Oxyuranus microlepidotus (Inland taipan, formerly known as the fierce snake or western taipan) is far and away the most toxic land snake in the world, with a lethal dose estimated to be fifty times that of the Indian cobra Naja naja. However, while the myotoxic and procoagulative proteins are present to a lesser degree, they still play a role in the bite pathology. Symptoms include vomiting, flaccid paralysis, and eventual respiratory paralysis. We use paper towel on the bottom of these tubs as it is easy to clean - simply remove the soiled paper towel and replace with new.Taipan venom is overwhelmingly neurotoxic and the bite pathology is reflective of this with the nervous system being severely affected. We start our hatchling Taipans in 7L tubs measuring 32cms L x 21cms W x 12cms H and move them up to appropriately sized caging as they grow. These tubs have clips on the side to lock the lids in place, are readily available and easy to modify. We house our juveniles singularly in plastic tubs. Not only can cage-mates turn on each other, the unpredictability of their nature combined with the toxicity of their venom makes one snake per cage a lot easier and safer to deal with. Juveniles can be kept in smaller conditions but should be kept by themselves. This is important as a small snake is able to escape through very small gaps, which are often present in timber enclosures.

Plastic tubs are often utilised for small snakes as they are cheap, easy to clean and seal very well. This plastic tub can be placed inside the larger enclosure. The housing of juveniles is best done by housing them in plastic style enclosures with ventilation holes either drilled or melted with a soldiering iron.

While many keepers refer to them as placid, some Inland Taipans can be every bit as nervous and defensive as the Coastal Taipan, Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus.ДЄ single Inland Taipan needs a terrestrial enclosure about 600mm wide X 1200mm Long X 450mm High. Inland Taipans are reasonably easy to keep and can be quite calm. Inland Taipans are common in captivity and are bred frequently. Their venom is strongly neurotoxic, with prothrombin activity. They are a large elapid with a moderately robust body. A fast, shy snake - they prefer to flee rather than have interaction with humans. The underneath is bright yellow, usually with orange spotting or greyish mottling. In Winter the colouration darkens considerably to dark brown to almost black above and the head will almost match the body. The head is usually a glossy black to dark brown which lightens with age. In Summer they are light gold to pale brown above with dark brown or black markings giving a herringbone appearance. Inland Taipans are one of only a few species of snakes which change their colouration depending on the season. They shelter underground in the deep cracks in the soil. Inland Taipans live on gibber plains, clay pans and similar areas of the arid channel country. A small population has been found near Coober Pedy in South Australia. The Inland Taipan is native to Australia, found in far western Queensland, north-eastern South Australia and adjacent areas of the the Northern Territory.

The inland taipan