Venom Sacs?

[K80tik]

i heard it before and we were having a discussion at work about HOTS. I hear you can take out the venom sacs? but you could only feed F/K or F/T because they arent constrictors of course. has anyone done this? i would LOVE to have a cobra but, dont want to ruin the snake. i hear about defanging, but to me thats worse. just a questions cause a few people were just bringing it up and i was wondering if any HOT keepers do this. thanks!

[Patrick Long]

weird i was just wondering the same thing like two days ago

[Freakie_frog]

Sounds right in theroy but I have less than 0 Hot experience

[PythonWallace]

Hots can be de-venomized, but it's supposedly done a lot by back room hacks who basically mutilate the snake. A lot of people are against this, and it sounds like the glands can grow back, so you never really know if the next benign bite can kill you. If I was ever going to think about getting into hots, I'd way rather get some first hand experience with a pro than ordering a hacked up cobra that could kill me a year down the line.

[Evan Jamison]

In venomoids, the venom "sacs" aren't normally removed, but the ducts from the glands to the teeth are surgically severed.

Venomoids are a hotly debated topic, and have been for some time. They can encourage the reckless keeping of potentially dangerous animals by individuals with little to no experience. There is also the chance that the "surgery" was done improperly, and the animal still has the ability to inject venom.

As for the snake, having no venom could be harmful to the snake's long-term health. Their venom helps in digestion of prey items.

Overall, venomoids are not something to dabble lightly into. Hots should only be kept by those with the experience and done so legally, whether venomoid or not. (Though I personally don't agree with the practice at all).

-Evan

[Patrick Long]

In venomoids, the venom "sacs" aren't normally removed, but the ducts from the glands to the teeth are surgically severed.

Venomoids are a hotly debated topic, and have been for some time. They can encourage the reckless keeping of potentially dangerous animals by individuals with little to no experience. There is also the chance that the "surgery" was done improperly, and the animal still has the ability to inject venom.

As for the snake, having no venom could be harmful to the snake's long-term health. Their venom helps in digestion of prey items.

Overall, venomoids are not something to dabble lightly into. Hots should only be kept by those with the experience and done so legally, whether venomoid or not. (Though I personally don't agree with the practice at all).

-Evan

Absolutely Perfect!

[fishmommy]

that was an excellent response

[K80tik]

thanks for the reply. Awesome! well i dont plan on having one for at least another 15 years *once my daughter grows up and i kick her out * by then i should have my share of experience. i plan on volunteering at the reptile exhibit at the zoo here and they are rebuilding it. they do have HOTS as well.
was just a discussion at work and was wondering... thanks alot!

[Aric]

i plan on volunteering at the reptile exhibit at the zoo here and they are rebuilding it. they do have HOTS as well.

Volunteering at your local zoo doesn't mean you will get to work with anything hot. You have to be a Keeper and be trained by other keepers before you can handle hots. But don't let this discourage you from volunteering, working with reptiles as a volunteer is still an amazing opportunity and something you will defiantly enjoy.