Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know that skin toxins in amphibians change and eventually disappear, because of not eating their natural food. Like ants etc.
I also know that a alot of venomous snakes have more potent venom when they are small, this changes when they mature.

But now iam wondering, does snake venoms change during captivaty, illness, or other factors from outside. Or does the snake always make the same venom??
Is the venom within one species always the same??

If anyone knows the answers to my questions please let me know...
Thanks anyway

Gerben

Hi mate

The health of the snake would certainly influence the production of something like venom that takes a tremendous amount of biological energy to produce (just as it would the production of sperm for example). This is why the health of the snakes is of paramount importance to venom suppliers. As for the change due to aging, we have a paper on this in the works at the moment.

Cheers
Bryan
-----
Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry
Deputy Director
Australian Venom Research Unit
University of Melbourne

www.venomdoc.com

Thanks for your reply,

Venom is constructed out of different proteins, etc., can this be different between individuals of a single species? Or is it all the same?

Thanks..

It can differ due to locality...... A good example would be the Timber rattle snake...... The venom of a timber in New Jersey will differ from one in New York state...... Infact the venom may differ between groups in the same state..... I think the more south you go the more potent a timbers venom becomes.....