shed fangs

[cantil]

question, are snake fangs which have passed through the digestive system (i.e. shed fangs) still capable of envenomation?

[Scotty Allen]

I asked a very similar question some years ago when involved in a rattlesnake systematics project at the ROM after being "bitten" by a large, preserved C. ruber . The answer to your question as well as mine is no. When a venomous snake is at the point of "shedding" a fang, it is for all intents and purposes "dry". Any minute amount of venom in the fang itself would be quickly dealt with by the digestive system. Bear in mind that at the time of an actual bite, the venom is still in the gland itself, only being ejected at the time of compression of the gland. Same thing goes for formalin/alcohol preserved specimens, the venom is neutralized by the preservative.

[cantil]

thanks scotty, thats what i suspected, I was cleaning water bowls today and found a cantil fang sticking right up from a small amount of feces clinging to the bowl. decided it might be prudent to get some confirmation. I always clean feces from the cage with a dust pan or spoon just to be on the safe side and was a little startled to see the fang on the water dish.

[ChurleR]

Also, venom tends to break down rapidly once exposed to oxygen. This is one of the reasons why makers of antivenom and medical researches won't knowingly use venom from rattlesnake roundups, it's not collected in a proper way. Yet another reason why roundups are completely worthless.