Venom production rate...

[shaggybill]

I thought I read a while back that some snakes ( dont know which ones) , if they need too, can produce venom at the same rate we humans can produce saliva. Is this true?

[BWSmith]

I have not read anything to that effect. i know in venom labs, they generally wait about 2 to 3 weeks between milking to get optimal amounts. Also, I am not aware of any hots that will expend their entire supply. They like to keep at least a little "on deck". ;)

[SCReptiles]

Perhaps the article you read was referring to certain snakes that have a venom-like property in their saliva. As I understand it, certain North American water snakes have an anticoagulant in their saliva.

[reverendsterlin]

it brought to mind spitting cobras, which can release enormous amounts of venom repeatedly spraying for the eyes. However I have no idea on replacement rates for them.

[BAZ]

Just say a cobra or krait has just been milked of all its venom and one gets bit right after the milking... would there be any risk or would this be a completely dry bite? What I mean to say is that during the whole milking process is all the venom removed?

[Matt]

baz,
during milking not all venom is removed...usually anyways
...and a bite right after a milking is still going to envenomate.....could possibly be less than before, but still is dangerous

[JoeBradley]

I heard that statement also. If I remember right it was said by steve irwin (croc hunter) when he went looking for spitting cobras. I have the episode on tape and will go back and watch it to see if I am correct.

[Mustangrde1]

I can not speak for all hots but as for spitters ive seen numerous oones spit and spit and spit in large amounts so much so it had to be producing venom at a high rate, or perhaps and just my thoughts not proven to my knowledge, maybe a form of venom .I would love to annalyse a spitters spit vs its actual bite venom composition to see if they very. as for an animal that has just bit or was milked they can still a secound later bite again and it would still be wet.

[shaggybill]

Joe, I saw that episode too. And that was the main one I was thinking of. That spitter kept spitting and spitting. I'd say at least 15 times. (guestimation) And it wasnt no small amount of spit either.