Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey folks, I know this is probably going to sound like I'm a troll, but please believe me I'm not.

I live in Arizona, and I know a fellow who caught a neonate rattler (no, I don't know what species). He's keeping it, buys pinkies off of me when he found I raise mice for my colubrid collection. (not into hots personally).

He tells me that his plan is to raise up this little bugger, eventually milk the venom, sell some, and have some ... ???..INJECTED???? so he can build up an immunity to the venom and be able to handle the snake with impunity....???

To me this sounds completely bizarre! BUT I don't know anything about the subject really, so I thought I would come here and ask the "experts" to see what all of you think about this. Could be it's completely common practice, but I somehow don't think so. Oh, and this is an ADULT person we are talking about, graduate from college and all.

Thanks for any insight.
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~Sasheena

Sounds like something out of a movie...ever seen "The Princess Bride"?

it's a legitimate question. There are a few people that self inject for purposes of building immunity, Bill Haast was the pioneer. Go to the venomous forum, you'll get better help in there. If he starts doing it without usin any common sense, or without any help from someone with experience doing it, he can get hurt real quick. Initial injections should be dilluted almost to the point of being straight water, I think I heard 1000x's dilluted. I have never done it, nor will I ever try, but there are people who do.

Thank you for realizing it really was a legitamate question. I'll move my question over to the venemous forum and see if I get any responses there. This person doesn't really strike me as a person with a whole lot of brains, even if he is a college graduate. But I don't really know him all that well. Just wanted to have all my facts before I said anything to him. Nothin worse than a person spouting off like an expert on a subject they know nothing about. Gotta learn the truth myself before I can say anything to this person!
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~Sasheena

Venom labs probably aren't going to be terribly interested in purchasing venom from a 'dude with a rattlesnake'. Also, he should know that milking is a very excellent way to get bitten. So ideally if he is going to self inject he should find someone else either experienced or dumb enough to milk it for him.

not to mention the venom is weighed and sold in its dry, crystalized form. Many, MANY rattlesnakes would have to be kept and milked on a regular basis to produce enough venom to warrant a sale. Speaking of warrants, you would be well over your legal possession limit if you kept enough crotes to do this.
Does this individual think there isn't an adequate number of facilities around the country producing enough raw venom to satisfy the needs of labs in the making of antivenin, to the point that the labs will turn to "a dude with a rattlesnake" for their supply? I think not.
One astronomical hospital bill should be enough to deter even the most determined entreprenuer, hope it doesn't come to that.

I thought that antivenom supplies were very low. Am I wrong? Is there really an excess in supply?
Just wondering,
Michelle

I know that antivenin was in short supply a yr or two ago, but that was the anitvenin itself and not raw venom.

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