Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all,

I saw an add selling devenomized snakes & was wondering if I could get some insight from you experts on that. I was wondering who agrees with it & who doesn't.. I would love pros & cons...Does it remove all the venom for good or just greatly reduce the amount? are they still able to kill a human being of any size afterwards? does this in anyway effect the day to day living or would the snake be fine & not realize they don't have it anymore? does it do anything as far as tempermant goes, do they get nastier or nicer?? by doing so does it make them legal in states where said snake with venom intact would be illegal?

Just wanna make one last thing clear....I own no venemous herps & don't plan to unless I get some experience & guidance it was just something that crossed my mind & i would like to learn a little more about...i just wanted that said so i dont start getting hate posts left & right for something I haven't done..lol i just want some insite.
thansk to all who reply!

First, if venomous snakes are outlawed in your state, then so are devenomized ones. It is species specific, so if you cant have a cobra, then you cant have a cobra, even if there is no venom. Snipping venom ducts can cause a lot of problems for the snake and the surgery even kills some. Not only that, a double duct can occur, this leaves the snake venomous after the surgery and still able to kill a human. Complete gland removal will render the snake venomless but can be harmful to the snake and often leaves them weak and exhausted. Without the venom, they cannot kill prey the way they normally can, and I think they may know that. Venom production and usage is a normal part of a healthy venomous snake. Then there is also the moral issue, and just about everyone here does not agree with surgerying snakes and selling devenomized snakes. Wait until you have the experience necessary to keep a collection of venomous snakes, dont start out with venomoids.

i dont plan on owning any for quite some time just wanted some info on that

A previous correspondent wrote:
"Complete gland removal will render the snake venomless but can be harmful to the snake and often leaves them weak and exhausted."
The latter part of the sentence is curious and I wonder on what it was based.
17 odd operations here in Australia on several species have all been totally routine, successful, without complication, etc and NONE of the snakes ever showed signs of weakness and exhaustion. In fact quite the contrary. Snakes have been as fiesty as ever post operation. All snakes have been venomoid for some time now and appear outwardly normal in all ways and without any known health issue.
The moral issues are outside my ambit and I accept that most on this forum are opposed to the operation, but assuming the operation is done properly, there is little if any downside for the snake and arguably quite some upside.
The most notable for the snake is that in term of day to day handling, tongs hooks and the like can be dispensed with and the snakes respond in kind by becoming more tractable.
While venom is essntial to the wild animals, it is effectively a millstone around the neck of some captives and it's removal has some measurable benefits.
If the correspondents post was based on failed operations based on outdated procedures, then they may have a valid point, but the argument is now invalid using the latest procedures for what has now effectively become a routine and simple operation.
Finally there are legal liability issues in the event venomoids are traded and confused with "unfixed" snakes resulting in a severe (venomous) bite, hence at this end at least, trade in venomoids isn't recommended.
Venomoid and other reptile papers online

Many venomoid dealers take shortcuts and sell sub par animals, thats what I was stating. I know the surgery can be done without serious harm to the animal, thats not what I was saying. If you dont know who did the surgery, you could be picking up a snake that has gone through a rough time with the surgery and may not survive. Ive also heard, not witnessed but heard, that some dealers will sell hot animals as venomoids to get more money for them, since venomoids are generally priced higher. Id say its not good to buy them and if they are a must have I think you should get a hot snake and have the surgery done by someone that you know personally and that you know will do it right.