An interesting Find. (hot lizards?)

[SethsDad]

I was looking around on some venomous reptile sites as I have an idiot friend buying a King cobra and im planning on what type of suit im gonna wear to the funeral but I came across this
http://abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1506321.htm
and (warning graphic pics)
http://www.venomdoc.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1858
Which shows that a recent scientific discovery shows that Bearded Dragons amoung many other previously unknown types of reptiles are venoumous. In fact the venom they carry is simular to that of a rattlesnake. But that the vemon is in such a weak amount that it it completly harmless to humans. The glands are very small and the poisen so minute that it only effect small rodents and insects. Pretty interesting eh?
I have only recently found these articles and havent looked into finding them to be disproven so take this for what it is. something I found on the internet that seems to have factual scientific background to it.

[daniel1983]

I think the research article came out in late October/Early November 05....it is a very interesting read

Here you go:
http://www.venomdoc.com/downloads/20...mate_venom.pdf

[cassandra]

Buying a King Cobra....

Not something I would do...there are so many amazing and cool snakes that are non-venomous...I guess, to each his own...although for hots, I think a gila monster would be cool...but...I'll stick to my sweet snakey girls...(hi, I had some wine...mmmmm wine)

[SethsDad]

I honostly do not know what to do about him. He has had a rattle snake before and has always been into differnt pythons and moniters but this is a little much I mean they are huge...I think they get up to 14' and have huge venom sacs as well as being very ill tempered. Ive seen some people who had Hots including differnt kinds of Cobras but no one with a King. Hes an experianced handler but only with Pythons. Not Hots. So...*sigh* I dont know, Another friend of mine was saying he would just break into his house and kill it before it killed him but I convinced him not to because its not the snakes fault but my friend is determined. He already has a huge Viv all set up and he talked with some guys at the San Antonio expo over the weekend who are able to obtain one for him. I personally love my Beardies and Balls and am happy with those and mabey a pacman frog lol. But I dont know.... I have no clue how to convince him otherwise when hes so set on it.

[frankykeno]

I'm assuming that he can legally own this snake in your community? Just because he can buy it doesn't mean it's legal. Please do encourage your friend to make sure there is whatever anti-venom is required available to him at all times should a bite occur as well as locking down that snake responsibly. I wouldn't care to be his next door neighbour if that snake got loose. Please don't take this as anything against hots. I've nothing against a hot snake. I only have issues with the people that keep them if they do so unsafely or irresponsibly.


~~Jo~~

[ErikH]

Keeping hots where I live can only be done by permit (Illinois), but even if it were legal without one, I don't think I would keep anything that they aren't likely to have antivenin for in a nearby hospital. I mean, aside from zoos and research facilities, how many U.S hospitals have cobra antivenin on hand?

[Angel deMarco]

that s crazy. my beardie bit me by mistake when I was handfeeding him once but theire was no swelling or irritation that I would associate with any venom. glad the venom doesn't affect people

[Jeanne]

Just because they're carrying small amounts of rattlesnake toxins doesn't mean they're going to be dangerous to humans. And while the monitor lizards has much better developed glands and are more venomous, they are not dangerous to humans either."

"If you were a five or 10 gram mouse it would be different, but the venom from a monitor lizard is not going to kill a human being."

OK, so if I get bit by one of my beardies enough, would I then build up an immunity to rattlesnake toxins?

[Boarder4l154]

and whats your friend gunna feed his king cobra? They eat other snakes in the wild, so i would assume it would be very very hard to get it on mice or rats. I would think buying a appropriatly sized snake once a week would get rather pricy

[Vomitore]

Not that I want one, but I'm guessing a King Cobra would be rather costly?