Question regarding "de-venomizing" a snake

I have read and heard that venomous snakes can have a procedure done to remove the venom glands from them.......making them all the more easier to handle. I also understand that sometimes all the venom cannot be removed.

Here is my question. If a venomous snake has their venom glands removed how does it kill it's prey? I know some venomous snakes like a rattle snake will strike and release it's prey and then eat it after it dies. A venomous snake like a cobra will strike and hold the prey while it is pumping venom until the prey dies.

Do these keepers just feed frozen/thawed to their animals that do not have venom glands? I am just wondering how the snakes eat that have their venom glands removed. For whatever reason I have just been curious about this. I have no intention of ever owning a venomous animal but was curious nonetheless.

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Originally Posted by Reptile King

I have read and heard that venomous snakes can have a procedure done to remove the venom glands from them.......making them all the more easier to handle. I also understand that sometimes all the venom cannot be removed.

Here is my question. If a venomous snake has their venom glands removed how does it kill it's prey? I know some venomous snakes like a rattle snake will strike and release it's prey and then eat it after it dies. A venomous snake like a cobra will strike and hold the prey while it is pumping venom until the prey dies.

Do these keepers just feed frozen/thawed to their animals that do not have venom glands? I am just wondering how the snakes eat that have their venom glands removed. For whatever reason I have just been curious about this. I have no intention of ever owning a venomous animal but was curious nonetheless.

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The bolded info is the answer to your query. With most venomous north American snakes they strike, inject venom, and then find there prey when its dead.

YouTube - Venomoid cobras give venom

I would never support removing a venomous snake glands just to own them and be able to handle them. Then to top it off, not all the time is the procedure done correctly, so the person is still taking a huge risk. Why own a venomous animal though if your going to take away it's mot unique feature? That would be like owning Camaro and putting a honda motor in it.

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Originally Posted by Neal

Why own a venomous animal though if your going to take away it's mot unique feature? That would be like owning Camaro and putting a honda motor in it.

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best analogy I have ever heard.

They don't kill their prey. You have to feed them dead rodents.

i am glad someone posted the video from the krz.

We do own a copperhead venomoid that we've had for a long while now. We got her when we first started keeping snakes. She can kill a live mouse with just her fangs. One bite and its down. However she will also take F/T.

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Originally Posted by Neal

I would never support removing a venomous snake glands just to own them and be able to handle them. Then to top it off, not all the time is the procedure done correctly, so the person is still taking a huge risk. Why own a venomous animal though if your going to take away it's mot unique feature? That would be like owning Camaro and putting a honda motor in it.

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There are Honda engines that create a lot of power when tuned.

I don't believe in "de-venomizing" either. I think it's clearly a dumb idea. Even though it could be the safest idea when keeping a venomous snake, the glands aren't made to just be removed. It's not natural take away what venomous snakes need in order to kill their prey just so you have a snake that supposedly can't kill you when it bites you.

I think it is what makes the snake, the snake. Kind of like how we have our own styles. They have the glands that make them feel comfortable because they use it for prey and protection. We have whatever in appearance or objects that make us happy.