|
1-10 of 11 messages
|
Page 1 of 2
Next
|
|
Handling a sonoran coral snake?!!!
|
Reply
|
|
by hoyta on December 7, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
hey everyone! i came across a picture of a guy handling a sonoran coral snake on a datfrog forum i frequent... what are your thoughts on this? i am unfamiliar with the sonoran, and am told that it is ok(?!) to handle these...
thanks for your time!-adam hoyt
|
| |
|
RE: Handling a sonoran coral snake?!!!
|
Reply
|
|
by tj on December 7, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Most coral's are pretty reluctant to bite by nature, and many can be freehandled. I wouldn't take the chance just for the one that may be having a bad day. I find it a game of chance freehandling ANY hot snake.
|
| |
|
RE: Handling a sonoran coral snake?!!!
|
Reply
|
|
by Cro on December 7, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Adam, free-handling Coral Snakes is just not a good idea. While some are mild mannered, there are many others that will readily bite.
Right now I have a large female Eastern Coral Snake that is so docile I am sure I could pick her up, but I do not take the chance. I also have a male Eastern Coral Snake that would not hesitate to bite if you reached into his cage. He is extremely high strung and nervious.
One of my frineds was bitten by a Eastern Coral Snake that had in the past been docile, and had been free-handled by him a lot, but it decided one day that it did not like being free-handled. He spent several days in the hospital, and still has neurological problems from the bite even after many years.
There are no records of a fatal bite from a Sonoran Coral Snake, but the venom is drop for drop just as deadly as other Coral Snakes. And it is very possible that the Wyeth Antivenom used for the Eastern Coral Snake and Texas Coral Snake bites would not work in the treatment for a Sonoran Coral Snake bite.
Best Regards JohnZ
|
| |
|
RE: Handling a sonoran coral snake?!!!
|
Reply
|
|
by Buzztail1 on December 7, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Add to that the fact that no-one is currently manufacturing a Coral Snake antivenom and that stocks of existing Wyeth are dwindling as they approach expiration dates and you have a recipe for disaster.
When I was young (admittedly long ago) many people told me that coral snakes could only bite you between your fingers (on the webbing), on the earlobes, etc because their mouth was so small. I have personally watched an Eastern Coral Snake open its mouth so that its jaws formed a straight line (180 degrees). It could have bitten ANY body part with which it might have made contact! So much for the truths we learn as children!
I know several keepers who either chose not to get Coral Snakes or got rid of their Coral Snakes because of the unavailability of antivenom. To read of someone free handling one for absolutely no good reason is literally like waiting for the news report of their death. It is not worth taking the chance.
Just my opinion,
Karl
|
| |
|
RE: Handling a sonoran coral snake?!!!
|
Reply
|
|
by hoyta on December 8, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
thanks for the replys, but i was asking about sonorans, which are different than easterns. apparently, they can't even open their mouths wide enough to bite a human as juveniles...
either way, it isn't smart to handle any venomous! it pisses me off when i see things like that.
respects- adam
|
| |
|
RE: Handling a sonoran coral snake?!!!
|
Reply
|
|
by LarryDFishel on December 8, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
>>apparently, they can't even open their mouths wide enough to bite a human as juveniles...
Part of the point Karl and I were making is that this is a common myth about coral snakes in general. There is probably no such thing as a snake that can't open its mouth wide enough to bite, no matter how small they are. Virtually all snakes can open their mouths 180 degrees and bite a flat surface if they feel like it.
|
| |
|
RE: Handling a sonoran coral snake?!!!
|
Reply
|
|
by FLherp on December 8, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
Bioclon produces Coralmyn which is the medication of choice for this species. The real problem is that there will be no FDA approved medication for M. fulvius and M. teneres envenomations when the current stocks of Wyeth North American Coral Snake Expire. Coral Snake antivenom is produced in several other countries where the population is at risk from envenomations from other Micrurus species.
|
| |
|
RE: Handling a sonoran coral snake?!!!
|
Reply
|
|
by GREGLONGHURST on December 13, 2006
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
On a snake's ability to bite a human: If a medium sized adult Diadophis punctatus can draw blood from my finger, I would be extremely difficult to convince that a Micrurus or Micruroides of any size is not capable of doing the same. Yes, I have bled to a ringneck. Yes, I have handled many eastern corals, but always by the tail with a hook in support of the forward part. Using a hand in place of the hook is looking for trouble.
Believe most of the info you get here from the qualified keepers. Please do not listen to "friends" who do not have real experience. Most of the info on Corals, including in some books, is wrong.
~~Greg~~
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this topic.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Check our help page for help using
, or send questions, comments, or suggestions to the
Manager.
|
