Tests are going okay so far thanks .

Also by toxic I think what he was referring to is various care-sheets/books. Not all, but some, care sheets that I have read for various species of snakes have claimed that some snake species, mainly thinking Eastern Ribbon Snakes and Banded Water Snakes off the top of my head (I've never tried or risked myself though), will not digest food and it will grow bacteria cultures in the stomach. They believe that by the time the snake's body recognizes the threat the bacteria has already spread further in the digestive tract and into the body.

While I have never seen any proof of this, no reptile keeper I know is willing to be the agent for potentially deliberate killing of a snake for such an experiment. Also, based on the amount of effort that would be required to regurgitate the food, if enough energy was available to do that I also believe that digestion would still be able to occur, resulting in little to no bacteria cultures. I believe that the "accounts" may be erring on the safe side based on lizards, which likely wouldn't regurgitate and thus develop issues over hibernation. I myself believe that it won't happen as I believe all snakes have specialized enzymes to kill harmful bacteria that may be found on carrion. Irregardless of my belief, a heat source should always be provided long term. In some occasions a short time without is safe as many snakes do naturally enter dormant periods (i.e. if light burn't out and store was closed for holiday or something).

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