Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have heard diferent things. I have been bitten by them also and it feels no different than a rat snake or the same size. I di look in my adult ringenecks mouth when feeding it and saw some small looked like fangs back there. Do they have venom glands?
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Justin

Yes they are. They have rearfangs, but are harmless as the venom probably wouldn't act on you and you would have to go all the way to the back of their mouths. Andy
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Burgundy baby, With your blue eyed soul, You play the hits and I'm on that roll, Capricorn sister, Freddie Mercury, Jupiter Child cry

Not to refute that ringnecks are venomous, but where do you get your info on this?

I have a link to a page about the snakes of massachusetts (where I am) and it says there are only two venomous snakes in the area (timber rattler and copperhead).

I've read that it is believed that common garter snakes are probably toxic to amphibians (sometimes people will get a rash where they've been bit as well, but thats all). Is this what you mean?
Like ringnecks are venomous, but their venom really only effects small gastropods and the like?

Just curious.

one thing you find commonly in liturature on this subject is the listing of some snakes as harmless for any of three reasons. (1) the snakes venom is either of minimal potency or not enough can be delivered to the bite. (2) The snake delivery system is incapable of delivering a bite to (humans). (3) The author did not adequatly research his subject. Ringnecks have been known to be venomous for a very long time. Even before BGF's paper! It is harmless for both of the above reasons and so is described as such.
Frank

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Agreed. Especially the regal ringneck, which feeds on mostly lizards and/or small snakes. Some people have put them in with kingsnakes only to come in and find either a fat ringneck or 2 dead snakes. The venom would only affect small prey though. Andy
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Burgundy baby, With your blue eyed soul, You play the hits and I'm on that roll, Capricorn sister, Freddie Mercury, Jupiter Child cry

Aha! Lately, I've been reading that they are not venomous as well, but because I had always learned that they were (from books as a child) I looked into it really well. Most books mentioned that they were rear-fanged, but not that they had venom.

Anyhow, Andy, what kind of ringsnake is a regal? Are those on the West side? I just hear those are larger so that's why I assume that.

Southern Ringneck snakes are VERY common in South Florida and I kept one as a child for a couple of months, and now I have two babies that I'm trying to keep. I'm going to add a post to this forum asking questions and I definitely welcome any advice
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Got hips like Cinderella / Must be having a good shame / Talking sweet about nothing / Cookie I think you're Tame

Regals are found from central to west Texas (mostly intergrades)to E. California and south into Mexico. They are a distinct subspecies (when pure) and can achieve a length of 30". the color is a gray to greenish gray, similar to a northern. They can either have/or nothave a neck ring. They sigger from the northern by having by having the more typically southern orange veneer and red tail. They feed primarily on lizards and small snakes.
Frank

Pretty much all colubrids could be called "venomous" if you so choose to. I know people that have reactions to garter/ribbon snakes as well as Nerodia. My ringnecks were Mississippis. But I would expect the care is mostly the same. They were all about the same size as the ones I have seen for sale from Florida and the habitat isn't that different. I have seen some nice regals. They get big...will even eat zonata and cantenifer. Andy
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Andy Maddox
Houston Herp Key
The Reptizone

Burgundy baby, With your blue eyed soul, You play the hits and I'm on that roll, Capricorn sister, Freddie Mercury, Jupiter Child cry

yes but have smal rear fangs to imobilize prey like salamanders,it works the best on case of the soft skin pretty neat to watch