Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am interested in Asian Vines, Dont know anything about the species, Several conflicting info sites, Just need experienced peoples input.

If you are Bitten by a large asian vine what are the direct effects of the venom?

Also, I have heard that of the Many species of "Asian Vine" that some are far more venomous than others, Is this true, and how do I distinguish between them?

When I find the right species how do I go about finding someone that would have a healthy specimen?

All in all I dont plan on getting bitten by the animal, but if such a situation arises I would like to know what I am in for, and what I have gotten myself into.

thanks
joe

www.emeraldboas.com

I have some asian vine snakes (1.1.2) and I must add that I only have been bitten once without any ill affects other than some drawn blood. The venom appears to me to be very mild. I feed my large female live mice and it takes 2 min for the mouse to die of the venom. Realize that the vine keep chewing this venom in for all that time. You cannot see feeding venomation as a single bite, but more constant chewing.
Defensive bites are single bites and probably little to no invenomation occurs.
I however still am very carefull to not get bitten by any snake.
I just hate needles..lol

good luck,

PJ

We've done some work on the venom and it appears to be pretty mild, consisting mostly of locally acting enzymes. Its also produced in very small amounts and the delivery is pretty inefficient. So, bites are pretty trivial typically. The vine snakes you may have heard of as being dangerous were most likely referring to African Thelatornis species (called twig snakes but sometimes vine snakes), which have a venom that is very boomslang like and are proven lethal. Ahaetulla (Asian vine snakes) species have nowhere near this capacity for envenomation.

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