a few probably stupid questions

[Senator Gracken]

for the record I don't keep venomous snakes and don't plan to in the near future. I am however working to obtain a breeding pair of ATBs... blah blah blah now to the questions. What are the main differences between the two larger families? And other than the deadly venom does the care of these snakes change much from non-venomous? Just generalized questions from the curious.

[BWSmith]

Short answer (because it is late), YES it is a whole differnt ball game. They move different, they act different, you house them different, you work with them different, and there are defiantely more dire concequences. Amazons are not a very good species to "train" for hots. Their body is just too different, even from arboreal vipers. Plus, they don't move or strike the same as arboreal hots. MOre tomorrow, time for bed. ;)

[kevyn]

YES! I've been learning all about those differences lately. I've mainly kept pythons for a few years now and have been used to that sort of behaviour and have found it somewhat challenging to adjust to the differences. Not around handling (safety is foremost on my mind), but around eating. It seems alot of hots don't eat as much as I'm used to and their metabolisms are totally different. I'm used to really thick snakes with lots of muscle, and I've been paniced lately because with the hot I keep that's not the normal for them. I have an ATB and they are a totally different experience. There is a whole lot to keeping hots. They really require you to step up your game. They are very educational to say the least. I love it now though, I feel I'm starting to get the hang of the one that I have and feel I'm almost ready for more. I love the arboreal vipers and arboreal pitvipers. They have some demanding husbandry, kind of like a GTP. I'm rambling, I 'll shut up now. Sorry...

[Crotalus75]

"What are the main differences between the two larger families?"

The differences between the families of venomous snakes are many.Elapids are colubrid-like in appearance and have fairly short fixed front fangs (proteroglyphy). Most have smooth scales and are oviparous (egg layers). Their venom is PREDOMINANTLY neurotoxic. Elapidae is split up into elapinae and bungarinae.

Viperidae (vipers) are relatively stocky snakes with fairly broad heads. This family is characterized by the presence of long independantly moveable/retractable fangs (selenoglyphy). The word Viper literally means "live bearer" and most vipers are viviparous/ovoviviparous. Viperidae is split into the sub-families viperinae (true vipers) and Crotalinae (pit vipers) which can be identified by a heat sensing loreal pit between the eye and the nostril. The snakes of these groups are predominantly hemo/myo/cytotoxic. Massive tissue destruction and clotting abnormalities are associated with viper bites.

These are the major groups of venomous snakes, but their are also dangerously venomous colubrids and sea snakes.

Venomous husbandry is mostly a hands off undertaking. Security measures like escape proof locking cages and rooms, bite protocols, stocking anti-venom, and the use of proper tools such as hooks, tongs, tubes and hemostats are essential. Every snake species has its own unique behavioral idiosyncracies and hots are no exception. Elapids are generally very quick and wirey, but their actual strikes are often slower when compared with vipers. Vipers are often more sedentary, but can lunge with the speed of a freight train when you least expect it. Rattlesnakes in particular have incredibly large strike ranges.

Anyone that is interested in getting into venomous herpetoculture should do some serious thinking and planning for a LONG period of time. There is the very real possibility of SERIOUS consequences involved with keeping of venomous reptiles including HUGE hospital bills, lawsuits and the death of yourself or someone else.

[Senator Gracken]

I'm not planning on getting into it but who knows in the far future I might change my mind. I was just curious. Also I was browsing and found the term "venomoid" is this some sort of inside joke or someones theory or what?

[BWSmith]

Do a search ont he venomous forum for the term "Venomoid", you will find more info and debate than you can handle ;)

[Crotalus75]

I'll try to refrain from beating a dead horse. :)

[Senator Gracken]

Forgive my ignorance and the dead horse but If your keeping a venomous snake what is the point of removing the venom?
This is the definition I got off the net: The term 'venomoid refers to a venomous species of snake that has been surgically altered to prevent the animal from being able to inject or spray venom from its fangs.http://www.**************/aho/faq/venomoidfaq.html#What%20is%20a%20'venomoid'%20snak e?

[Crotalus75]

Read this post starting with the third page.

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28767

[Senator Gracken]

Thanks for the info. I would have to agree that its a bad idea but I'm also not looking to start a new thread/fight over it.