Whether you’re looking to keep a member of the Ahaetulla nasuta as a pet or are just curious about these snakes, it helps to know facts like what they eat, their temperament, how long they live, and so on. This is particularly important if you’re in the former category because the last thing you want is to keep a pet snake you know little about.
The Ahaetulla nasuta is a mildly venomous species of green vine snake found in Sri Lanka. It’s sometimes referred to as an Asian vine snake. Although these snakes are only mildly venomous to humans, they don’t make good pets, especially for novice snake owners.
The rest of this article will focus on the Ahaetulla genus of green vine snakes, including their size, lifespan, diet, mating habits, and habitat. It’ll also discuss the risks of a bite from the Ahaetulla nasuta, why it doesn’t make a good pet, and more. Enjoy!
What’s the Difference Between an Ahaetulla Nasuta and a Green Vine Snake?
The genus Ahaetulla has some 18 different species of vine snakes, such as the Asian Vine Snake, Indian Vine Snake, and Burmese Vine Snake. Green-colored snakes in this genus are called Green Vine Snakes.
Green Vine Snakes in this genus should not be confused with the Green Vine Snake (Oxybelis fulgidus), which lives in Central and South America and belongs to a different genus.
Note: In this article, we’ll focus on the Green Vine Snake of the genus Ahaetulla.
Is Ahaetulla Venomous?
The Ahaetulla nasuta is venomous, but its venom isn’t considered lethal to humans. However, a bite from this snake can cause pain, swelling, bruising, and numbness, and bites close to the head, eyes, or other vital areas can be severe.
The Ahaetulla nasuta is opisthoglyphous, meaning the fangs are in the back of the upper jaw. This makes the snake’s venom delivery system less effective than that of front-fanged snakes such as cobras and vipers. That explains why people who aren’t allergic to Ahaetulla venom don’t experience any effects unless the bite is on or near a vital organ.
Other similarly rear-fanged vine snakes of the genus Ahaetulla include the Philippine Green Vine Snake and Asian Vine Snake. These snakes are only mildly venomous and not considered a threat to humans.
First Aid for Ahaetulla Snake Bites
When we think of first aid for snakebites, we typically picture tourniquets, incisions around the bite to suck out the venom, and a race against the clock to find an antivenom. None of these treatments is necessary for a green vine snake bite.
Here’s what you do:
- Remove any rings or other jewelry from the bitten limb because it’s likely going to swell.
- Avoid giving alcohol or other sedatives to the victim.
- Don’t touch or treat the bite wound.
- Seek medical attention, especially if the victim is having trouble breathing or showing signs of cardiac distress.
Are Green Vine Snakes Venomous?
Other green vine snakes of the genus Ahaetulla are similarly rear-fanged. These green vine snakes are only mildly venomous and not considered a threat to humans. It’s still wise, as is the case for any snake bite, to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Are Philippine Vine Snakes Venomous?
Yes, Philippine Vine Snakes are venomous, but their venom is mild and non-fatal. Like other snakes in the genus Ahaetulla, Philippine Vine Snakes are rear-fanged. That makes their venom delivery less efficient than that of other front-fanged snakes.
Are Vine Snakes Good Pets?
Vine snakes don’t make good pets. You can keep green vine snakes of the genus Ahaetulla as pets, but they’ll require specialized care. That’s because most of these snakes are sourced from the wild instead of being bred in captivity, which raises several issues.
For starters, wild green vine snakes harbor several parasites that can be hard to control. They also need a specialized diet of mostly lizards and a humid arboreal habitat (arboreal is a fancy way of saying they live in trees). That’s not to mention that these snakes are prone to a variety of health issues and stress when kept in captivity.
However, that’s not to say that keeping these snakes as pets is impossible. With extremely cautious and conscientious care, experienced snake owners can keep vine snakes as pets for as long as 20 years (yes, these snakes can live that long).
Why Do Vine Snakes Have No Antivenom?
There are two reasons vine snakes have no antivenom. First, the ingredients found in the venom of these snakes are unknown at this time, which makes it impossible to create an antivenom. Second, their venom isn’t fatal, and its potential side effects can be managed without antivenom.
How Big Do Green Vine Snakes Get?
The adult Ahaetulla nasuta can reach a length of 190cm (about 6ft.) and a modest thickness of 2 cm (0.79 in). Their bodies are long and slender, and their long tails make up most of the length. Other species of green vine snakes in this genus can be much smaller.
What Are the Nonvenomous Snakes in the Philippines?
There are many species of Ahaetulla found in the Philippines. These snakes are only mildly venomous. Outside the genus Ahaetulla, there are also snakes in the Philippines that are completely nonvenomous.
The most common nonvenomous snakes found in the Philippines are the reticulated python, the common wolf snake, and the brahminy blind snake (also known as the flower pot snake).
Let’s briefly review some of their characteristics.
- Reticulated Python: Adults can grow to about 22 feet (6.7m) in length, with females generally bigger than males. Like most other pythons, this snake is not considered dangerous to humans.
- Common Wolf Snake: This small, slender snake is nonvenomous. While they’re known to bite if mishandled, captive wolf snakes can become tame with time and proper handling.
- Brahminy Blind Snake: This snake is so small (no more than eight inches long) that it is sometimes mistaken for an earthworm.
Are Philippine Cobras Aggressive?
Philippine cobras are generally not aggressive toward humans. In fact, they’re more inclined to avoid human contact. However, these snakes aren’t necessarily friendly. They’re also known to get aggressive out of fear, such as when mishandled or put in situations they deem threatening.
Signs of an aggressive philippine cobra include rearing upward, hissing, and spreading their hood. Chasing down humans isn’t part of their aggressive behavior.
The Philippine cobra has some of the most toxic venoms of any of the other 30 cobra species. Cobra venom is a neurotoxin, meaning that it affects and destroys nerve tissue. In some cases, this venom can be fatal.
Symptoms of neurotoxicity include:
- Numbness.
- Memory loss.
- Blindness.
- Delusions.
- Headaches.
- Cognitive and behavioral dysfunction.
Given the potential repercussions of a Philippine cobra bite, it’s wise to avoid contact with them. This is not too difficult, as cobras, including Philippine cobras, are shy animals.
What Does a Vine Snake Eat?
The vine snake of the genus Ahaetulla eats small mammals, birds, lizards, frogs, fish, and even other smaller snakes. Green vine snakes have also been observed eating tadpoles in the wild. In captivity, green vine snakes require a special diet consisting mainly of lizards.
How Long Does a Green Vine Snake Live?
Wild green vine snakes (genus Ahaetulla) generally live about 12 years, while captive green vine snakes live about eight years. With extremely diligent care by their owners, captive green vine snakes can live significantly longer.
Do Vine Snakes Lay Eggs?
The Ahaetulla doesn’t lay eggs. These snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning they give birth to live baby snakelets enclosed in the membrane of an egg. Newborn green vine snakelets are born fully developed and start hunting for food soon after their birth.
Do Vine Snakes Bite?
Yes, the vine snakes of the genus Ahaetulla do bite. However, a bite from these snakes isn’t considered medically serious to humans because they are rear-fanged and only mildly venomous.
In the wild, vine snakes do not exactly bite their prey to kill them. Rather, they use their rear fangs to dispense venom as they chew on their prey. The venom causes paralysis in small animals that vine snakes eat.
Can You Have a Vine Snake as a Pet?
You can keep a vine snake of the genus Ahaetulla as a pet, but it won’t be an easy endeavor. Keeping these snakes as pets is generally reserved for experienced snake owners because they don’t fare well in captivity.
How Venomous is the Green Vine Snake?
Green vine snakes of the genus Ahaetulla are only mildly venomous. Their venom, while effective at paralyzing small, fast-moving prey like lizards and frogs, poses little threat to humans. However, people who’ve been bitten by green vine snakes should seek medical attention.
Final Thoughts
The Ahaetulla nasuta is a species of green vine snake that lives in Sri Lanka, though other green vine snakes of this genus can be found in many countries throughout Southeast Asia. These snakes are only mildly venomous and generally considered safe for humans.
People wanting to keep Ahaetulla green vine snakes as pets will need to pay careful attention to the reptiles’ health and diet, keeping in mind that these snakes generally are not bred in captivity.
