Little Red Shed

[lordabomity]

Still one of my favourite segments. It's so nice to see personality changes in a snake with such a great personality. Calm shedding, never minding the large humanoid in the room, the wonderful camera shedding moment and then the defensive "food mode 3 tap strike with chick in mouth" thing. It was like an all in one moment there haha.

[lordabomity]

Shedding on the camera.. knowing he's really dangerous makes that sooo cute!!

[shimgotit]

that snake is such a pig! look at the way it ate the chick in one mouth bite...

[gavimobile]

i think i just found one of these palestinian vipers in my hard, i cought it and put it in a plastic "glad" container. is it a bad idea to hold on to him? hes small!

[viperkeeper]

If you live in the USA, it won't be one of those. Whatever you caught, let it go...

[gavimobile]

its a palastininan vioper and i live in israel!

and i let it go!

[viperkeeper]

Very good! Your profile says you live in the USA, that is why I answered the way I did.

[gavimobile]

im american, but ive been living here in israel for the past 3 years. i find crazy stuff in my yard all the time, like european green toads, hedgehogs, really cool lizards with big heads, but never a viper... i touched him to and he didnt do anything, he didnt seem as active as yours, but i double checked the head for the V and he had it!

[ubit397]

You mention using heat rocks. Do you use them with thermostats? If so, I think it should be noted.

[viperkeeper]

No, I don't use them with thermostats.

[ubit397]

I guess they would only be problematic if the ambient temp in the enclosure was so low that the animals felt compelled to spend excessive amounts of time on them.

[heart4herps]

After watching your latest video and learning that Litlle Red isn't with us anymore, I had to look up his old videos again. What a sad, tragic loss - he was such an energetic, entertaining, and incredibly beautiful creature and such fun to watch. I wish I could have met him in person. I'm so sorry he's gone. My sympathies again.

[skinslob]

What average humidity do you keep with little red? I notice many of your beasties are high humidity animals, though the glass never seems misted up from high humidity. I have to mist daily to keep levels up for my naja, maybe due to 4x3x3 cages size, and my glass is always fogged. Any tips? Little Red is one of my faves.

[viperkeeper]

The room is about 55% most of the time but I actually don't know what is the typical RH is in his cage but would think it's at 30%. I mist his cage when his opaqueness clears at least once a day till he sheds.

[puddingzombie]

i thought heat rocks could burn snakes

[viperkeeper]

Been doing this for over 30 years, never had a problem.

[Burnmaster]

I search videos of Aspidelaps lubricus lubricus.!!!

greeettz from Germany

[viperkeeper]

Hello: Sorry, I don't keep them

[aidentalontarrat]

whoa three potshots right at the camera...COOL! have you done any videos or anything for like national geographic?

[viperkeeper]

No...

[seth61682]

so heat rocks might be safe for snakes, cuz theres this thing goin around that its bad for them.....just a lore u think viperkeeper?

[viperkeeper]

I've never had a problem with them..

[Sloopies]

i love little red-what a beautiful snake

[norte4life]

man I just have to say this your slomo voice just cracks me up funny funny funny.

[viperkeeper]

I'm sure your's would be funny too.

[Aronepwns]

yeah, the slomo voice sounds like something from a low budget porno

[HappySaylor]

has thespitting kobra ever spat at u?

[viperkeeper]

This guy has not spit in a very long time but I've been spat on by it's brothers & sisters.

[tgartner01]

Little Red scares the hell out of me. Great videos, however, I always stand back a little from the screen whenever Little Red is the star attraction.

Did you ever decide why Red went for the camera after feeding him?

I would not be surprised if you wore Depends for continence issues with this highly inquisitive and intelligent animal.

[viperkeeper]

Thanks :-)

He was really wacky tonight but did not video it. He was "defending " his food when he bumped the camera. When I bracked off his food was not threatened, so he stopped.

[my83merc]

You said you've had 30 years of success with heat rocks... do you think that may be because of the species you deal with? I only ask because everyone else I talk to (know it all vets and herpers and such) say no to heat rocks...

[viperkeeper]

Maybe..I also used them throughout the years on non-venomous I keep from time to time. I alway try to cover the heat rock with substate so they are not up against the rock.

[viperkeeper]

I've used them with a wide variety of species, no problems. Most of the problems occur with Python & Boas.

[my83merc]

and I've rescued 2 regius and a Burmese with heat rock burns. Maybe tougher skin, more acclimated to excessive heat or such? Not critisizing, just wondering your opinion on snakes other than those typical to your collection. I have lots of respect for what you do and your opinions and def dont want to offend. Thanks again!

[viperkeeper]

No problem. Maybe the larger snakes because of their weight press harder to the heat rock, therefore conduct more heat into their skin causing thermal damage.

[najakaouthia]

I've never seen a snake with ADD before!!

[fatmansvibe]

great vids as usual, and us aussies are always unpredictable and toxic

[boogger0]

Superb collection and videos mate! You keep posting I'll keep watching.

[cboy4]

Al, love your videos. I notice you've featured a couple of hot Australians such as the Brown and the Death Adder. Why not the Tiger and/or Taipan? (I'm guessing the Taipan is too crazy fast), but why not a Tiger?

[viperkeeper]

People already critize what I do on my videos. All's I need is a wacky Taipan or Taipan video and I'll really set them off.

[cboy4]

Who cares what they say! ;) -- I just didn't know if those species are particularly difficult to keep alive in captivity or if they're just too difficult to keep from flying out of their enclosures.

[viperkeeper]

They are just too unpredictable and toxic to mess with.

[magana559]

nice once again great vid how often do you see your snakes shed? iv only seen mine once and i enjoyed it allot.

[viperkeeper]

It depends on the snakes are and nutritional health. Red currently sheds about once a month, as most snakes do in the first two years of life when they do 80% of their growing.

[jackatstate]

What do you think of Austin Stevens :)?

[viperkeeper]

Austin is a real hero of Reptile conservation and is well respected. His TV shows suck and make him look like a buffoon because the producers have too much control over the process.

[anngus]

another great vidio al i`v hear is said they shed their fangs as well or do they loose them by natural means sutch as a bite

[viperkeeper]

Yes, they shed fangs on a regular basis. I have fang from several of my animals. Gabby is the best supplier of these shed fangs.

[Tiyong55]

wow i hope u don die when u handle this pets not trying to curse u or anything GREAT PETS!

[Mickster85]

not pets.

[viperkeeper]

Venomous Snakes are NEVER pets.....

[jpatt2]

red has a great personality. he's feisty.

[brenkeller]

Beautiful video Al.  thanks!

[NoTengoMiedo]

does the palestine viper prefer the desert? or does it prefer to be among a lot of vegetation?

[viperkeeper]

Well they at home in the dryer regions but not the real desert. They are thriving in the agricultural areas of Israel.

[Cougarmint]

Poor red... it has to be uncomfortable for him when he sheds. Him and other snakes, for that matter.

[Chubbz578]

how do u get them to stop spitting???

[viperkeeper]

You make them feel comfortable with your presence. You move slowly and don't make any threating movements. Spitting is solely a defensive action.

[landofthefreemyass]

one of your best videos

[beforever]

that daboia is lovely, seems to have a nicer head shape than the russelli...or am i deceived, the pattern is very reminiscent of typical european vipers.

Naja Pallida seems like a specialist snake, with the additional precautions that one is expected to take, however your videos make it seem as though it's not entirely poor choice for someone looking to start with elapids (with previous experience of potentially dangerous snakes a given)

[viperkeeper]

The BIG downside with keeping spitters is that you will eventually become allergic to snake protein and can no longer keep them. Knowing that I worked extra hard to get him to stop spitting at a very young age. The adults that would not stop are no longer in my collection.

[snake96]

your redspitting cobra was looking at the other snakes are they canibalistic like the king cobras?

[viperkeeper]

Yes, I think he would try to eat one of them if given the chance.

[snake96]

thats good you don't do that If a cobra got bit by a viper could it die too

[snake96]

thouse are really pretty snakes

[beforever]

another excellent video, that palestinae is nicer looking than the russelli the head seems a little less blunt or am i being blinded by the lovely markings...reminiscent of the markings found on european vipers.

[viperkeeper]

Some have built in thermostats, some are always on but are low wattage.

[j0stein]

Tell us witch one of your snakes are your favourite Al. Little Red i think is the #1 in your collection ;)

thanx 4 shareing.

[viperkeeper]

I really like them all, some more than others. The ones I have the longest have a special place in my heart.

[Mickster85]

Great looking vipers. Does the heat rock have some kind of thermostat or just plugged in? I sent a message over you tube if you could reply also. Thanks

[bigheinzer]

do you find it's better to feed more small meals? versus one big meal? I always see you feeding multiple small quails versus one large rat or a larger quail?

[viperkeeper]

Yes, I think it's better for the snake to feed smaller meals more often. If left too long they shed their gastric mucosa to save energy when not feeding for a long periods.

[Nick615]

Very interesting how he started shedding on the camera! A few questions if I may: How long does your naja Pallida take to shed normally? Also, have you heard stories where one of those snakes missed the food item and I guess accidentally tagged their keeper? Anyways. Very nice shed. That "finished product" is nice and shiny!

[viperkeeper]

No question, many eplaids are wacky enough to miss the target many times and get the keeper. This is why I use the two foot feeding forceps with them. It took him about an hour to shed.

[reptilewranglers]

Great snake!