video, and glad you are "safe".

[MissBella71]

In the refelection of the cage, did I notice that your head was turned milliseconds before he decided to come out and have a look see?

Very scary....... Glad to know you're ok.

[relzric]

He looked like he was upset with himself for using all that energy and not getting his target. He was like, " Man, I could have been out of this joint if I just aimed a little better."

[TheAmericanReptiles]

Did it actually bite u?

[viperkeeper]

@TheAmericanReptiles No, Duh!!! You think I would have hung out and fed him if he bit me!!

[Slyther83]

This is just my 2 cents, which is just as worthless as the next guys, but perhaps you shouldnt be multitasking with a camera while dealing with venomous snakes. I'm glad you're ok!

[viperkeeper]

@Slyther83 Stop telling me how I should be doing things. Sit back and enjoy the action. There's MY 2 cents!

[RaeMarie518]

See, that mamba took advantage of you lol! Laurie seemed more scared than you! I am glad you did not take a bite! I do not want to see you on Fatal Attractions! lol

[viperkeeper]

@RaeMarie518 My family is smart enough not to get involved with those assholes!

[MrsViperKeeper]

@RaeMarie518 I was more in awe than scared and of course worried for my man. But Al has taught/shown me that panic has no place in the hot room. Even though I yelled I didn't move once the snake launched because that could have caused more reaction.

[viperkeeper]

@MrsViperKeeper Actually Laurie did my usual part of adding sound effects. I was chuckling when I heard the tape the first time. She yelled what I usually yell but I was too busy getting the hell out of range of that Mamba.

[youtubasoarus]

Wow. Just goes to show you can never really predict their behavior. Glad you're okay Al.

[Ian303]

I noticed your Reflection in the Glass Al....You seemed to turn your head to look at something and at that exact moment, when you weren't looking, its almost as If that Snake saw the opportunity and took full advantage of the fact that you're eyes were pointed somewhere else....and his pointy end headed straight for you. That was intense.

[viperkeeper]

@Ian303 Yes a few months back in the mixed bag, he would not strike a rat head on. He started to thrash his tail as a distraction to make the rat look. When I made the rat look away, he nailed it. They are NOT dumb animals.

[BoaVsPythonI]

@viperkeeper - Was that a feeding response gone wrong because he was homing in on any motion, or was he actually going for you? It seems like he would know that you don't look like prey.. or do they switch to motion sensing alone as part of the feeding response, regardless of the visual information they are getting at the time?

[viperkeeper]

@BoaVsPythonI Yes, I don't know why they do that but they do, not just mambas.

[senskireptiles]

wow 

[christiaan77777]

I guess this answers my question if you have a black mamba. I find it one of the most beautiful and fascinating snakes in the world. May i know your opinion about the blank mamba?

[viperkeeper]

@christiaan77777 Just watch my videos on D. polylepis. They are highly intelligent animals, capable of learning and long lasting memory.

[spiderwebs7215]

Dear Lord, I think I just pooped myself.

[Spooky4478]

cant lie......i kinda jumped lol

[Rouyakan]

Looks like you actually batted him away with the loaded tongs! Nice reflexes. :)

[viperkeeper]

@Rouyakan Have done that in the past but not this time.

[HawthornWitch]

Wow. Scary moment, but gorgeous snake

[GhildedGharden]

RPF = Extreme!

Did you change your shorts? I think I need to.

[viperkeeper]

@GhildedGharden Nope

[bullycrew]

WOW!! That was amazing! I love all snakes including the "Hots" and wouldn't mind keeping a few someday but only after I gain experience with them with someone else that owns them and has plenty of experience, however, a Black Mamba is one species I would probably not own simply b/c of how fast they can reverse back up a snake hook. Scary. Glad you are ok!!

[zhbroder]

merlin's pants

[pawndemonium]

Did your looking away prompt the attack like it does for the "retreat" strikers like the cape cobra, etc?

[viperkeeper]

@pawndemonium Yes

[rauc6788]

Al, you have formidable reflexes. (for a human that is) Glad you're ok.

[lnr30]

You can see in the reflection of the glass, as he turnt his head the snake flew out.

[mutantflamerobotics]

You should do more short videos like this. I love your long videos, but sometimes I don't have 20 minutes to spare, so I only end up watching the first few minutes and skipping out on loads.

Glad you were alright.

[viperkeeper]

@mutantflamerobotics Sorry, these scary shorts are rare. I don't like the situation that produces them.

[ARReptiles]

Wow Al! Awesome footage but more glad to hear you and your wife are fine. No harm, no foul. ;)

[tttoooaaaddd]

incredible even slow motion is hella fast

[BChondro]

no thanks ....Ill stick to my green tree pythons...If that was me I'd be going to the ER with a Mamba on my face...haha

[mkocja5a]

wh-o-o-o-o-o-o da-a-a-a-a-a-y-y-y--u-m

[SnakeHouseExotics]

Wow, now that was close, take care Al and thanks for sharing

Matt

[Carnuss]

YOU NEARLY GOT TAGGED!

[viperkeeper]

@Carnuss Close but no cigar.

[CaramelBoa]

That got my heart beating fast little guy was all about it...nice cat like reflexes Al...keep the videos coming enjoy watching them!

[fatboySRK]

Happy to see you are OK. :) 

[viperkeeper]

@fatboySRK Thanks

[SuperZmoore]

Hey Al,were do you get your snake tongs

[viperkeeper]

@SuperZmoore I use gear from three vendors: Ace Capture Equipment, Georgia Herp Supply, & Mid-West Tongs.

[Chriscogley]

wow

I have never seen a mamba feeding response like that

[gyloir]

Wjhew, if I were you I'd be changing my pants right about now.

Glad he didn't nick you.

[ThamnophisMan]

Wow. That was scary, not good, and at the same time freaking awesome. Lol... Wow. Glad you made it our of that one!! Lol

[Kupo969]

Wow, that mamba flew out of the enclosure way too fast.

You sir have lightning reflexes.

[archeodigger]

Damb, that Mamba has learned a thing or two since the last time I saw you feed it!

[viperkeeper]

@archeodigger Yes it has! I keep telling people they learn how you work them and come up with countermeasures.

[TheTemest]

Why do I get the funny feeling that a good percentage of mamba handlers would have gotten bit in that situation?

[viperkeeper]

@TheTemest Many Polylepis handlers get bit through the bag which is very embarrassing. This way at least is a fair fight.

[VinnyG253]

Well we do appreciate the lengths you go to for our viewing pleasure, but keep yourself safe Viperkeeper, I'd rather see a lack luster vid than see you take a bite from one of your snakes. Hopefully that's the last time that mamba tries that.

[jeffxl12]

I am so glad you got that bigger room. If you were at the other location I think that mamba would have been on your shoulder. Boy oh boy that was instantaneous. Did you see the black of its mouth while backing up?

[viperkeeper]

@jeffxl12 Yes, would have been very bad in the old lair. It happened so fast I only remember getting out of range and using the rat as a decoy. I'm sure the mouth was open wide.

[perosima91]

vau...this speed is sick! good you ok...hey, can you do a video on bushmaster?

[viperkeeper]

@perosima91 The Lachesis are off on loan to a zoo.

[mikemankins2905]

It's nice of you to consider us Al, but come on now. It only takes one hit from that.

[lordabomity]

wow!!

[fvar86]

Oh Al, that was like a torpedo going straight to you! Was your second camera rolling? How far from the cage did he reached ? Take care man!

[viperkeeper]

@fvar86 I wish the second camera was rolling but glad it was not in a way. I might find it really disturbing knowing how close he actually got.

[viperkeeper]

@fvar86 almost 2M

[SoundWavesSurfer]

Really scary!

[coogidown380]

i did use the bathroom b4 this and still messed my pants dammit

[dnd12432]

Dangit, were you at your mandatory two-square buffer? I'd have had to check my drawers after that one.

[viperkeeper]

@dnd12432 Yes, thats what saved my ass on that one. Also my reflexes were critical too. As I always say, have to know when to hold & know when to fold. The Polylepis was holding 4 Aces on that one.

[StormCloudsGathering]

Man do you carry anti-venom for mambas or would it have meant death if you got a bite?

[viperkeeper]

@StormCloudsGathering Yes, I have A/V in the house but a bite to the face or neck would have been fatal most likely anyway. The arm or hand not so much of a problem with a pressure bandage buying me time to get to the ER.

[chiconspiracy]

As Irwin said "Like a taipan on steroids"



[viperkeeper]

@chiconspiracy I think the Taipan is faster and more nervous than Polylepis

[Frank332666]

crap! snakes can be so fast

[viperkeeper]

@Frank332666 That's the fastest on the planet 14mph ground speed.

[DanWright1966]

WOW! That was terrifying!

[pcancerides]

if youll notice vk's reflection in the glass door he is actually looking away at the instance the snake starts to strike close!

[viperkeeper]

@pcancerides Yes, I turned my head when my wife came in. I was going to tell her to fire up the second camera but was rudly interrupted.

[amazonhippie]

That was one of the scariest, Al. Damn. :)

[Surfingninja9]

Wow it just came right outta there!

[aristas30002000]

Glad your ok

[viperkeeper]

@aristas30002000 Thanks, me too!

[hockenburyj2]

jesus christ I don't know how you didn't get bit there....that was the most unbelievable strike I've ever seen from a captive black mamba...I bet your heart was racing with all the adrenalin released ahha...what does your wife say about your collection and instances like this one?

[viperkeeper]

@hockenburyj2 Actually no my heart was fine, I don't seem to get adrenalin rushes anymore unless they connect. She is fine and love my animals as I do. She was in the room when this wend down. It is her you hear yelling "Whoaaa Hoooow"

[hockenburyj2]

@viperkeeper haha I can imagine that you are used to all of these over-shot strikes by your snakes in your collection. That's great that your wife has a passion for animals like you. Have you picked up any new animals lately? Please do another unboxing video when you get a shipment in which I doubt won't be anytime soon with the snow that we just got in PA haha

[viperkeeper]

@hockenburyj2 No, off season for shipments. Thanks!

[viperkeeper]

If you thought the Gaboon feeding response was a close one, it was not. This one is a very near miss. My fault since I was trying to get good video for you guys. I won't be trying to get this behavior again.

[cmkosemen]

Wow - like a heat-seeking missile!

[Mclayne]

holy sh**, that one was scary