Views on venomoids

[reptileKev81]

I once saw a documentary, which showed the snake charmers using de-fanged snakes.
Apparently they would bash its fangs with a rock, ewwwww

The people making the doco bought the snake from the snake charmer (it was his only income so they had to pay him alot) and after making sure it was healthy enough to heal, they released it.

Anyways, after watching that doco, I must say I am against it. Before, I thought they would be performed by doctors/vets, but all you really need is a rock!

 

[blakehose]

It's crap. If you're unable to handle the animals with confidence and as safely as possible, then you shouldn't be doing demonstrations in the first place!! Same goes for any private keepers who would like to take the risk out of the equation.

 

[saratoga]

The publics perception of venomous snakes is that they are all aggressive and out to get you.

When you have to tail snakes or neck them it is stressfull for them, as it can be being picked up and supported on a cold hook. If snakes are stressed or in pain from the way they are being handled they are much more inclined to bite.

I don't believe that venomous snakes are more inclined to bite than harmless ones; it's just that when they do bite the consequences are far more serious. There are many people on this forum that freehandle(as in freely handle like a python) their venomous snakes.....that's a risk they decide on and accept for themselves. I'm sure if they are honest they will tell you that snakes that are often freehandled appear much more relaxed than those that need to be tailed or manipulated with hooks etc. So it could easily be argued that freehandling venomous snakes is much less stressfull for the reptiles in the long run.

If snakes need to be handled a lot (which most snakes don't!), then minimising their stress is surely a plus. If this can be done by a quick and simple operation then why not.

Many people say this is butchering the animal and cruel, but is it really?

If perfectly healthy snakes feed and mate within a few days of this simple operation then that is probably a pretty reasonable sign that they arenot in pain.

What is cruel anyhow?

We have people desexing their pets......an operation done as a matter of course, only in a small number of cases to prevent prostate problems!

Is it cruel for someone who knows little about snakes to buy a pet snake? keep it in the wrong thermal gradient, feed it an unbalanced diet, not treat it properly for mites or a respiratory infection, or set up a cage so the animal can get ghastly burns from curling up next to a heater!

If you are not thoroughly experienced with venomous snakes you shouldn't have access to venomoids.

I think there is a reasonable argument for small numbers of snakes to be venomoided and available to people who can demonstrate a valid use for them.

 

[snakehandler]

We demonstrate venomous snakes all the time, the are not stressed when handled correctly and we us a hook to lift them and allow the snake to move along it like a branch, we have never had a close call....but regardless if type (python or elapid) we always get asked "why doesn't it bite you?" public perception is that all snakes bite simply because they are snakes! That's why all snakes should be demonstrated in a way that encourages people to interact in a safe manner.


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[JackTar]

Never mind venomous snakes I wanna take my jungles teeth out I've got hands like bloody colanders lol.

 

[Reptile_Lover]

it's cruel and not needed, if people want snakes with no venom then get a python not a brown or red belly