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[Venomhunter]

Hi everyone,

I'm Venomhunter and i'm from The Netherlands.
I do research on reptiles in their natural habitat, i work in a shop and shelter for reptiles, arthropods and amphibians where i am the caretaker of everything that poseses venom (yes also dart frogs, allthough they have poison). I also just started a project dedicated to the research of venom, giving lectures and giving training on working with venomous animals (animal rescue, paramedics and experienced non venom keepers).
I also enjoy travelling to do research in other country's.
And yes, i do keep spiders, scorpions and a snake myself :)
If you have any questions, i'd be happy to answer tem

Greetings from Venomhunter

[pinefamily]

Welcome to the forum!
That sounds like a very interesting job. May I ask what qualifications you needed for it?

[Eggplant]

Pictures of pets? :D

[Albert Clark]

Welcome to the snake nation and we are honored to have you here. You will be tested but relax, that's how we roll! Haha.

[Venomhunter]

Welcome to the forum!
That sounds like a very interesting job. May I ask what qualifications you needed for it?
I actually don't have a PhD in biology, however i have had training from a local herpetologist and we work together on the project. He helps me setting up the research.
When i finish my current study i'll try for a PhD in biology but that will take a few years :)

For the part of taking care of the animals in the shop/shelter, i have been keeping spiders and scorpions for over 4 years now and snakes for over 5 years.
I know all medical protocols for the animals we have and i also read as much publications about their venom as i can find.

And for the field research, i have been asked for by a local wildlife reserve because there was nobody willing to do research on reptiles :(
Today i'm actually going out again, looking for the european viper/adder (Vipera berus), the grass snake (natrix natrix) and some other local species.
I can't wait, will make some pictures because there is a great chance that i'll find baby's

So yeah, that pretty much sums it up :)

[Venomhunter]

Pictures of pets? :D

As soon as my posts are not denied when containing pictures, i'll show you guys my collection :)

[Venomhunter]

Welcome to the snake nation and we are honored to have you here. You will be tested but relax, that's how we roll! Haha.

Thanks, i'll prepare myself haha ;)

[Venomhunter]

Welcome to the forum!
That sounds like a very interesting job. May I ask what qualifications you needed for it?

For the job, if you mean the job in the shelter, one needs sufficient knowledge of venom. I also work together with a herpetologist and when i'm finished with my current study i will try for a PhD in biology

[pinefamily]

For the job, if you mean the job in the shelter, one needs sufficient knowledge of venom. I also work together with a herpetologist and when i'm finished with my current study i will try for a PhD in biology
I should have paid more attention in science at school, lol.

[dave himself]

Welcome aboard and looking forward to seeing the pictures :)

[Venomhunter]

I should have paid more attention in science at school, lol.
if you really find venom interesting, i'd be happy to teach you about it when i'm in Australia in a year or two

[trailblazer295]

Welcome aboard and please feel free to share your knowledge of venom and venomous snakes. Not enough experienced people with venom on forums. More hear say, word of mouth etc. Not enough people that do it day in and out as a job. Instead of some guy that bought one and hasn't killed it or died yet (no offense intended to anyone on this forum) it's just any snake doesn't require a license to buy and there is a big difference between a corn snake and a cobra. If it's legal in your area (and sometimes not) as long as you've got the cash in your pocket you can buy it. It doesn't mean you know what you're doing. I'm way to scared of them to own one even if it were legal in my area. But I find them interesting to look at because they do have unique bodies and colouration and more detailed experienced information is great for others who can own them and want to. There is no such thing as too much information even more so when dealing with an animal that can kill you in a fraction of a second. Please share pictures when you can.

[Sylphie]

if you really find venom interesting, i'd be happy to teach you about it when i'm in Australia in a year or two

Wow, that's super nice! You seem to be really interesting person with a lot of knowledge. And I'm waiting for the pics of your collection too :) Nice to have you on the forum!

[Albert Clark]

Well, in the meantime, we've had discussions on the forum about poisonous and its references as opposed to venomous and its references. Can you quickly elaborate on the specific differences of the two? Thanks. Poisonous versus venomous.

[Venomhunter]

Well, in the meantime, we've had discussions on the forum about poisonous and its references as opposed to venomous and its references. Can you quickly elaborate on the specific differences of the two? Thanks. Poisonous versus venomous.

The two questions i always hear when i'm working are:

1. Have you ever been bitten?
To which i reply: "Yes"

2. Is that snake poisonous?
To which i reply: "No"

if a animal is poisonous it will secrete it from it's skin this is most commonly used as the final line of defense (poison dartfrogs, some salamanders etc.) so when animals eat them they (the predators) die.
There are also poisonous snakes that actually secrete poison from their skin, Rhabdophis species.
However, some poison can be absorbed through the skin and cause problems.
Also when you have open wounds and it comes into your bloodstream you are in big trouble.

Venom on the other hand is meant to be injected into the skin tissue or bloodstream because otherwise it will not kill the prey or predator.
Should you dillute venom with water and you would drink it you'll probably be fine unless you have wounds in your digestive system, and it has probably a extremely nasty aftertaste.
Venom is extremely corrosive to the eyes, because the cornea is very sensitive and spitting cobra venom is a cytotoxin/neurotoxin it will just "eat" the cornea causing blindness.

But there you have it, in order to die from poison it must be absorbed via the digestive track, skin, wounds etc. And venom must come into the bloodstream or into skin tissue in order to do damage (unless when spat into the eyes but i already explained that) hope that this information helped :)

[Venomhunter]

Wow, that's super nice! You seem to be really interesting person with a lot of knowledge. And I'm waiting for the pics of your collection too :) Nice to have you on the forum!
Thank you, i just got 3 new additions to my collection so i'll post some pictures asap :)

[Venomhunter]

Welcome aboard and please feel free to share your knowledge of venom and venomous snakes. Not enough experienced people with venom on forums. More hear say, word of mouth etc. Not enough people that do it day in and out as a job. Instead of some guy that bought one and hasn't killed it or died yet (no offense intended to anyone on this forum) it's just any snake doesn't require a license to buy and there is a big difference between a corn snake and a cobra. If it's legal in your area (and sometimes not) as long as you've got the cash in your pocket you can buy it. It doesn't mean you know what you're doing. I'm way to scared of them to own one even if it were legal in my area. But I find them interesting to look at because they do have unique bodies and colouration and more detailed experienced information is great for others who can own them and want to. There is no such thing as too much information even more so when dealing with an animal that can kill you in a fraction of a second. Please share pictures when you can.
Straight to the point, i get alot of people at work asking for the most venomous animals and yes, they also want to buy them.. So when i ask what their experience is with that species i often hear "i don't have any, i just think they are cool to have".
I will always respond to those kind of people with the same statement:
"they are not toys, if you make one mistake it could be your last" buying these animals to show off is just not done. Often when they do get a venomous animal they try to show of by grabbing them and freehandling them. Without experience this is just like russian roullete and even with experience, it's still a risky thing to do.

[trailblazer295]

Straight to the point, i get alot of people at work asking for the most venomous animals and yes, they also want to buy them.. So when i ask what their experience is with that species i often hear "i don't have any, i just think they are cool to have".
I will always respond to those kind of people with the same statement:
"they are not toys, if you make one mistake it could be your last" buying these animals to show off is just not done. Often when they do get a venomous animal they try to show of by grabbing them and freehandling them. Without experience this is just like russian roullete and even with experience, it's still a risky thing to do.

I completely understand your response and where you're coming from. But the way of the world is if you've got the cash and know where to go you can buy anything. I've known people in a place that is illegal to own HOTs has once owned a collection of HOTs but since got rid of them. It can be done like anything, I still wouldn't even if it were just because I'm scared. I like looking at them through glass but a pet needs maintenance.

[MDT]

VH...hey..welcome. Big interest in toxicolgy/envenomation here. I'm an ER physician, love taking care of bites. Not many of my colleagues do, so I get the fun stuff. Best of luck in your PhD studies...keep us posted, post up pics. Looking forward to discussing venoms/bites.

cheers.

[sirtalis]

I completely understand your response and where you're coming from. But the way of the world is if you've got the cash and know where to go you can buy anything. I've known people in a place that is illegal to own HOTs has once owned a collection of HOTs but since got rid of them. It can be done like anything, I still wouldn't even if it were just because I'm scared. I like looking at them through glass but a pet needs maintenance.

when i was 12 i kept a rattlesnake in a tote for a few months, illegal were i live and incredibly stupid because of younger siblings, and other pets. Hots aren't that hard to get, but the consequences can be devastating, i'm all for responsible ownership but entirely against irresponsible illegal activities, like what i did. It will only hurt the hobby imo

[Venomhunter]

VH...hey..welcome. Big interest in toxicolgy/envenomation here. I'm an ER physician, love taking care of bites. Not many of my colleagues do, so I get the fun stuff. Best of luck in your PhD studies...keep us posted, post up pics. Looking forward to discussing venoms/bites.

cheers.
Hello MDT, thank you!
I'm sure we can exchange some knowledge about bites/venom :)
Here in The Netherlands only 3 or 4 doctors really have some knowledge about venom and they are all living in the southern part while i live in the most northern part (can't blame the doctors either, there are not much envenomations here).
The doctors in my city (even my state) have got absolutley zero experience with treating bites or stings, that's also one of the reasons why i started my new project, to give lectures to medical personnel and or students. They learn nothing about venom even whilst we have the european viper here Vipera berus.
A fellow researcher got bit on the thumb and developed coagulopathy and got compartment syndrome in his left lower arm and they said they wanted to amputate it because it started going blue stating that all the tissue in the hand and lower arm is dead. That was not the case and luckily another keeper of venomoids said that he needed fasciotomy.
They didn't even administer antivenom while all the tools where there and there were signs of systemic envenomation, but luckily after the fasciotomy they administered that as well. Both the antivenin and the fasciotomy saved his arm!
And a few weeks ago a man in my city thought he was bitten by a redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti) because there was a spider on his ceiling and he had ordered something out of Australia.
His only symptoms started the day after he was bit and the only symptom was that his face was a little bit numb. He was immediatly taken to IC and got labs back stating that there are a tiny amount of neurotoxins in his blood (later when my co-workers identified the spider back at the shelter it was a Crab spider sp. Family Thomisidae). But i was not there at the moment because i was on a trip to Mexico. When i read a report i did not make any sense with the symptoms, Redback envenomation results in acute local pain, sweating around the bite site, back pain, abdominal pain etc.
I hope to share some basic knowledge with the physicians here about Venom and help them to understand what antivenin should be adminsitred, what to do with a allergic reaction etc.
I can't wait to hear some stories from you!

[Venomhunter]

I completely understand your response and where you're coming from. But the way of the world is if you've got the cash and know where to go you can buy anything. I've known people in a place that is illegal to own HOTs has once owned a collection of HOTs but since got rid of them. It can be done like anything, I still wouldn't even if it were just because I'm scared. I like looking at them through glass but a pet needs maintenance.
What you say is true! Pets do need maintenance, however Hots are not really pets.
They are zoo animals you keep at home (well in my opinion anyways) it's much different then a dog or cat in that way (even then a ball python).

[Venomhunter]

when i was 12 i kept a rattlesnake in a tote for a few months, illegal were i live and incredibly stupid because of younger siblings, and other pets. Hots aren't that hard to get, but the consequences can be devastating, i'm all for responsible ownership but entirely against irresponsible illegal activities, like what i did. It will only hurt the hobby imo
Glad that you realised that it was an irresponsible thing to do, when kids are 12 i would advise on keeping a ball python.
However everybody makes mistakes and we learn from them, however one simple mistake with hots can lead to death. But you are still here so that's a good thing :)

[Venomhunter]

This is my Naja siamensis, "Bindi"
CB 2015 by Michiel Meesters Imgur: The most awesome images on the Internet (http://imgur.com/PlVbAJf)

[MDT]

VH....wow! that's not good. with aggressive use of antivenom, we rarely see compartment syndrome (not saying it never happens, but def not common).

The last fasciotomy I saw was in my 3rd year of med school (before CroFab, still using Wyeth Polyvalent then!!)...

Your tag from Sean Bush is so important "time is tissue". People really b!tch about the cost of CroFab, but when presented with a deformed, skin grafted, contracted forearm or an amputation, all of the sudden, CroFab isn't so bad. :D

[Venomhunter]

VH....wow! that's not good. with aggressive use of antivenom, we rarely see compartment syndrome (not saying it never happens, but def not common).

The last fasciotomy I saw was in my 3rd year of med school (before CroFab, still using Wyeth Polyvalent then!!)...

Your tag from Sean Bush is so important "time is tissue". People really b!tch about the cost of CroFab, but when presented with a deformed, skin grafted, contracted forearm or an amputation, all of the sudden, CroFab isn't so bad. :D
I was shocked as well, it is very rare indeed but it can occur at all times. And Wyeth was derived from horses i believe, whilst CroFab is derived from sheep. Time is tissue is so true, the longer you wait the more damage is done and sometimes even irreversible.
Sure, CroFab is kind of expensive but it really does a great job!
I look at it this way, the price you pay for CroFab or other antivenin might be high, but when you pay with your life or a limb that amount of money seems very reasonable ;)