Is there a way to "De-fang" a poisonous snake to make it a non poisonous snake?

Question

Is there a way to "De-fang" a poisonous snake to make it a non poisonous snake?

Answer 1

A word of warning concerning venomoids: Removing the gland is a risky and dangerous surgery that most if not all reputable vets will not perform. Most snakes that are venomoids have gone through a barbaric surgery in someone's garage and run the risk of death from infection etc. The other problem is that in many cases, the venom glands are not removed either in part or completely. Venom glands can blend into the muscles that control the jaws and as such can be missed. This means that the snake is still in fact venomous. There have been many cases of people envenomated by supposedly venomoid snakes. There is also the issue of the fangs. Even if there's no poison, the bite from 1" fangs on a large venomous (snakes are venomous not poisonous) can create a painful injury. If you aren't responsible enough to keep venomous snakes that are intact, you shouldn't keep them at all. Venomoids are considered venomous by most states regulating the keeping of them so just because it has had glands removed (hopefully) does not mean you can keep them legally. Since you are calling snakes "poisonous" this leads me to believe you know very little about venomous snakes in general and the problems you could have are numerous. Problems you have can lead to legislation that will restrict those of us keeping venomous snakes in a proper and responsible manner. Stick to your non-venomous snakes and if sometime down the road you have become sufficiently educated, have worked with someone with venomous and have learned how to safely keep one, then do so.

Answer 2

wow lol ricky had a horrible answer, as most said venomoids are not a sure thing and can become venomous again if the surgery was not done right, i don't know about you but i would not put my life on the fact that a vet did not mess up the surgery, vets that have done the surgery on dead snakes to see how it was have said it would be very easy to miss something. venomoidinc who does the surgeries do not give any kind of guarantee, because they know its possible to mess it up.



like the second guy said people that keep venomous snakes as a hobby do not milk them, there is no reason to. you are not going to sell venom for anti venom production. there are like 4 people in the us that do it and they produce more then enough. another thing milking them does not make them safe venom is produced pretty quick.



you own a ball python, i hope you do not plan on getting anything venom. they are not toys and are not something you jump into. you keep many species of snakes for many years and then work up to venomous.





here is what i found for the texas law, on cobraman ray hunters site.



Texas:

Native Venomous: No permit required

Exotic Venomous: Permit required

Protected Native Venomous: Permit required

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

4200 Smith School Road

Austin, TX 78744

Answer 3

That Ricky guy has no clue what he's talking about, this is why you shouldn't trust any "reptile store".

There's only 4 people in the US that milk snakes, hobbists who own them obviously don't do that. Getting a venomous license doesn't teach you how to do that, doesn't give you permission to do that, and that doesn't make it so that they can't envenomate you. A snake can be milked then turn right around and bite & envenomate you. they don't suddenly become 100% empty after "milking". Milking is really just having them strike a cup and they don't release all their venom in one bite. They can control the amount of venom they deliver which is why you have dry "warning" strikes.



A venomous license just gives you permission to own a certain amount of them, to obtain a permit it's about $100 a year and you need 1000 hours of verified experience to get one.

Often times you don't even need one to own venomous. Some states have it so that "exotic venomous" are okay but venomous snakes naitive to that state are not. Some are okay with them both, no permit needed, but one or two are the exception. (EX. Texas is okay with all, no permit required, except for "protected naitive venomous" such as the timber rattlesnake in which case you'd need a permit.) and some just ban them outright. You'd need to check your state laws.



Yes a surgery does exist. Snakes that get it done are called "venomoid". Most reptile classifieds have a special section just for venomoids. http://market.kingsnake.com/index.php?cat=105 Here's one that actually has more selection. http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/search.php?searchid=1494345



There's many different ways to do it, but the best and most efficent way is to simply remove the venom glands. It's not that invasive, barely leaves a small scar, and best of all if it's done properly there is no risk of envenomation.



Another way is to cut the duct between the gland and fang, but this method has been known to fail when the duct regenerates. If you ever hear about a supposedly "safe" venomoid who has envenomated it's probably because they had the ducts severed and it healed.



An envenomated snake is obviously in captivity so it wouldn't need it's venom to kill since it's probably fed pre-killed or f/t rodents. They can still survive just fine without venom. They do still have loads of sharp teeth, removing them is pointless because they grow back.



This procedure is highly controversial, some say that it's "animal cruelty" and others say that it's done for safety methods and show that the surgery can be done properly by a vet and that sucussful venomoids don't show any signs of stress/sickness. Most people agree that it is wrong when amateurs do it since they often don't use anesthesia and they just cool it down so that it can't really move, now THAT is cruel.



Here's an official site on it http://venomoidinc.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=29

Here's a FAQ on it from kingsnake.com http://www.kingsnake.com/aho/faq/venomoidfaq.html

Here's an article that even shows you pictures of how it's done http://www.venomousreptiles.org/articles/55

Here's another kingsnake.com FAQ, biased but still a FAQ http://www.kingsnake.com/snakegetters/demo/vet/venomoid-faq.html



EDIT: @Madsnake: If you live there you probably know more about it then I do, I live in southern California and I assure you that you will not find a permit at walmart here. I don't even think our walmart /has/ a hunting section period. The $100 a year one is for Florida and I'm sure that is correct. http://www.preservevenomous.com/venomous_reptile_laws.htm

I just checked Google for another example on venomous snake laws and stumbled upon the Texas wildlife department site. This is copy&pasted from there.



Native Venomous: No permit required

Exotic Venomous: No permit required

Protected Native Venomous: Permit required

Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)



Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

4200 Smith School Road

Austin, TX 78744



Perhaps it's outdated or something, either or it was just an example. Like I told the asker, he'll have to check his own state's laws.

Answer 4

You can defang them but they'll just grow back. You can also get a venomoid operation but it's really expensive. It's not legal in Europe though.

Answer 5

no because thats how the kill there prey there not a constrictor if they have venom and chances are if there venomous they wont eat pre dead mice. if you really want a venomous snake first you have to get a permit and learn how to "milk" there glands but even without venom its still probably going to bite you when threatened and that will still hurt. best advice find a non venomous cool snake

Answer 6

All I have to say is that "x-Jazzy-x" is completely incorrect on the laws here in Texas. Non native venomous snakes require a permit, which is $20 a year and can be bought in the sporting goods section at Wal-Mart and anywhere else that sells fishing and hunting permits. Native venomous snakes do not require a permit. And this person is also incorrect in saying that protected species can be owned with a permit. Timber rattlesnakes are protected here and can not be possessed, permit or no permit.



"x-Jazzy-x" what you're saying is incorrect in regards to laws in Texas. A permit is needed for non native venomous and it's called a Texas Controlled Exotic Snake Permit and is also needed for Burmese pythons, reticulated pythons, African rock pythons and green anacondas. It is only $20 and although it sounds odd, it can be purchased at Wal-Mart and sporting goods stores. Clearly just a revenue making tactic for the state. A commercial version of the permit is required for selling any of the aforementioned species, which I have and bought for $60 at Wal-Mart. Yes, the Wal-Mart employees had never even heard of this permit and looked at me strangely until they were able to look it up in the system. These permits went into effect in 2008. As for the timber rattler thing, yes, they can be owned with a permit, as can American alligators, but these permits are not issued to individuals, only to accredited scientific organizations such as zoos. When I said that they couldn't be possessed, I was only referring to the private collector. You are correct on the permit in Florida. http://beta-www.tpwd.state.tx.us/faq/business/controlled-exotic-snake-permit-a.k.a.-nonindigenous-snake-permit