like a corvette with a ford escort engine in it so it won't go fast because that's dangerous. just not anything i would be involved with. if folks do it then it's their business. i just don't like it...

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not entirely true, elapids can regrow venom ducts quickly but with the whole gland removed it cant grow back.

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Not really. Though neutering a dog DOES mean they can't get testicular cancer, it vastly increases their chances of getting prostate cancer.

And the chance of getting testicular cancer in an entire dog is much lower than the chance of getting prostate cancer in a neutered one... and the testicular cancer is much more easily solved by neutering the dog as a treatment rather than as a preventative.

What if it allows the snake to be handled in such a way that it is less stressful for the snake? Surely being tailed and tonged and tubed isn't completely stress free - not that any handling is - but perhaps if you didn't have to shove the snake's head in a tube in order to do medical checkups/procedures it might be easier on the snake?

I'm undecided. I think there are cases where it could quite sensibly be justified - particularly if you intend to use the venomoid as an educational animal and need something that IS a venomous species but that can be displayed with little or no risk (for example, if you were doing displays in the States of native reptiles and showing people how to tell the difference between a LIVE copperhead and a corn snake) - but I don't think it's a good idea if you're doing it just to have a really cool cobra that you can get out of its cage and pet.

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PLEASE NOTE... Venomoids are done (at least a 'proper venomoid') by a relatively minor procedure under anaesthestic. Where the venom gland is generally removed and then refilled with silicone to reduce the chances of anything growing back. Fangs are not removed as they fall out anyway (not because of the op but because snakes teeth are renewed anyway).

The latest evidence point to the help in digestion by the venom is at least equalled by the costs of venom production. So the aid to digestion is counteracted in venomoids by not having to produce venom ( a very costly business).

Where does the stupid thoughts of taking away it's means of prey capture and defence ? These are captive animals that should never be released back into the wild and fed F/T prey. So it has no need of venom for either of these reasons. UNLESS of course you think that we should mimic the wild and feed live prey and make sure they have that risk of being killed by the prey animal.

Someone I know has a venomoid cobra that has been venomoid since it was very young. This snake is now 20 years old and has produced the largest known clutch of eggs in captivity (for a monacle cobra). This snake 'obviously' according to most people should have died years ago and been in such a sorry state that it would never had had enough health to produce eggs.

Most people just are against it on principle rather than actually having clinical reasons for it. All animals in captivity are kept for our benefit, so we have to think do the pros outweigh the cons on them.

Mike

Hmmm, reading through the thread it seems the vast majority of you have absolutely NO idea about venomoid snakes!!

A venomoid DOES NOT HAVE IT'S FANGS REMOVED! THE VENOM GLAND AND DUCT IS REMOVED - NOT THE FANGS!!!

Venom does NOT aid in the digestion of it's prey, it is purely to KILL it's prey. There is a 20 year old monacled cobra in Nottingham that was operated on as a youngster, she's a big healthy snake, I met her a few weeks back ...

If venom aids the digestion of prey then how can a venomous snake digest pre killed prey (like what we feed ours!)? Our venomous snakes don't envenomate, they'll happily take it without striking.

Also, the venom is quick acting, how is it going to continue to break down the body once the prey item is dead as the heart is no longer pumping blood around the body.

There are alot of myths regarding venomoids, and I think between you you've just about quoted every single one of them.

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its actually ongoing as to whether snake venom aids digestion I believe, I dont think its been proved either way in all snakes, there is a paper written this year about venom aiding digestion in WDB, and it was proved that it didnt help at all, but if it was a well known fact in all snakes then surely there wouldnt of been a recent study into it? Im not entirely sure though and you are far more qualified on the subject on hots than me.

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See now i knew i'd left it too long between replying and looking again. Between Mike and Marie theyve covered almost everything i was going to come back with

However, i'd just like to point out that venom is also used defensively. Not just as a side effect but as a specifically developed form of defense - ie the spitting cobra.

So, back to the comparion with skunk descenting (which was, admittedly added because of people involved in the thread)

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I put that it was wrong, but after reading the thread i'm now undecided!!

I think it depends on the situation (would write more but can't be asked!!)

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Hi all,

I do not like the Idear of venomoids, but do not know enough about the subject to say yes or no, or the reasons why it is practiced properly.

I know snake charmers do it to their snakes so they don't get bitten but they just rip their fangs out.

I would like to no for what reasons it s carried out for, apart from medical?.

slither61

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Member No 2300

I dont see the problem personally. A minor operation that causes no long lasting ill effects to the snake then its not a problem in my opinion. I haven't read up on it and know next to nothing about it but unless its going to cause problems to the snakes wellbeing, which going by masticophis' post it doesn't, then whats the problem? Because its unethical? People could argue its unethical to keep them as pets in the first place...You still need a DWAL to keep them anyway and you still wouldn't fancy taking a bite off one to test it so I presume people who have them still treat them with the same respect as a hot one i.e. handling etc?