• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

    =====================
    Posted 08/15/2025
    =====================


    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

Sci-fi or possible Sci-fact w/ venomous keepers?

S

Scarlett_Fawn

New member
Joined
Aug 14, 2004
Messages
108
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
26
Location
n/a
I know I'm proabably crazy (okay, so I KNOW I am, but in any case...) wouldn't it be theoretically possible for a human to become immune to a certain kind of snake's venom if introduced to very low volumes slowly increased over a long, long period of time? I mean, they do it with horses to make antivenin or whatever, don't they?

Just thinkin' out loud,
Brenda
 
It's not only possible, but it's been proven. Bill Haast out of Florida has been bitten close to 200 times by venomous snakes. He collects venom to make antivenin. Apperently, they have even used his blood to save snakebite victims.
 
I read about someone who has been injecting himself w/small amounts of various snake venom for many years. He had also been bitten by venomous snakes hundreds of times. It was several years ago when I read that article and I was wondering if this could be the guy?
 
Very cool... I wonder what the side effects of that might be... I believe I remember a National Geographic or something in which a guy who had become immune to bee stings because he had been stung so much would supposedly die if he got stung anymore.
 
was going to post earlier, but was too pressed for time. it is definitely something that has been proven, and there are a few people I have heard of that practice "self immunizing". interesting concept, albeit dangerous in practice. the potential for deadly consequences is tremendous, whether it be due to variation in venom or sudden allergic response (ever heard of someone developing an allergy to bee stings after many years? the response to the envenomation can be fast and strong)
 
Karen Hulvey said:
I read about someone who has been injecting himself w/small amounts of various snake venom for many years. He had also been bitten by venomous snakes hundreds of times. It was several years ago when I read that article and I was wondering if this could be the guy?
Click to expand...

As hhmoore mentioned there are several accounts of people injecting small amounts of venom to try to develop immunity, but Bill Haast is probably who you read about. He owns miami or is it florida serpentarium? He has been on a few of the National Geographic type shows. He always states that, but for a few hospital stays due to snake bite, that he hasn't been sick a day in his life, and attributes it to his venom regimen. As I talk about him, is he even still alive? He's gotta be pushing upper 80's, guess I'll google after I'm done.
 
Bill Haast (of the Miami Serpentarium) is definitely the most famous (infamous?) in that regard. if memory serves, he would be in his 90s. not sure if he is still kicking...for some reason, I have it in my head that there was something a year or so ago. a bite, and problems with his hand?? (possibly with concerns over survival?) not sure - could easily be mistaken. will try to look it up. if anybody knows, fill us in.
 
reptilebreeder said:
It's not only possible, but it's been proven. Bill Haast out of Florida has been bitten close to 200 times by venomous snakes. He collects venom to make antivenin. Apperently, they have even used his blood to save snakebite victims.
Click to expand...
Seen him on discovery channel or something like that a while back. Balls of steel for sure. Really big ones too. He's saved some lives as well. Did anyone notice how disfigured his hands are from all the bites? He's paid his dues and then some.
 
I've heard of 2 types of responses to this type of thing one is like bill haast were he may not be fully immune to venom but it sure takes a lot less antivenom to counter it. I beleave he was bit by a cape cobra and instead of the usual 25-30 viles it only took 5 or so(its been yrs sinse reading that article so dont quote me on quantities of antivenom.) I know he went to the hospital abd it a lot less then normal plus his recovery was faster.

Then you have greg fry who does not inject himself with venom but has exposure the old fashion way and now has an alergic reaction to venom.
read that in a article in reptiles magizine.

I've heard both sides and knowing my luck i will develope an alergic reaction to it.
 
Back
Top