Reptile & Amphibian Forums

first off let me say that I have been reading the forums here for quit some time and have got alot a great info from you guys thanks......Im intrested in adding a venomous snake into my collection. I was wondering if and where if could find snakes that have been defanged. Also if a snake has been defanged will they grow back? and is defanging a snake considered crule? If infact it is crule then I dont want to bother getting one. thanks for your time guys.

seaweed

Defanging is a cruel process, I have not seen any snakes that have been defanged myself, but i know when some snakes are imported the importers ussually remove their fangs in a not so humane way. They do indeed grow back as im sure you ave read snakes fangs are replaced ever once in a while so they would grow back over time. Obviously if this isd the only way you would keep venomous snake you arent ready for one. Defanging a snake or removing the snakes venom glands are all cruel as you are removing the animals natural defenses. I hope this answers your questions

Aaron

yup you answered my question......Im not ready for a venomous snake as of yet....I respect them and think that they are amazing animals and when Im ready I will make sure I will not defang or mutalate the animal in any way. Thanks for your time and not jumping down my throat for such a queston.

Seaweed

Defamnging won't work as the snake will regrow them.
Removing venom glands surgically (not a major procedure, but one that requires skill and experience and the standard medical gear like sutures, etc) is the only way to permenantly disable venom properties in a snake and it's success is never 100% certain, but can be tested for periodically.
There's lots of written accounts of "how to" in the literature.
The result is so-called venomoid snakes and notwithstanding the pain of incisions, wounds and healing, the snakes recvover OK if the operation is done OK and no complications arise.
Is it ethical?
You decide.
ALL THE BEST

Besides the morality of mutilating a snake in this way, there is the aesthetic effects: Snakes that have had a full venom gland removal (as opposed to just having the ducts cut) sometimes have a caved in appearance of their heads, due to the lack of the venom glands where they once were...some venomoids have implants (like breast implants, usually saline) to make up for the venom glands, but i have seen pics of venomoids where the cheeks are sunken in where the venom glands used to be...this is usually in snakes that have rather large venom glands to begin with...

Hey... MsTT posted this in another forum and I thought it would apply here too. It is a sad, yet interesting read.

http://www.kingsnake.com/snakegetters/demo/vet/mamba-jaw.html