>>Put the hook away, no they aren't rear fanged.

Actually they are but they are not medically important. Kochva reported some mild, transient neurotoxic symptoms.

Ref: Rosenberg, H. I., A. Bdolah, and E. Kochva. 1985. Lethal factors and enzymes in the secretion from Duvernoy's gland of three colubrid snakes. The Journal of Experimental Zoology 233(1):5-14.

Keep using the hook if it makes you more comfortable. While being medically unimportant, they still have a mouthfull of sharp teeth. Using a hook will not only help keep you from bleeding a bit but, perhaps more important, this will also help prevent them biting onto clothing etc which may tear the gums, leading to mouth rot. Damage is damage and any time it can be prevented is good in my book.

Cheers
Bryan
-----
Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry
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Department of Biochemistry,
Bio21 Institute,
University of Melbourne
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http://www.venomdoc.com

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