Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hello everybody. i just have a few questions and was hoping this was the right place to start. i've always been interested in snakes and i want to deal with venomous snakes to extract venom and stuff like that.
i was hoping someone could give me some ideas as where to start. how to get into that kind of field. or any info regarding that career/field of study.
thanks
christian

I'm sorry if this disappoints, but there really isn't any real need/market for individuals to do venom extractions. Regulations on venom that is used for antivenom production, or anything that will be used for humans etc, are so strict that it is very prohibitive. If you're really interested I'd say you should study biology and focus on biochemistry, then many years down the road you might be able to put the information to use.

This is a very very very very long term goal. If/when you're ready for this sort of work it'll be something that finds you, not the other way around.

that is a little disappointing. must have been taken over by a bunch of herp extremists who ruined the chances for others to learn. i wasnt lookin to do it for work. pure enjoyment and interest is all. but thanks for nothin.

WHAT Herp extremists? He was just giving you the facts and the logistics, that's all. Then you come back with such a rude statement? sheesh!
People don't "extract" venom for fun.

Randal Berry

and who asked you? nobody that's who.

Maybe you should go knock that chip off your shoulder before you go asking for help next time.

The replies you received were correct and factual. Just because you didn't like the answers doesn't give you the right to be a jerk about it.

You'll find that most people on any forums are willing to assist with questions of which they are knowledgeable.

Experienced folks are just saving you a lot of money and grief on a wasted effort.

Venomous keepers are also watchful of those that do irresponsible things with venomous snakes. We are constantly under fire and make every effort possible to govern our own.

My suggestion to you is that you visit a legitimate venom facility to get a realistic idea of the numbers of snake needed (100's) and the amount of expensive equipment ($1000's)that are required for this endeavor.

The existing labs are not getting rich and have had long standing reputations.

I suggest you take a deep breath BEFORE responding to this.
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Tim Cole
www.austinherpsociety.org
www.AustinReptileExpo.com/
www.AustinReptileService.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<
Conservation through Education

This question comes up often enough, although usually more tactfully, that an analogy should be developed to get the point across. Would starting a "venom extraction" business be similar to starting your own pharmaceutical company or electric company? What analogy would work to give the proper scale of the endevour?

How about starting your own dairy farm? Anyone familiar with this would see the comparisons.

Great Point! Well said...

Randal Berry

I liked where he asked the question in the main post and then when he was answered he said who asked you nobody thats who.. lol maybe he forgot that he asked the question.

>>i wasnt lookin to do it for work. pure enjoyment and interest is all. but thanks for nothin.

If you ant to learn to keep venomous snakes, you're at the right place (assuming you can relax a little). Read through this forum for a while and then ask whatever questions you don't find answers to. Then look for someone in your area that might be willing to mentor you (assuming you haven't alienated everyone in the hobby by then).

By the time you've logged a few hundred hours, you won't need anyone to tell you why extracting venom for fun is a really bad idea...
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What goes up must come down...unless it exceeds escape velocity.

Christian,

Honestly the best shot you have at getting into venom extraction, once you've gained the experience to actually handle venomous snakes, is to get on with an existing lab. This would likely be difficult, but not impossible. After all, the folks currently do extraction won't live forever (and in fact, may not live very long at all considering the risk they have to put themselves in), so they'll need 'replacements' eventually. You could contact Jim Harrison who runs the Kentucky Reptile Zoo. There are probably one or two other extraction facilities around this country if you look. That is assuming you are in the US.

Considering the amount of money required to start something like that, it would be far more feasible to work with an existing facility. Not that it'd be easy getting a job there, or even that it'd be possible within the next 10-20 years, but it's far more likely than making your own lab and company.

Disclaimer: All the above is written assuming you're over 18 or whatever the legal age is where you live, and have experience handling and caring for venomous reptiles of many different types and 'skill level.' If you aren't either, especially the latter, then disregard my comments until you are.
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Chance Duncan
Science Teacher, Herp Enthusiast, and Reptilian Conservation Proponent
www.rvexotics.com

Chrisian,
I support anybody who is willing to learn more about venomous reptiles. If you are wanting to do venom extractions for fun, or pure enjoyment, I wonder if you mean just discarding the venom wastefully or attempting to conduct any kind of independent biologic studies.If it is the former, don't do it. If the reason is the latter, then learn all you can from those who whave been in this practice(again not to discourage your learning but I don't know who would be willing to mentor such a risky endeavor) and learn by trial and error. Now, I agree with the statement that to conduct actual venom studies you have to be an MD working with a known laboratory. As far as extractions and supplying various freeze dried sterile venoms to established research facilities, this can be done. I'm not saying that it can be done overnight before I get flamed here, but all of the big names currently doing venom extractions all got their start somewhere and have primarily learned from their own experience.There are procedures to follow however, and yes it will take thousands of dollars,100s of animals,and many,many years to build your reputation. And...you will get bit. Everybody who does extractions does. I don't agree with the statement that there is not a need for more venom for antivenom production,etc. Case in point: Almost out of Coral Snake Antivenom from Wyeth! I know that there are foreign manufacturer's of S. American Coral Snake Antivenom, but still...
Drew.

cobrafan write:

I don't agree with the statement that there is not a need for more venom for antivenom production,etc. Case in point: Almost out of Coral Snake Antivenom from Wyeth! I know that there are foreign manufacturer's of S. American Coral Snake Antivenom, but still...
Drew.

This is incorrect information. The shortage of coral snake antivenom from Wyeth is because they stopped production of the antivenom, not because there was a lack of raw venom. This further supports that the venom market is currently saturated.

I'm not saying it can't be done, I'm saying that it is impractical. That isn't a business you can currently just walk into.

trench wrote:

i want to deal with venomous snakes to extract venom and stuff like that

While the individual may truly be interested, statements like this make me think that they might have the cart before the horse. As others have pointed out, this individual came in here, was rude, had a chip on their shoulder, and didn't like it when they got answers that were factual and real. Also, as far as policing/governing ourselves this post shows all kinds of red flags. Someone just doesn't walk in and start milking snakes "for fun." I would say this is akin to someone posting on an aviation forum and asking: "Hey, I saw a guy flying an F-16 on TV. I want to just take one out for the weekend for a quick solo flight, I don't want to go through flight school or anything like that."

I mean no offense to the original poster. I just sincerely question their motives, background, and the reality of their ideas of venom extraction.

Snakes N Stuff:

That's not what I understood when I read the article about Wyeth but I'm not claiming to be the 100% be all,end all authority on antivenom production either. Also, I believe I did advise Christian against doing extractions "for fun".
Drew.

My understanding is that they stopped production because there wasn't enough demand to make it worthwhile. It wouldn't be too surprising if they didn't want to put it exactly like that...
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What goes up must come down...unless it exceeds escape velocity.