>>I have a question: Hog nosed snakes are considered venomous (right?)but I see them at a local reptile shop. The owner says it is not legal to keep hot snakes in the city limits, so how come you can keep a hog nose?

>>

>>~David



Virtually all colubrids are venomous (with the only known exceptions to-date being the North American ratsnake-types (Lampropeltis/Pantherophis/Pituophis and relatives), the Asian ratsnakes in contrast are venomous). However, this does not mean that all are going to pose a danger. The garter snakes for example are actually venomous however they have been safely kept by 10s of thousands of people with only a few mild envenomations reported). Thus, yes hognosed are venomous (both the American ones which are in the Xenodontinae snake family as well as the Madagascar ones which are in the Pseudoxyrophiinae snake family). However, typically bites result in only localised effects (swelling and itching).



The venomous laws are usually targeted at preventing competent adults from safely owning elapids and vipers. They typically don't address 'colubrids' (except for boomslangs and twig snakes). I think that the laws are assinine and short-sighted. There has never been a single documented case of a venomous snake getting out an injuring a member of the public. This is in contrast to little rat-dogs like toy poodles and such which probably bite more people than any other animal!



Cheers

B
-----
Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry

Deputy Director

Australian Venom Research Unit

University of Melbourne



www.venomdoc.com

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