Defanged Cobra???

[BoaBoy91]

Hey i just wanted to know if this was a defanged cobra. I know he is wearing the protective gloves but it just seems too easy. so let me know what is up with this vid. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd4DQ8q-nVc

[jpsteele80]

My guess would be yes, those gloves don't look anywhere thick enough to stop a hypodermic needle which is what fangs basically are, and he didn't look to concerned when it started biting the gloove

[LiL Zap]

He seemed a little to reckless to me so I'm gonna have to agree with the poster above me and say yes. When it comes to handling hots, you gotta respect the power they have and this guy kinda seemed like he didn't have a worry in the world.

[Jim Smith]

Either a defanged cobra or a debrained handler. Anyone who handles hots that carelessly, will eventually get bitten perhaps fatally.

[MDT]

You cannot "defang" a venomous snake. They have replacement fangs that readily move into place to replace to lost fang. There are venomous snakes that have had their venom glands surgically removed. They are called "venomoids". Personally, I think it's a ridiculous and cruel procedure, but hey, that's just me. If we are lucky enough, maybe this thread will be Hosered, and he can extol the virtues of such a procedure.

Check out these gloves...these look to be what he is wearing.
Animal Glove (http://tongs.com/animalglove.aspx)

[Sublimeballs]

^^^^ ding ding ding we have a winner.

It's bad enough that good hot keepers get tagged eventually, but people like this are the statistics.

[Sublimeballs]

And I agree completley that venomoids are WRONG. If you're not capable of keeping venomous snakes, accept it. Don't buy a snake that has had its head cut open, venom glands cut out, replacement "gland" implant out back in, sewn back up and hopes it makes it through.
Also, to my understanding, the venom glands have regenerated in some rare cases. So, your neat venom free cobra could end up a born again hot.

After watching the video again I think this is in fact a perfectly deadly cobra. And that he is wwwwaaaYyyyyyy to confident with these animals and it isn't going to end well.

[SSSSnakes]

The snake is not defanged or a venomiod. The gloves are not animal gloves as was posted above. They are Hex Armour gloves or as they are called in the UK Venom Defenders. They can and will take a bite from a King Cobra. They are not 100% guaranteed, but they do work. If you never have handled a Cobra it may appear what he was doing was careless and dangerous, but he knows his snake and techniques that work. I handle Cobras every day and use similar techniques. I don't allow my cobras on the ground as he did, but I do handle them and use the same gloves that he was using. The gloves should be used only as a secondary safety encase the snake bites you, not to allow the snake to bite you. Grace Willyt a famous King Snake handler used the open hand method to keep her Cobras at bay.

I am a profession Hot handler and I also agree venomoids are wrong.

[MDT]

I'm glad you jumped in Jerry.. I was hoping you or one of the other "hots" keepers could shed some light here. I wasn't certain about the gloves. Thanks for the info!

[SSSSnakes]

I'm glad you jumped in Jerry.. I was hoping you or one of the other "hots" keepers could shed some light here. I wasn't certain about the gloves. Thanks for the info!

The company that you showed the gloves from, Midwest (Tongs.com), no longer even sells the gloves used for venomous snakes. Hex Armour, who makes the gloves will not even talk to you if they know you want them for handling venomous snakes. They still can be purchased through some safety equipment companies in the US, but mostly they have to be ordered through UK companies. They are simply the highest rated needle stick gloves that you can buy.

I have used them for many years on venomous and non venomous snakes and never had a tooth get threw them. As I said I use them as a secondary safety with the venomous snakes and have had Rattlesnakes hit them with no issues. As for non venomous snakes, I have used them to calm down Rock Pythons and Retics, and let them strike and chew on them over and over without having a tooth coming threw the gloves ever. But they should never be used to carelessly handle snakes.

I must also add that if you are not trained to handle venomous snakes and have never done so, that some of the techniques that are used may look careless, but in fact, are as safe as can be, when dealing with venomous snakes. Keep in mind that when dealing with venomous snakes, large constrictors or any other kind of animals, (lions, bears, large monitors oir even horses) there ius always a risk involved.

But in my opinion, a life with no risks is not worth living. I'm a marries man, so I know about taking risks. LOL

[shaunyboy]

these Cobras are NOT de fanged or hurt in any way,Luke that helped run the sanctuary was sadly bitten and died recently mate

imo the sanctuary does great work with their Cobras

cheers shaun

[Will0W783]

I have those gloves as well, and I can attest to their strength. I use them primarily as an extra layer of protection when hooking/tailing my hots, but I also use them when I have to force-feed or help shed a snake, and my gloves have taken a few viper bites. There's very little chance of a cobra, or other elapid, with their short fangs, getting through them. They are actually very thick, solid gloves. Like Jerry said, they are not 100% guaranteed, but they are designed for medical personnel who have to work with biohazard sharps, so they are pretty well-designed and solid. They are anywhere from $120-200 USD, depending on where you get them. In my opinion, they are one of the smartest and best purchases that anyone looking to keep venomous snakes can make, as they could very well be the difference between a scary night and a very expensive hospital bill/potential death!

[Teal]

I've never handled hots, but I didn't see anything - aside from a little too much taunting - that I considered wrong with his handling. You can't manhandle hots, I'd imagine.. So he was letting the snake win.

[Jim Smith]

I will freely admit that I do not handle hots, other than a couple of wild caught copperheads number of years ago. That said, my biggest concern with how he's handling the snake is when he's looking at the audience through the glass and not paying attention to the venomous snake that he has gripped 2+ feet behind the head. My understanding is that Cobras are smart snakes, especially King Cobras and taking your eyes off of the venomous snake your handling even for a second is a great way to get bitten. Just one person's opinion.

[SSSSnakes]

I will freely admit that I do not handle hots, other than a couple of wild caught copperheads number of years ago. That said, my biggest concern with how he's handling the snake is when he's looking at the audience through the glass and not paying attention to the venomous snake that he has gripped 2+ feet behind the head. My understanding is that Cobras are smart snakes, especially King Cobras and taking your eyes off of the venomous snake your handling even for a second is a great way to get bitten. Just one person's opinion.

You are correct. You never take your eyes off of a venomous snake that you are holding, that could be a dangerous mistake. It is something you have to keep in your mind sat all times when performing with a venomous snake, you have to ignor the audience.

[DrummingT]

The company that you showed the gloves from, Midwest (Tongs.com), no longer even sells the gloves used for venomous snakes. Hex Armour, who makes the gloves will not even talk to you if they know you want them for handling venomous snakes. They still can be purchased through some safety equipment companies in the US, but mostly they have to be ordered through UK companies. They are simply the highest rated needle stick gloves that you can buy.




https://www.safetygloves.com/puncture-resistance/hercules-400r6e.html

This is HexArmor's web store.

The HexArmor Hercules R8E 3180 is no longer manufactured. According to an email from a HexArmor representative the Hercules 400R6E is the "redesigned" R8E.

HexArmor also has a four month old YouTube video for the 400R6E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zicg3xXMK40

Amazon also lists the 400R6E for sale via Enviro Safety Products for
$139.87 + $6.27 shipping

I don't know what Midwest is selling. You would have to email them.
_

[SSSSnakes]

https://www.safetygloves.com/puncture-resistance/hercules-400r6e.html

This is HexArmor's web store.

The HexArmor Hercules R8E 3180 is no longer manufactured. According to an email from a HexArmor representative the Hercules 400R6E is the "redesigned" R8E.

HexArmor also has a four month old YouTube video for the 400R6E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zicg3xXMK40

Amazon also lists the 400R6E for sale via Enviro Safety Products for
$139.87 + $6.27 shipping

I don't know what Midwest is selling. You would have to email them.
_

Those gloves you have found are listed as animal handling gloves on Midwest website. They are not the same protection as the venom defender or the Hex Armour R8E 3180. Those gloves will not stop fangs from going threw them,they only have a needle protection of 3. The Hex Armour R8E 3180 have a needle protection of 5.

I have a pair of the 400R6E, make no mistake, they are not the same gloves and do have the higher protection rating. No one should use them with venomous snakes.

[millertime89]

So I should be looking for the R8E 3180, correct?

[SSSSnakes]

So I should be looking for the R8E 3180, correct?

Yes, they are the real deal. I'm told they can no longer be found in the US.

[millertime89]

Well poop. I work at the race track some weekends and periodically a rattler has to be removed with some buckshot and I would love to have a little extra protection available to me so I can make the argument to relocate them rather than kill them.

[SSSSnakes]

Well poop. I work at the race track some weekends and periodically a rattler has to be removed with some buckshot and I would love to have a little extra protection available to me so I can make the argument to relocate them rather than kill them.

Just google Venom Defender Gloves. They can still be ordered outside of the US.

[millertime89]

Know if you can order them in Canadia? I've only found Europe.

[SSSSnakes]

Know if you can order them in Canadia? I've only found Europe.

I think Europe is the only place, but I could be wrong.

[DrummingT]

Those gloves you have found are listed as animal handling gloves on Midwest website. They are not the same protection as the venom defender or the Hex Armour R8E 3180. Those gloves will not stop fangs from going threw them,they only have a needle protection of 3. The Hex Armour R8E 3180 have a needle protection of 5.

I have a pair of the 400R6E, make no mistake, they are not the same gloves and do have the higher protection rating. No one should use them with venomous snakes.

You are correct sir.

I have perused the pdf file for each glove.

I was emailed the R6E spec sheet (which even sounds like a model number for a lesser item - R6E vs R8E). The 400 R6E states it is TWO layers of "SuperFabric" whereas the R8E 3180 pdf spec sheet - still on the HexArmor site - states it is THREE layers of SuperFabric.

Both claim level 5 cut resistance, neither claims level 5 needle or puncture resistance in the spec sheet. Only in the video for the 400 R6E is level 3 noted for punctures.

Clearly three layers of the fabric is going to be superior. I imagine you can feel a difference in thickness?

I don't know why the best level of protection is no longer sold by HexArmor and have inquired further by email pointing out the key discrepancy and inferiority.

If I receive an answer I will share it.
_

[DrummingT]

I did indeed receive a reply. I have pieced the emails I sent and received together with screenshots and removed my personal information.

_
http://i1242.photobucket.com/albums/gg539/DrummingTee/hexarmor_email_zps74ea1d10.jpg

[Will0W783]

I got one of the last pairs of Hercules NSR gauntlet gloves. These are specifically needlestick resistant and have a pierce protection rating of 5. They are also puncture resistant and tear resistant. They were on closeout when I bought them 3 years ago though, so I do not think they are manufactured anymore. You can get the NSR's as a shorter glove but you would then have to buy the gauntlet arm protectors separately. I can absolutely attest to the level of protection that these gloves provide, as the first thing I did when they arrived was stick water-filled rubber gloves inside them and coax all of my vipers to bite them. No one got through them. When I recently bought my Gaboons, I tested the gloves on them (with rubber glove dummies inside) and found that the Gaboons could not pierce the gloves.

[millertime89]

When I recently bought my Gaboons, I tested the gloves on them (with rubber glove dummies inside) and found that the Gaboons could not pierce the gloves.

Ok, that's damn impressive.

[SSSSnakes]

I got one of the last pairs of Hercules NSR gauntlet gloves. These are specifically needlestick resistant and have a pierce protection rating of 5. They are also puncture resistant and tear resistant. They were on closeout when I bought them 3 years ago though, so I do not think they are manufactured anymore. You can get the NSR's as a shorter glove but you would then have to buy the gauntlet arm protectors separately. I can absolutely attest to the level of protection that these gloves provide, as the first thing I did when they arrived was stick water-filled rubber gloves inside them and coax all of my vipers to bite them. No one got through them. When I recently bought my Gaboons, I tested the gloves on them (with rubber glove dummies inside) and found that the Gaboons could not pierce the gloves.

I also own the shorter gloves with the needle stick 5 protection and have the sleeve guard separate. It is just as safe, but I don't like that it is in 2 pieces.

[Will0W783]

Here is a link to the gloves that I own, except mine are longer. You might still be able to find longer ones at some online stores, but they'll have been sitting on shelves for a few years.
Needle Puncture and Cut Resistant Gloves: Hercules? NSR by HexArmor (http://www.hexarmor.com/products/hercules-nsr)

[DrummingT]

I also own the shorter gloves with the needle stick 5 protection and have the sleeve guard separate. It is just as safe, but I don't like that it is in 2 pieces.


EXACTLY

I've been offered that as a substitute and rejected it for that reason.

I have 100% confirmation that HexArmor still manufactures the R8E 3180 gloves and they continue to be sold in Europe and HexArmor does so with the full knowledge that these 3180 gloves are being overtly marketed and sold specifically for handling all species of venomous snakes.

They just refuse to sell them to us here in the USA. It's their business decision. They have never faced any sort of legal action in the USA. I see no evidence that this had anything to do with their refusal to sell the 3180 gloves here. Rather it seems they have decided they could make more profit by selling them overtly as snake handling gloves, but they FEAR legal action here in the USA if they do this here.

They have chosen a much larger profit margin in Europe over the continued selling of the gloves for general safety here and in Europe.

You can purchase them from the UK and the price is over $300 to have them delivered to your door.

[SSSSnakes]

Here is a link to the gloves that I own, except mine are longer. You might still be able to find longer ones at some online stores, but they'll have been sitting on shelves for a few years.
Needle Puncture and Cut Resistant Gloves: Hercules? NSR by HexArmor (http://www.hexarmor.com/products/hercules-nsr)

Thanks Kim. I also own the original ones that you have, I just wanted a second pair for my assistants.