Snakes

[JW]

Hi Chelsea,
You are in a real hotbed in Oz for sure, and your dead right to be wary of anything that you are not 100% sure about. It doesnt bear thinking about if you had grabbed the bag.
TTM, that horrible red centipede you saw give a really nasty bite. Its like having someone stick needles in to you. Got bitten a few years back, on the big toe - not nice and a trip to San Paolo (didnt require a jab - they bathed my foot in what smelt like ammonia for about 30 mins) apparently if you are allergic then it can be very very nasty, but only one reported death and that was a child bitten in the throat. A variety of this thing from Nevada is lethal with the same sort of venom as a Eastern diamondback rattlesnake.

[dr dave soul monsta]

TTM

Soulmonsta.

I am sure i remember in earlier posts you said how you had eaten snake amongst other things, yet you now seem to want to start a save the snake campaign. Shocked

Maybe you could put your address on the board and anyone who finds one could deliver to your door.

As long as ther is plenty of meat on it ! would prefere them put back into their habitat rather than a soup though .
eaten many a strange dish over the years.
Try anything once twice if ya like it !

[lomuamart]

I think peoples' perceptions and fears of critters are generally born from both lack of knowledge and bad experience of them, as has been said.
Personally, I've seen countless snakes here in Thailand, particulaly on golf courses. Some have been within a matter of feet from me before I've seen them. All of them were hurrying away from me, or just looking. None have been aggressive.
They don't bother me, but then again I've never been bitten and never had one in, or near, the house. I might react differently then!!
Centipedes, well they're a different kettle of fish, as they say. Like JW, I was bitten by one on my ankle years ago. The pain was excruciating and I couldn't walk for a week. The wound got infected and I've still got the two small scars where the pincers got me. I'm now terrified of them. Last year, after really heavy rain, at least 10 or small ones managed to get up the grate over the drain in the bathroom. We managed to squash most, but I was sure some had escaped and really couldn't sleep easy for quite a few days until I was sure there were none left in the house.
To this day, after heavy rain, I'm always careful where I put my feet indoors, just in case.
As I initally said, that's a fear of mine that's come from a bad experience. I hate the bloody things. Have seen the big adults and they're mean looking to say the least. I'll guarantee that most of the time you see a table of Thais scatter, screaming and trying to bash something up, it a centipede they're after.

[PeteC]

Snake soup is so popular in Hong Kong and Southern China in February each year they can't find enough to fulfill the demand. However, the locals say it must be a poisionous snake...how can they tell once it's cooked? I've had it and it warms you up on a chilly day in HK and it tastes good.

Centipedes. Had a nightly private security guard over here back in the 94-98 period. He used to pick them up, hold them right below the head, take out his finger nail clippers and snip off the pincers and then let it crawl around on his arm. He told me he takes them home and puts one each into a bottle of Thai whiskey.."MAKES YOU STRONG WITH THE WOMEN..."

He was the one who taught me that when you confront a centipede, it will always raise it's tail to you trying to make you think it's the head....he said always chop the other end. He's right. Pete

[Teabone]

Are these centipedes you are talking about called 'Ta Kaab' (excuse my poor spelling). Last year after a heavy downpour on Bintabaht - I saw one get chased out of a bar by quite a few excited girls - it then went off the step into the water on the street (ankle deep and fast flowing) and swam. It puts the shits up me - but no one could tell me its name. It was about 7/8 inches long, with many legs, reddish brown colour and shifted bloody quick.
If anyone has any info I would be grateful to know.

Cheers.

[Jockey]

Teabone - check out http://www.mark-ju.net/wildlife/pedes.htm

[lomuamart]

Damn. Those photos have guaranteed me no sleep for a week. And yes, they are Ta Kaab (not sure of spelling myself).

[Teabone]

Thanks Jockey, useful site for trying to identify these rascals - but I too will not be closing my eyes until I have scanned the bedroom floor!
The one most closley resembling the one I saw is -

'Centipede seen in Khao Sok, Thailand, it belongs to the family Polydesmidae' - but I wouldnt stake too much money on it.

Thanks again for the info - Teabone.

[linktolinh]

When I first arrive in Thailand, my friend told me that if you ever get bite by a snake, better take a picture of the snake and go to the hospital.

So when I took walks I alway go with my camera....

Now I'm in Vietnam and here they put snake in a botter, fill rice wine in, then drink it!!!

When they are sleeping in the wine botter it's more easy for me to take pictures, and they don't bite I guess

[dr dave soul monsta]

linktolinh
welcome back !

hope its a digital camera the wait for a traditional film image may take too long

[sezanu]

Did anyone found out if local hospital carry anti venom ?

I 'll be back in HH in July and have a house in the outskirts.
So it would be nice to now if I can count on the local hosital.

[Norseman]

Yes, they do keep a certain amount of antidote in their shelfs.

[Robee]

Hi All

Just some info on bites by a King Cobra

*IMMEDIATE FIRST AID*
*for bites by*
*King Cobra*
*(Ophiophagus hannah)*

In the event of an actual or probable bite from a King Cobra, execute
the following first aid measures without delay.

*Snake:*

1. Make sure that the responsible snake or snakes have been
appropriately and safely contained, and are out of danger of
inflicting any additional bites.

*Transportation:*

1. Immediately call for transportation.

Telephone:

*Victim:*

1. Keep the victim calm and reassured. Allow him or her to lie flat
and avoid as much movement as possible. If possible, allow the
bitten limb to rest at a level lower than the victim's heart.

2. Immediately wrap a large crepe bandage snugly around the bitten
limb starting at the site of the bite and working proximally up
the limb (the full length if possible). The bandage should be as
tight as one might bind a sprained ankle.

3. Secure the splint to the bandaged limb to keep the limb as rigid
and unmoving as possible. Avoid bending or moving the limb
excessively while applying the splint.

4. DO NOT remove the splint or bandages until the victim has reached
the hospital and is receiving Antivenom.

5. Have the TIGER SNAKE ANTIVENOM
ready for the emergency crew to take with the victim to the
hospital. Give them the following:

1. the available antivenom (at least 10 vials)
2. the accompanying instruction (Protocol) packet
3. the victim's medical packet (if available)

DO NOT cut or incise the bite site
DO NOT apply ice to the bite site

------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Summary for Human Bite*
*by*
*King Cobra*
*(Ophiophagus hannah)*

The bite of the King Cobra with envenomation can be rapidly fatal (as
early as 30 minutes).

1. First Aid:

1. Bandage and Immobilize the bitten limb with crepe bandages
and splint as described in the Immediate First Aid section.
Rest this extremity below the level of the patient's heart
(if practical).

2. Transport to a medical center emergency or trauma service.

Has Hua Hin Hospital got antivenom ?

( Yes, they do keep a certain amount of antidote in their shelfs.
Thank you Norseman )

Robee

[essbee]

TTM,

There is a web site

http://www.siam-info.de/english/centipedes.html

See the above and there is a section which covers the little blighter. It is very poisonous but not lethal.

The site covers all of the common snakes in Thailand.

Norseman

Are you serious !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Catch a snake between two broom sticks
I'm not going to sleep tonight at the thought of it, scares me cra@@ess.

[essbee]

http://www.siam-info.de/english/snakes_poisonous.html

This gives you most of what you may not want to know, gives me the creeps.

There is also a book that I aquired in Bangkok " Snakes of South East Asia) just reading it makes me lift my feet off the floor.