[alnitak]

If you want to take a look at a black mamba try this link. I took this at London zoo in January. Snake is about 3m long. Warning - uncompressed digicam shots, about 2mb each, don't use if on dialup.

http://www.aonq09.dsl.pipex.com/Snakes/PicsLondonZoo-2004-01/OriginalImages/black_mamba_IMG_0120.jpg

And a couple of green mamba shots

http://www.aonq09.dsl.pipex.com/Snakes/PicsLondonZoo-2004-01/OriginalImages/green_mamba_IMG_0211.jpg

http://www.aonq09.dsl.pipex.com/Snakes/PicsLondonZoo-2004-01/OriginalImages/green_mamba_IMG_0236.jpg


As I said, these are from the reptile house at London zoo. The thing you notice about the mambas, in contrast to the other snakes, is that they are always on the prowl, circling their vivaria. They move quickly and with purpose: I would not want to keep one.

[nuconvert]

Now, why did I expect a black mamba to be black?

[Feiny]

I have a friend who used to own one. He also owned the largest cobra in captivity. His friend opened the black mamba cage to feed it, but had not isolated the snake first (IDIOT!).

That snake flew out of the cage ... straight up in the air .... and across the room. My friend said he has never been more frightened in his entire life. The idiot & another friend left the house because they were so scared. My friend had no choice, but to stay & catch it. His wife and child would be getting home soon. He chased that snake around the apartment for quite some time....then the snake started chasing him! Luckily, he was finally able to capture it in a bag and then got rid of the snake.

I cannot believe anyone would be so foolish as to keep deadly animals as pets anyway. Both the Mamba & the Cobra are now kept in a pet store (but in the back and away from anyone except the owner).