's Avatar

@viperkeeper.bsky.social

Founder of National Snake Bite Support 501(c)(3). nationalsnakebite.org , Venomous Snake Keeper, Electron Microscopist, See my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/viperkeeper

108 Followers  |  10 Following  |  110 Posts  |  Joined: 14.12.2024  |  1.4167

Latest posts by viperkeeper.bsky.social on Bluesky

Post image Post image

The Golden Lancehead (Bothrops insularis) I saw while at the famous Instituto Butan Tan in Brazil. An extremely venomous pit viper, analysis of the venom of B. insularis suggests that it is five times as potent as that of B. jararaca and is the fastest-acting venom in the genus Bothrops. 🐍

04.10.2025 20:52 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

As I said in my Bio, I started a non-profit that helps US snakebite victims get proper medical care. This care also included companion animals. This is a "proper" treatment algorithm for Pets, developed by many Veterinary experts that help pets on NSS. Share this with others.

04.10.2025 20:48 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Papuan Rough Death Adder (Acanthophis rugosus) sunning herself on her log. The snake looks like a Viper but is actually an Elapid and is high Neurotoxic. An ambush predator is like a "Land Mine", don't know it's there till it too late. 🐍

24.04.2025 19:16 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

A wild Western Diamondback Rattlesnake I encountered North of Phoenix. The key identifying feature to differentiate from a Mohave R/S is the so called "Coon-tail", a complete, obvious banded tail. A snake you want to avoid being bitten by but, the chance of death is very low. 🐍

20.04.2025 13:33 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

This newly hatched, highly venomous, Western Sawscale Viper (Echis ocellatus) was able to climb the moist walls of the incubator and squeeze out of the 5 mm diameter holes in the lid. I found it as you see it, not something you want loose in your house. I took further precautions in the future. 🐍

12.04.2025 14:17 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Post image

In this lab I oversee we make substrates for Cryo Electron Microscopy. These substrates are made of pure Carbon, 1.38 millionths of an inch thick, with holes of varying sizes (1.2 micron pictured) that the samples are frozen making tiny windows of ice with the sample suspended in the hole. πŸ§ͺ

30.03.2025 15:28 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

The notorious African Puff Adder (Bitis arietans). A serious "Agro" snake with a very bad attitude. They are the record holder for producing the most babies in one clutch 168. Making them a very common, highly venomous snake throughout their range. 🐍

29.03.2025 17:14 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

Some snakes in my collection you don't see often, simply because I interact with them when I only have to. No photo-ops for fun or clicks. This is one species, Deinagkistrodon acutus or Sharp nosed Pit Viper. A large snake with venom that melts your flesh. 🐍

23.03.2025 12:43 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

Western Green Mamba's (Dendroaspis viridis) scales are distinctly different than Eastern Green Mamba's (D. augusticeps) scales. Western's have larger scales with distinct borders, whereas the Eastern' s have smaller scales and a uniform color. See both in 2015 image. 🐍

22.03.2025 15:09 β€” πŸ‘ 17    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

The small but mighty (toxic) Variable Bush Viper (Atheris squamigera). Commonly kept in collections because of their variable colors and patterns. Related by a common ancestor the Bush Vipers have very potently hemotoxic venom causing a consumptive coagulopathy. 🐍

18.03.2025 13:13 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Rare, beautiful, and deadly Ethiopian Mountain Adder (Bitis parviocula) found only on a few mountain tops in Ethiopia. Foul tempered like all members of this Genus has an unusual circular strike that really surprises you the first time you encounter it. 🐍

15.03.2025 21:43 β€” πŸ‘ 17    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

Found this beautiful male Malayans Pit Viper (Callosalasma rhodostoma) out cruzing in the rain forests near Krabi Thailand. Major cause of serious snakebites in the area. Venom causes consumptive coagulopathy and severe local tissue damage. 🐍

08.03.2025 17:09 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

A captive hatched juvenile Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) in a typical defensive posture. A dangerously lethal Colubrid causing massive hemorrhage and leakage of fluids from everywhere in your body. Absolutely fatal if not treated with the monovalent antivenom. Deadly-Beautiful for sure. 🐍

01.03.2025 13:24 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Mom is totally exhausted after dropping her eggs, which makes it somewhat less hazardous removing them from the cage.

22.02.2025 13:25 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

A newly hatched Papuan Taipan (Oxyuranus canni) get a drink of water. Lethal right out of the egg, these babies are frightfully fast and don't take prisoners. 🐍

22.02.2025 13:19 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Western Green Mamba (Dendroaspis viridis) a difficult snake to handle. It's very "flighty" and can climb the hook in a heartbeat. Highly neurotoxic venom and it's high speed makes for excitement when it's time to clean the cage. 🐍

18.02.2025 10:56 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Indonesian

15.02.2025 18:26 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image 15.02.2025 13:11 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

"Elvis" my 14 foot Indonesian King Cobra (Ophiophagus bungarus) enjoying the sunny windowsill while I serviced his cage. Elvis was very easy going except during feeding time, so he could be left out while I was working in the snake room at my facility. 🐍

15.02.2025 12:56 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

Eastern Green Mamba (Dendroaspis augusticeps) Generally the least volatile species of Mamba, but there's always an exception as with this individual. Depending where found in East Africa, they possess venom which quickly causes respiratory paralysis or just intense pain. 🐍

11.02.2025 11:22 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Hatching Cape Coral Cobra's (Aspidelaps lubricus) is nocturnal, which means most of its activity and hunting occurs during the night. Bites are documented and report different effects ranging from no symptoms (possible bites without envenoming), mild symptoms to severe neurological signs. 🐍

09.02.2025 13:45 β€” πŸ‘ 10    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

The Common Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) or Eastern Brown Snake common to Eastern Australia has extremely toxic venom that kills very quickly. Despite having lethal venom, this snake will also frequently constrict it's prey. They were very tricky to feed, lethal and very fast.🐍

08.02.2025 23:54 β€” πŸ‘ 13    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Mexican Green Rattlesnakes (Crotalus basiliscus) are just simply massive, only rivaled in size by the Eastern Diamond Back. Crotalus basiliscus is primarily active during the rainy summer months, and most specimens are found crossing the roads at night. 🐍

05.02.2025 02:10 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 4    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Here's a green phase with yellow labia.

02.02.2025 13:49 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Here's a close up of one of the Wetar Island Pit Vipers.

02.02.2025 13:44 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1

I was filming him during a non-feeding visit when he came up to the lens and started to investigate the camera only to open his mouth and try to eat the camera while I was holding it, surprise! I got some shots and video I never imagined I would get and live to tell the tail.

02.02.2025 02:37 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

Photography of venomous snakes is quite tricky, the goal is not to stress out the snake and most of all not get bit. The "Black Beast", a very large Black Spitting Cobra (Naja n. woodii) a rather relaxed specimen, never spat at me and was quite docile allowing me to scratch him on his back. 🐍

02.02.2025 02:32 β€” πŸ‘ 19    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1

Please note: This Cobra is not under arrest, although these photos resemble a "police mug shot."

31.01.2025 14:51 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image

Ringed Water Cobras (Naja annulata) have beautiful markings and generally an easy going disposition (not assholes like other Naja). Their venom is unique among cobras, as it is purely Neurotoxic and does not contain pain producing Cytotoxins as do others in the Genus. 🐍

31.01.2025 11:10 β€” πŸ‘ 21    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 1
Post image

Gloyd's Cantil (Agkistrodon howardgloydi), one of four species of Cantil found in Central America. Related to our domestic Copperhead and Water Moccasin, but with significantly more potent venom. 🐍

30.01.2025 10:45 β€” πŸ‘ 16    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

@viperkeeper is following 10 prominent accounts