Update on my arm - Hognose bite

Hey everybody!!!
Well, its me the EyelashViper again, sorry I have not been posting as frequently as I would like to, but I have been very busy as of late but I thought I would let you all know how my arm is doing after that bite from my Western Hognose. My arm is out of the bandage now and it looks like I am going to have a humdinger of a scar that runs from my wrist to my elbow - it is a deep purple color and the doctor says it is going to take about 12 to 18 months for it to blend in with the rest of the skin on my lower forearm - amazing.

I have been doing a lot of thinking about what happened and my final analyis is that ( 1 ) I pulled off a stupid feeding error by actually putting my hand in the enclosure with a rat pinky in it - the Hognose just fired off from pure hunger and instinct and nailed me instead of the pinky. Her aim has never been that good to begin with. So it is all my fault actually. ( 2 ) I feel I must warn other hoggie owners that I have found out the hard way that Hognoses under the right circumstances pack a nasty bite. Granted, it is not going to kill you or effect you systemically but they CAN do some localized tissue damage and you could end up in the hospital for a few days like I did. So use caution with these snakes.

I still love snakes and I guess I will look at my scar as being a memento of my adventures in snake-keeping. I guess you are not a real herper ( just kidding...heeheehee ) until you have had a hot bite.The end result with me is that I have a real interest in hot snakes now but I am a certified chicken after this episode and I am content to read about and watch hot snakes from the safety of a thick pane of glass at the zoo.

Well, I hope to be able to post more in the days ahead and I sure look forward to maybe getting to know more of you guys and gals on the forum...

EyeLashViper

Whew! Good to hear you're doing okay...if someone asks about the scar, tell'em you wrasslin' a King Cobra or something, not a cute little hoggie. =)

VERY glad to hear there is no permanent damage or anything. And I like Cass's idea...do that! :P

Glad to hear that you escaped extensive damage! Makes me think of an aquintace of mine who got bitten by a baby Timber Rattler a couple of years ago. It manged to get a fang inside his forefinger and the lucky bastage escaped with a dry bite :O

Glad it's doing OK now - it certainly made me think twice about how I approach my hoggie in her viv. She's a sweet little thing and I guess it's easy for me to be complacent with her. She's just shed (beautifully :D ) and will now be in hunting mode - I'm sure gonna be careful not to be the victim! Why did I buy a "hot" ;) LMAO

Well I just wnated to point out that he is mistaken about one of two thing. Either he was not bitten by a western hog nose or two he is tell a little white lie. he said
"but I have been very busy as of late but I thought I would let you all know how my arm is doing after that bite from my Western Hognose. My arm is out of the bandage now and it looks like I am going to have a humdinger of a scar that runs from my wrist to my elbow - it is a deep purple color and the doctor says it is going to take about 12 to 18 months for it to blend in with the rest of the skin on my lower forearm - amazing" and also said " guess you are not a real herper ( just kidding...heeheehee ) until you have had a hot bite.The end result with me is that I have a real interest in hot snakes now but I am a certified chicken after this episode and I am content to read about and watch hot snakes from the safety of a thick pane of glass at the zoo."

Westernhog nose is a nonvenomous snake. They are call Puff adders cause the Puff up they are also called "blow snakes" they also do one other trick they play dead and roll on their back and put off a snell like they are dead. So if you got bite by a hoggie then you did not spend time in the ER. And if you did get bitten by something else I am sorry to hear that. If any one doesn't think I am telling the truth. Visit the following site. http://www.northern.edu/natsource/REPTILES/Hognos1.htm

Actually, calling a hog-nose "non-venomous" is misleading, but commonly done. They DO have venom and can deliver it in a bite. But because it is not delivered in the same manner as most venomous snakes and because it is considered very mild...they are often called "non-venomous."


I would recommend researching a LOT more deeply before accusing folks of lying when you know nothing of their situation and have not personally witnessed the event.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Well I just wnated to point out that he is mistaken about one of two thing. Either he was not bitten by a western hog nose or two he is tell a little white lie. he said
"but I have been very busy as of late but I thought I would let you all know how my arm is doing after that bite from my Western Hognose. My arm is out of the bandage now and it looks like I am going to have a humdinger of a scar that runs from my wrist to my elbow - it is a deep purple color and the doctor says it is going to take about 12 to 18 months for it to blend in with the rest of the skin on my lower forearm - amazing" and also said " guess you are not a real herper ( just kidding...heeheehee ) until you have had a hot bite.The end result with me is that I have a real interest in hot snakes now but I am a certified chicken after this episode and I am content to read about and watch hot snakes from the safety of a thick pane of glass at the zoo."

Westernhog nose is a nonvenomous snake. They are call Puff adders cause the Puff up they are also called "blow snakes" they also do one other trick they play dead and roll on their back and put off a snell like they are dead. So if you got bite by a hoggie then you did not spend time in the ER. And if you did get bitten by something else I am sorry to hear that. If any one doesn't think I am telling the truth. Visit the following site. http://www.northern.edu/natsource/REPTILES/Hognos1.htm

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you have no idea what your talking about do you? who do you think you are telling him he hasnt been bitten by his hognose? obviously you havent been reading his previous posts.

as far a the link goes. it doesnt sound educated at all it calls them non-"poisenous", snakes are venomous not poisenous. and as far as venom goes, they are rear-fanged..i would stop reading that "care-sheet"

EDIT: aww JLC beat me to it

The coral snake is a hot and does not deliver its venom in the same manner as an Elapidae (front fanged snakes) and they are listed by the U.S Wildlife Fisheries and parks as venomous. However the western hog nose is not and also as a venomous snake. If they are a hot then I am sorry for the above post and the Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks needs to be notified. My mistake. But then I have been mis informed all the information I am getting from every where is that they are nonvenomous. http://www.pitt.edu/~mcs2/herp/SoNA.html

usually people that are bitten by hoggies dont have that bad of a reaction because their venom is mild (thats probably why it wasnt listed as venomous). its not potent enough to kill a human like a coral snake but it does the trick with birds, rodents, small reptiles, and other things that it eats.

EyeLashViper probably had such a bad reaction to it because he's allergic to the venom. EyeLashViper, are you allergic to bee's? ive heard that people that are allergic to bee's are a lot of the time allergic to hoggie's too.

My appoligies. To all. I was saddly mistaken. They do not list it as a venomous due to the type of venom that it uses. They said that people that are alerigic to bee's and ants have more of a problem with their bites. Due to their diet they don't require a heavy venom. It is closer to Scorpion toxin or so I have been told. Once again I was sorely mistake and misinformed. Please except my humble appoligies and my prayer of a quick recovery.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

Westernhog nose is a nonvenomous snake. They are call Puff adders cause the Puff up they are also called "blow snakes" they also do one other trick they play dead and roll on their back and put off a snell like they are dead. So if you got bite by a hoggie then you did not spend time in the ER. And if you did get bitten by something else I am sorry to hear that. If any one doesn't think I am telling the truth. Visit the following site. http://www.northern.edu/natsource/REPTILES/Hognos1.htm

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This from Snakes of North America, Eastern & Central Region by Alan Tennant:
"Hog-Nosed Snakes Genus Heterodon..
Inc Easter, Southern, Plains, Dusty & Mexican Hog Nosed snakes

All Heterodon, a term which means "different-toothed," are characterized by the enlarged teeth in the rear of the upper jaws, as well as by saliva which contains mild toxins...."
The Hog nosed snakes are also referred to as "Mildly Venomous" or "very Mildly Venomous".

Just because this person reacted this way to the toxins in the saliva may not mean EVERYONE will react this way, but it is possible.. Just as it is possible for SOME people to experience different reactions to bee stings, Copperhead envenomations..etc.
I dont think it is fair to discredit this person for sharing his experience with others.

Glad to hear you are doing better :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

My appoligies. To all. I was saddly mistaken. They do not list it as a venomous due to the type of venom that it uses. They said that people that are alerigic to bee's and ants have more of a problem with their bites. Due to their diet they don't require a heavy venom. It is closer to Scorpion toxin or so I have been told. Once again I was sorely mistake and misinformed. Please except my humble appoligies and my prayer of a quick recovery.

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Sometimes Im slow..LOL Sorry for the double post :)

Eyelash Viper, can you post pics of your arm so we can check it out???? pretty pleez with sugar on top?

Takes a big person to apologize like that. Well done, Frogie. ;) :)

mmm yes, pics plz!

Jsut to let some of you know whom are interested, ther are quite a few snakes that are venomous, but are believed to not be. The following is an excerpt from an article that I found that talks about this point exactly. I figured most would not believe me when I told them that Garter Snakes were venomous. Check out the article, it is a good read.

"Dr. Fry discovered that they were wrong. "Most of the snakes that we think of as nonvenomous are actually venomous," he explained. Garter snakes and many other supposedly nonvenomous snakes actually produce tiny amounts of venom.
Dr. Fry is quick to point out that this does not mean that garter snakes are dangerous. "All they need to do is stun a frog or slow it down a bit, and it's enough to help them," he said."

http://www.carlzimmer.com/articles/2...005_venom.html

interesting.

OT: ive seen a garter eat a frog while i was field herping. it was so AWESOME!

My hoggy was extremely active yesterday - she'd shed a couple of days ago (and I witnessed it!! - awesome) - well anyway, next day I'd given her a mouse so yesterday I didn't get her out but she wanted to come out and was whizzing round her viv. She dashed over to where I was replacing her water bowl so quickly it made me nervous! LOL! There I am now nervous of a little hoggy (the smallest snake I own) but will happily reach in and pick up my monster Sav ;) LOL

I almost feel bad for posting this
http://www.payneland.com/gallery/gal...=73&category=0

I guess we've just subscribed to the "very midly venomous" theory.

Haha - is that your hoggy? s/he's sweet :)


Well I got her out today, trembling with fear at the thought of confronting such a fearsome creature :eek: ... (well, maybe not LOL!) and .... she was her normal sweet hoggy self, really pleased to be out and wriggling all over me.

Yup, that's my hoggie - Margie (we suspect margie might be a boy but don't tell anyone), along with my lovely bride.

i am so glad to hear you are okay... and recovering nicely.

:D
aleesha

ps i guess it reminds us all... doesn't matter how cute or small a snake is... it's still a snake and needs to respected as such!