how to cleaN venom - Experts Forum at VenomousReptiles.org

how to cleaN venom	Reply
by wvslayer on May 26, 2012	Mail this to a friend!
I was wondering what the best thing is to remove northern copperhead and timber rattlesnake venom from my tongs and hooks? when i'm working with these two species on some occasions they realy don't like the tongs and leave venom on then i have heard bleach or alcohol but not realy for sure I need something to use in the field I would realy hate to get some in a cut THANKS FROM WV

RE: how to cleaN venom	Reply
by theemojohnm on May 27, 2012	Mail this to a friend!
Flushing your equipment with water is probably the best thing that you could do. That is what I do, at home and in the field. Take Care, -John Mendrola

RE: how to cleaN venom	Reply
by agkistrodude on May 27, 2012	Mail this to a friend!
Agreed. I rinse them off with water. I use bleach after using any tool on a quarantined snake though.

RE: how to cleaN venom	Reply
by Pug on May 29, 2012	Mail this to a friend!
Bleach can be hard on the adhesives bonding the hook to the shaft on some equipment. Always a drag when the hook falls off at the wrong moment. Quaternary ammonia is also a good disinfectant. If you have trouble locating it, go have a beer at the local pub and ask if they use Sani-Tabs in their triple sinks. Same stuff! You can tip your way into a few tablets or get them to buy you a bottle of 'em next time they get a supply.

RE: how to cleaN venom	Reply
by theemojohnm on June 5, 2012	Mail this to a friend!
Marty brought up a good point. I use quaternary ammonium, and a diluted chlorhexidine solution, for disinfection. I have a tub of 25% chlorhexidine that I keep in the herp room, to 'dip' my hooks and feeeding tongs into ocasionally, when moving from cage to cage. This works well. because chlorhexidine is effective on both gram-positive AND gram-negative bacteria, yet is safe for the animal(s) soak in, and even drink in my 25% diluted solution. And, the quaternary ammonium will kill just about anything, and covers what the chlorhexidine doesn't. Just don't let your animals contact the quaternary ammonium directly, like you can with chlorhexidine ! Take Care, -John Mendrola

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