by Joel La Rocque

Created on: April 04, 2009   Last Updated: April 09, 2009

The False Water cobra is a member of the colubridea family. The Colubrids consist of some 305 Genera, and 1,858 species of snakes living today. If a snake does not fit into any other family exactly, it is thrown into the Colubrid family. The FWC is of the Hydrodynastes species and the sub-species is giggis. It can be found within the Rain Forests of South America living in close proximity to slow moving streams and lakes. In the past few years, the FWC has become very popular in the pet reptile trade. It is quite robust and can attain a length of up to eight feet and weigh almost ten pounds. Its coloring is suited for life in the rain forest, the base color is a satin black with a light olive green accent trim swirling along the bodies length. Its eyes are jet black and rather large, making this snake a formidable night hunter. Food consists of practically anything that will fit into its mouth. Mice, rats, birds and fish make up the bulk of its diet. The FWC is also considered to be cannibalistic, especially when in the growing stages of life. It is not a shy snake by any means, it will vigorously set upon any animal that crosses its path especially when it is searching for food and that is 80% of its waking hours. A native of Brazil, it is also called " the Brazilian smooth snake.

There are three sub-species of FWC, giggis, bicinctus, and shultzi. Most of the FWC's sold in the USA are sold as giggis, if however you take the time to research those sold in pet stores, you would find they are in fact bicinctus. The difference is subtle and realy makes no great difference unless you are selling the venom or are breeding them with a guarantee of lineage. Like most Colubridae, the FWC is ovivoviparous, (an egg layer) and deposits her eggs under decomposing vegetation or in hollow rotted logs in the wild. A clutch of eggs numbers from 8 to 16 but as little as 2 eggs can be laid in the late Spring. Gestation lasts for about 120 days and the young hatch with the yolk sack still attached. They will receive nourishment from the remaining yolk for about 7 to 10 days after hatching. They will shed soon after birth, until the first shed is complete, they will not seek out food. Once they have shed, their first meal will consist of large insects or small fish if available. During this delicate time frame, they are subject to becoming a meal of any larger carnivore, Owl's, larger snakes, weasel's, racoon's and opossum's are but a few of the wildlife species that feed on young

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