Defanging/ Devenomizing - Page 2

Will0W783 · 04-29-10, 11:14 AM

Defanging is generally not the norm- most of the times the surgery is to remove the actual venom glands and ducts, leaving the fangs intact. If you remove the fangs, they will grow back. But without its fangs the snake cannot grab and hold onto prey properly and most end up with mouth rot and die before the fangs can grow back. Like Wayne said, there is ONLY ONE company in the entire USA (Venomoid, Inc) that has a licensed veterinarian do the glad-removal surgery, provides implants to take up the space from the removed glands and gives the snakes pain medicines. Their animals come with paperwork and customer service and generally seem to do well, but venomoid surgery has not been around nearly long enough for anyone to speculate on how they will do long-term. It is unnatural, it is most likely detrimental to the snake, and will most likely shorten the lifespan. Also state and local governments do not recognize the existence of venomoids, so if your area outlaws keeping venomous snakes, then venomoid snakes are illegal too.

infernalis · 04-29-10, 07:32 PM

Vonomoid also puts a tattoo in the snakes mouth, but if someone saw a loose cobra, they will kill it first, not even looking for a tattoo.

Will0W783 · 04-29-10, 07:35 PM

I don't understand why people kill snakes in the first place. Just call someone to come catch it. Don't kill it- it's not doing you any harm.

infernalis · 04-29-10, 07:38 PM

I will never understand it, but people do it all the time.

Will0W783 · 04-29-10, 07:41 PM

It's a shame. I can understand being afraid of a loose cobra but don't kill it!

infernalis · 04-29-10, 07:44 PM

2 summers ago my neighbor called me over to ID a snake.

There was this poor little baby milk snake, a hatchling that never even ate it's first meal, cut into 3 hunks.

I was livid, I wanted to chop up the neighbor with his own shovel.

Why even call me over?? I would have gladly relocated the snake had it been alive.

Lankyrob · 04-30-10, 05:42 AM

I wonder - for bee keepers you cna register with local police forces so that should a swarm of bees be reported the police contact you and you go and collect the bees to take them somewhere safe (normally back to your own hives).

IS there - or should there be - a similar register for snakes?? Maybe not so important in the UK but in other countrires where snakes in the wild are more common it could save the lives of lots of snakes.

Will0W783 · 04-30-10, 07:38 AM

I think that's a great idea, Rob. The problem here is that a lot of people won't bother to report a snake, they'll just shoot it or hack it with a shovel. I'm terrified of wasps, but I won't go around killing them...when I see them I run the other way. It's respect for nature. If something isn't trying to harm me, I'm not going to try to harm it. If it comes after me though, all bets are off...lol.

infernalis · 04-30-10, 08:02 AM

I am well known as the "snake man" and it has actually cost a snake it's life once.

A young man saw a garter snake in his yard, he tried so hard to catch it, that by the time he brought it to me, it was already mortally wounded.

I had to instruct this kid that I did not need any new snakes, and if he saw a wild snake to leave it alone.

My friend Steve is well known in his area, He relocates snakes all the time.

He even has a wild caught albino, someone called him to report a white snake in the yard.!!!

emseeKAY · 04-30-10, 11:14 AM

people are afraid of what they dont know, during my project I couldnt believe how many people thought all snakes were venomous (most said poisonous though) maybe if they knew what they were afraid of it may save some lives...

infernalis · 04-30-10, 12:23 PM

what you just said reminded me of the time I freaked out this old biddy.

She was getting all nosy about my snakes, and she asked me "are they poison??"

I simply looked at her and said "I don't plan on eating them, so I don't really know"

It didn't shut her up though, CPS was here within the week. "We have a report of reptiles in your home with kids"

The report got tossed out.

jparker1167 · 05-01-10, 09:06 AM

its not illegal to have reptiles in your home so what report would they have made?

same here wayne people call me the snake man, but anyone that has more then a few snakes people call them that lol.

infernalis · 05-01-10, 09:25 AM

A false report of venomous and giant pythons out to kill the neighborhood.

The hatred runs deep between us and the neighbor.

spankygaaarge · 05-03-10, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will0W783

I don't understand why people kill snakes in the first place. Just call someone to come catch it. Don't kill it- it's not doing you any harm.

I'm going to put my 2 cents worth in on this subject........ i'm from a very small town in outback West Australia, ALOT of snakes (extremly venomous) in the top 10 most venomous snakes list) and there are no "Animal control" or "Snake men" around !!!! our town has a lot of curious children, some scared mothers and over protective fathers (mine were), most kids and adults know to avoid if you can, but there are the few cases where babies(children under 4) have been biten simply for walking near or accidently stepping on snakes in their own backyard, the first instinct for parents is to kill it an take it with you to the nearest hosp. as ID for antivenene.........
but then there are some who think that the best way to prevent a bite is to kill it first.........
Now i'm NOT saying this is right, but i am saying that there are reasons why SOME ppl kill them, i'm not speaking on behalf of every person who kills snakes but i will speak for those in the before mentioned community, that sometimes they have a valid reason............ not everyone has someone to call to come an relocate a venomous snake..........
i DO NOT however agree with having a snakes glands removed simply so someone can have a "pretty and dangerous pet" to show off to their friends..........

Will0W783 · 05-05-10, 09:52 AM

I know...I can understand if you've been bitten or are trying to protect your family, but in most cases a snake would rather escape than waste its venom on you. I know there are cases where snakes are particularly aggressive, or your child is too close and killing it is the only way you can think of at the time. I was referring more to people who take a hatchet or shovel to every garter snake, milksnake, etc that they find in their yard.