Stupid question

[Twitch_1993]

Is there any way to get rid of a snakes venom and what are the negetive side effects other than it wont survive in the wild etc. I'm sorry for the stupid question but I've been dying to get my hands on something like a copperhead.

[SteelerFreak89]

Ugh. This will probably set off a debate but here it is. BTW I am no expert and am just telling you what I know.

You CAN (doesn't mean you should). They are called venomoids. Even if they de-venomized it is not always 100 percent due to a small chance the sacs can grow back.

Also, you would have to check out laws about owning a potentially dangerous snake just to make sure.

[bender29]

It'd be a nice surprise if it ended up biting you after having an improper procedure performed.

I'd say the risks outweigh the benefit of you being able to hold it. IMO, if you want to keep a hot, keep it hot.

[SteelerFreak89]

It'd be a nice surprise if it ended up biting you after having an improper procedure performed.

I was trying to be nice

[ALEX B.]

You Can Definitely Remove The Venom Sacks In Most Hots,
Like Others Have Said, Not Recommended, But Always An Option


By The Way, Hope You Choose Not To.

[spix14]

Technically it is possible. However as stated it is not 100% reliable, and a lot of vets will not perform the procedure which means a lot of snakes are operated on in unsanitary, backyard procedures.



In addition, since venomous snakes use their venom as an aid in digestion, we have no way of knowing what harm might be done to the snake in the long term besides the trauma of the operation in the first place.

Basically, it's up to you as to what you want to do. No one on an internet forum can tell you what to do. But it's my firm belief that if you want to keep a hot, then keep a hot, not a venomoid. Unnaturally altering an animal for our own selfish desires rubs me the wrong way. Additionally if you are inexperienced enough to be scared to keep an intact hot, then IMHO you don't need to be keeping one anyway. Get a few more years of experience under your belt, see if you can find a mentor who keeps venomous species to show you the ropes, and keep one of these beautiful animals as they were meant to be kept, not "neutered" so that you can feel safe playing with it.

There's plenty of beautiful snakes out there that aren't venomous. Northern Water Snakes look a lot like Copperheads. I understand why you would want one, heck I want one. I also want an Eyelash Viper, a Monocled Cobra, an Albino Rattlesnake, and a Rhino Viper. BUT I know I'm not up to keeping hots, so I don't have any.

[ALEX B.]

Thanks For The Great Post
I Am Sure Everyone Has Seen The Video Of The Cobra Slapping The Toddler In The Face Several Times While Trying To "make It Dance"
They Obviously Removed The Upper Fangs And The Snake Is Of No Harm To The Child, But Once You Do That, It Is Hell From Then On Out.(not To Mention What You Have Done To The Snake) You Have To Force Feed The Snake B/c It Goes Into A Depression B/c It Knows What Has Happened To It And It Wont Eat ( It Would Rather Die). Then, Once You Successfully Force Feed, They Tie A Rope Around It To Make Sure It Doesn't Throw It Up. Doesn't Sound To "friendly" In My Opinion And I Would Never Do It



But Then Again, I Would Never Own Hots

[wolfy-hound]

Remember too, no matter if it's a venomoid or not, it's STILL classidied a hot under law. So if it's illegil, it's STILL illegil, and if you are required to have a special license(like here in florida) then you STILL have to get that license.
I presonally wouldn't do it. I think the stress of a operation(that could reverse itself) just to render a hot "safer" doesn't ahve any benefits. If you are going to keep hots, then you should be responsible about it. De-venomizing a hot just to be able to hand-handle it isn't enough reason to me.

[wilomn]

The Upper Fangs

You Have To Force Feed The Snake B/c It Goes Into A Depression B/c It Knows What Has Happened To It And It Wont Eat ( It Would Rather Die). Then, Once You Successfully Force Feed, They Tie A Rope Around It To Make Sure It Doesn't Throw It Up.


But Then Again, I Would Never Own Hots

If you believe this perhaps owning any snake is not for you.

Top Fangs? Implying there are bottom or other fangs? Ok.......

Force feed? Do you even know anyone personally who has had a venomous snake that was voided?

Tie a rope around its neck? Where do you get this stuff?

I don't advocate voiding snakes. As has been said, if you're looking for a pet and want a hot, either keep it hot or get something else.

Just for the edumacation factor though here are some things I know from personal experience.

I had a rattlesnake that I caught when he was just born, only had a pre-button on his tail. I used to do rentals for movies so I had his venom ducts cut when he was 4 or 5 years old. He lived until he was 17 and was NEVER tied up with any rope nor did he have any problem eating prekilled food.

I know of many cobras, kraits, gaboons, a canebreak or two and several other species I can't recall off the top of my head who all did just fine post op. No digestion problems, no feeding problems, no problems at all.

The ONLY reason I can validate, personally, for the de-venomization of venomous snakes is for situations such as mine. Where they are needed but exposed to people who are not familiar with reptiles.

Doing it so you can keep a snake you'd otherwise be afraid of is NOT a good enough reason.

Also, Wolfy had it correct. Venom intact or not, if it was born hot it is considered hot by all authorities that I know of.

[Twitch_1993]

If there is more of a risk than I probably wont get a hot for a long time.