I posted this in the rear fanged forum. I am interested in keeping rear fangs. I have kept harmless snakes since I was 4 years old. I am now 14. By harmless I mean non-venomous. I have kept boas, pythons, and tons of colubrids in the past. In fact I was bitten quite a few times by my 7ft boa so pain is not an issue. I have read quite a bit about these mildly venomous snakes and everybody has a different view on their toxicity. I would like a mangrove or prasina to begin with. There is also another issue. What type of venom do these guys posses? I have a medical condition know as ITP. This is where I have low platelets and my blood has trouble clotting. While it is fine now, it does fluctuate. And heres a pic just for fun...
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I have:
1.1 Kankakee Bulls
1.0 veild chameleon
1.1 corns
0.1 az king
1.2. tiger sals
0.1.11 fox snakes
0.1.10 thamnophis radix
0.1 3-toe box turtle
0.0.1 gray tree frogs
1.1 Crotaphytus collaris
1.1 Crotaphytus binctores
1.1 Korean Ratsnake
1.1 Goini kings
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Replies (5)
Hi mate
By and large you should be fine but obviously should avoid any genera that affect the blood (e.g. Phylodryas). Boiga dendrophila certainly would be a good one to go with. They are stunning snakes and can be worked with quite reasonably with a pair of gardening gloves for example.
To learn more about the colubrid venoms, have a read of my site.
Enjoy 
B
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Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry
Deputy Director
Australian Venom Research Unit
University of Melbourne
Keep in mind that the 'colubrid' venoms can be just as potent as the elapid equivalents even if they are produced in lesser quantities (although some do produce quite significant amounts). Combined with a lack of antivenom, this does complicate things somewhat.
My suggestion would be to find someone in your local herp club who works with Boigas and such and learn from them before you get your own. As long as you are sensible, you should be able to work with one safely. However, I would seek the advice from your doctor regarding potential complications of post-synaptic neurotoxins and your medical condition.
The key here is to be safe and responsible, not only for your sake but also the public perception of the hobby.
All the best
Bryan
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Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry
Deputy Director
Australian Venom Research Unit
University of Melbourne
I noticed on your web-site that you said that fea's and wagler's vipers venoms are similar. How would you rate their toxicity and what would they compare to?
Thanks in advance
-tom
>>I noticed on your web-site that you said that fea's and wagler's vipers venoms are similar. How would you rate their toxicity and what would they compare to?
>>Thanks in advance
>>-tom
Hi mate,
We haven't compared the actions of the two (yet) but relatively speaking neither is as toxic as many other species and Fea's also give smallish venom yields for a viper. Thus, it appears that neither is likely to be lethal in normal bites but this is not to say lethal bites can't occur. Further to this, an effective antivenom doesn't exist for either one which of course complicates things somewhat.
Cheers
B
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Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry
Deputy Director
Australian Venom Research Unit
University of Melbourne
what av is effective for either species.
Thanks.
