Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello. I was just thinking today of my snake wishlist, which includes elephant trunk and tentacled snakes--I specialize my interest in (and keep a lot of) rare and unusual snakes, especially species with odd eating habits, and rear-fanged/mildly venomous are a big category for me. While day-dreaming of the two aforementioned aquatic species, I thought of sea snakes, which I cannot remember reading about for...man, about 10 years now! I recall learning that there were over 50 species worldwide, yet I have never seen one for sale. Why is this? Too hard to keep/maintain/accomodate? Lowest success rate of any kept species of snake? Etc.???

Please, someone let me know if you can actually obtain these snakes, not to say that I would (or even could), but I'd like to know for future reference. And although I should know this for sure, someone please confirm that sea snakes are not Elapids but are closely related...? And despite a deadly venom, they have actually never been considered dangerous because of...very small fangs?? And/or takes too long to inject venom?? I obviously forget, but I know it has to do with their fangs and/or envenomation ability.

Thanks,
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T.J. Gould

www.scuba-doc.com/seasnks.htm and www.anchoryachts.com/articles/snakes.htm. Answered most of my questions, but I would still like to know if they're ever available. Thanks.
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T.J. Gould

>>
>>Please, someone let me know if you can actually obtain these snakes, not to say that I would (or even could), but I'd like to know for future reference.

There is a thread about this further down the page somewhere.

> And although I should know this for sure, someone please confirm that sea snakes are not Elapids but are closely related...?

They very much are elapids, being nested deep within the Australian elapids since that is in fact all that they are, good little beach loving Aussies

> And despite a deadly venom, they have actually never been considered dangerous because of...very small fangs?? And/or takes too long to inject venom?? I obviously forget, but I know it has to do with their fangs and/or envenomation ability.

They are very gentle animals (until you net them and bring them on board like we do, then they have a tendency to get a bit snappy). It is a complete myth that the fangs are too small to go through human skin, after all they feed on fish and eels!! Both of which have much thicker scales/skin than we do. The venom yield of some species can be quite considerable and many species are well documented as causing human fatalaties. However, no sea snake venom is more potent than either the inland taipan or the eastern brown snake.

Cheers
Bryan
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Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry
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Australian Venom Research Unit,
University of Melbourne
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Population and Evolutionary Genetics Unit,
Museum Victoria
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http://www.venomdoc.com

I´m confused!
Isn´t Hydrophis belcheri more venomous than Oxyuranus microlepidotus?

>>I´m confused!
>>Isn´t Hydrophis belcheri more venomous than Oxyuranus microlepidotus?

I've heard this batted around but the only published data on the venom doesn't support this.

Cheers
Bryan
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Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Australian Venom Research Unit,
University of Melbourne
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Population and Evolutionary Genetics Unit,
Museum Victoria
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.venomdoc.com

I am totally not qualified to answer this but I'll give it a shot. I think it actually depends on how the venom is delivered. Most snakes can't or normally won't hit an artery or vein, or go deep enough or in a location that can be considered intramuscular. So subcutaneous is the most reasonable and probable method. In which case the inland taipan and eastern brown snake are the "hottest." I THINK.

>>Hello. I was just thinking today of my snake wishlist, which includes elephant trunk and tentacled snakes--I specialize my interest in (and keep a lot of) rare and unusual snakes, especially species with odd eating habits, and rear-fanged/mildly venomous are a big category for me. While day-dreaming of the two aforementioned aquatic species, I thought of sea snakes, which I cannot remember reading about for...man, about 10 years now! I recall learning that there were over 50 species worldwide, yet I have never seen one for sale. Why is this? Too hard to keep/maintain/accomodate? Lowest success rate of any kept species of snake? Etc.???

TJ:

It is my understanding that most Sea Snakes only live a short while in captivity. This is obviously very bad for the Snake but also bad for an investigator hoping for long term project with a given population of animals. The Aussie species are most likely protected like their terrestrial counterparts and exports are banned.

Best,

Al
>>
>>Please, someone let me know if you can actually obtain these snakes, not to say that I would (or even could), but I'd like to know for future reference. And although I should know this for sure, someone please confirm that sea snakes are not Elapids but are closely related...? And despite a deadly venom, they have actually never been considered dangerous because of...very small fangs?? And/or takes too long to inject venom?? I obviously forget, but I know it has to do with their fangs and/or envenomation ability.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>-----
>>T.J. Gould

for months now. It was my post that was referred to. I've all but given up. The husbandry required is unbelievable, zoos have problems keeping them in captivity! How would I possibly accomplish it? Add to that you'd most likely have to obtain the proper documents and catch one yourself because I can't find any available anywhere. Do lots and lots of research, it'll probably be some time before you come across one. Let me know how it goes though, they're on my wish list as well.

If you check the venomous import list on herpafauna.com they have a section for kraits, and they list a sea snake under it.