Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey, not that I agree with "fixing" snakes.. But I was told once in a conversation about de-venomising that the snakes use their venom not only to kill thier prey but to aid in the digestion process as well... I brought this up with a guy that I know (who is all about fixing snakes) and his reply was that in rattle snakes and other snakes that go though a "hibernation" period the venom acts more like a persitive (sp?) for the food that is in their gut.. While more tropical snakes that do not go thought such brumation periods it doesn't really do any thing for diesgestion... So with saying that what is every ones opion on that... Not a moral question but more of a scientific one..

1) Does venom act like a persitive?

2) Is there any documentation about the affects of venom and diegestion?

3) Do the differnent "types" of venom affect digestion in differnt ways? ie. Neuro toxic=persitive and hemotoxic=aid in digestion?

Thanks...
Jesse

First things first...

"persitive" do you mean preservative?

On the topic of Devenomizing any "hot", my opinion is that there is no reason to own an animal if you feel that you don't have the ability to safely handle it without depriving it of it's natural defenses. With the proper equiptment and training, "most" venomous reptiles can be worked with safely without the need to butcher the snake because someone, a)is unsure of their ability b) feels the need to free-handle an animal that doesn't need to be free-handled.

As far as venom acting as a preservative, I have never heard that one but I admit I don't know for sure. Most crotalids who do "hibernate" have venom that most definatley aids in locating it's prey and in digestion. If you have ever seen photos of the extensive tissue damage that occurs following an atrox bite, you would surely agree that tissue gets dissolved. The same process of RBC lysis occurs internally in a prey item and if you want to be sure, try it for yourself.

Place a live rodent in with a crote with a good feeding response and once it strikes the animal and it's dead, remove it safely and do an autopsy.

BGF or WW on the "venomous" forum would probably be able to give you a more definitive answer from a scientific perspective.

Brendan