Allergen testing

[Cruciform]

Is there a way to establish sensitivity to certain venoms? (Other than being envenomated of course :D )

Basically, down the road I want to get something rear fanged with mild venom, like a hognose, or a false water cobra. The FWC is about as close as I'd get to owning the real thing :) Though one can dream.

The fiance is absolutely against anything with ANY venom, no matter how mild, as she expects to find me in a corner with my skin turned black and my eyes bugged out.

If I could show that there's no allergy to the venoms in question, it would alleviate her concerns greatly.

I tried using the "Well, even garters have a little venom going on" tact, but it didn't work on her :)

[SCReptiles]

Yes, there are tests, but they are extremely expensive and by conducting them you have exposed yourself to the venom and if you are found to be sensitive to it, you have now greatly increased your chances of anaphylaxis should you be envenomated later.

[Cruciform]

I wondered about that. Even a scratch test would have that risk wouldn't it.

The same as if someone were to self-inoculate and then quit for a while. right?

*shudder*

[Cruciform]

I guess I'll just have to wait until she gets sick of me before I get anything. :) Maybe she'll get me something like a boomer if she gets really sick of me :)

But realistically I don't want anything that's normally life threatening, simply due to the family concern. So now I'll just have to work on her fears slowly. There's no hurry anyway. There's lots of constrictors to fill the herp room with first :)