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using milked venom on 'feeders'
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by azazel418 on May 26, 2004
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Just a thought, I am getting more involved in my pursuit of owning a Hot snake,(damned Laws!) and was curious, how many people feed live prey, and for those of you that dont, do you milk you snakes? I was thinking that the venom plays some part in aiding digestion. When I get my Hots, I don;t plan on feeding live, Ive learned that lesson with my boas... too much chance of injury to the snake...one rat bite to a two year old boa, four months to heal, F that, never again, now I break the lil suckers necks first! for some reason they wont take to frozens, "I likes em fresh".....
I was going to milk my snakes, save the venom in the freezer over night to allow time, to de-stress the snake, then inject the saved venom into the feeders... sounds like a good plan, just wanted to get some opinions on this idea.... anyone try this out yet? ( part of the "fun" of owning the Hots for me would be to see the venom in action!)
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RE: using milked venom on 'feeders'
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by Chance on May 26, 2004
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I'd say that would be a bad, very bad, idea. People who milk venomous snakes often get bitten. Plain and simple. I don't know of a single extractor that has not been bitten. It's a matter of simple probability. The more often you are in contact with the snake's business end, the more likely you are to receive a bite, one way or twenty more. People, including myself, feed f/t prey to our venomous snakes with no bad side effects. Venom is not necessary for digestion, though it may help it out a bit. It is even likely that the snakes inject a small amount of venom into their f/t prey as they walk it down. When I feed my few hots, I tend to make them "work" for their food, chasing it and having to latch on. In this manner they get a work out, exercising their muscles and such, and they get a slightly natural stimulation in having to kill the animal they otherwise wouldn't experience by the "finding" method. Even if I didn't do this though, and I have done other ways in the past, I've never notice nor have I ever heard of any one else who has had bad consequences. Anyway, no, don't milk your snakes and use that on the prey. It is absolutely unnecessary and only serves to put you into the position to know what it feels like to be envenomated yourself. Good luck though with your snakes.
-Chance
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RE: using milked venom on 'feeders'
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by roadkruzer on May 26, 2004
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I'm glad to see you have such an interest in hots. But remember, these are not toys. They are very dangerous and potentially lethal wild animals. Unless you are a professional venomous extractor, I do not know of any reason or need to pick up a hot other than for a medical examination. Milking snakes is a high stakes chance that need not be taken. Any time I handle my snakes, I always use my tools. There were times in the past that I would free handle my "tame" southern copperhead but have come to realize that the only reason I did not get bit was not due to my skills but instead the snakes decision not to tag me. I don't like leaving decisions that are that costly up to anything that has a brain the size of my thumbnail. Just remember to take your time and learn as much as you can before you start. That's what this hobby is all about-learning. Another thing to consider is to maybe obtain an aggressive non-venomous snake to keep and practice handling for a while. A mistake then would only be a learning experience. I hope this helps.
RoadKruzer
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RE: using milked venom on 'feeders'
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by azazel418 on May 26, 2004
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Thanks for the info, I do realize these aren't toys.. I was lead by a few sources that the venom was to internally digest the prey... and that it was kinda healthy to occassionally milk the snakes...I cant even remeber where I heard it, but if its not necessary, I'll let the snake sort it out! most likely I wouldn't be doing any type of milking until comfortable with the snake, and not regularly anyway...NOW, after discusing it a bit I may not do it at all, Thats why I "asked the esperts"....
hehehe...yeah I dunno what I was thinking about the Timber, I was kinda out of it, when i made ny post at 3 am last night, what I meant to say was that I heard timbers were a bit easier to "handle" as far as keeping in captivity, say, compared to some of my other choices (E. Diamond back, eyelash viper)and typically feed without problems.
I ve got a few 'aggressive' boas, five of em, and have learned much about handling via them, especially when my 9 foot female latched onto my hand once...I was to later find out she was gravid, and going into delivery the next day, which was a very exciting week for me... wrestling her off my hand, and watching as 32 live squirming neophytes popped out...both very entertaining...happened over three years ago...That was the only time I had made the mistake of underestemating one of my snakes....
I have set up to volunteer at the everglades rehab center South of Miami, I'm just working out some final details of my relocation here, and I'll be starting my dealing with venomous snakes there. I'm really looking forward to it...of course its hard to sort through what is truth and what is BS via internet searches, and to date thats where I have been getting most of my info, it'll be nice and a great experience to get the facts, and actually deal with live specimins...to get a 'feel' for the actual practice....
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RE: using milked venom on 'feeders'
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by azazel418 on May 26, 2004
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opps, my comments for the Timber go to another post I have going on, I was checking email, and missed the titles/
As far as milking, the few responses I've recieved have convinced me that it is not necessary, I know it is stressful upon the snake, and that combined with what has been said has convinced me htat it isnt' a necessary risk....I am curious if anyone is doing this though.... PArt of my interest in the "Nature" of these beasts, is to study the reactions of prey to the various poisons.
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RE: using milked venom on 'feeders'
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by azazel418 on May 27, 2004
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My initial question came out of research I was doing on Rattlers... many articles state that the venom aids in digestion by helping to disolve the tissues and organs of the prey, and of course allowing a rattler to strike inside its cage would be detrimental, as IF the snake were to happen to miss.. it could easily break a fang on the cage walls. digestion could be slower and not as thorough without the venom injected... thats what lead me to thinking of this process. it would be helpful in the digestive part of the snake, admittidly dangerous to myself.. but with PROPER care, and attention I wouldn't be in much danger... and I ALWAYS have planned on keeping my own antivenin on site, just in case. I have to admit, I don't have much fear over being bitten, its probably going to keep me alive if I do get bit, since I won't panic. after some of the responses I've gotten, I may just stun prey, and simulate life to my "pets" once I get my license....
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