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Something to ponder.....

Would you use this hypothetical stuff?

  • Yes

    Votes: 14 26.9%

  • No

    Votes: 35 67.3%

  • Not sure or maybe, explain below.

    Votes: 3 5.8%
  • Total voters
    52
D

DragonCharm

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Now, I am not going to say which way I fall on this issue until other people have comment, don't want to bias anyone.....it just happened to come to mind when reading over the venomoid related flamefest in the BOI. What if you could make your hot snake 100% no doubt safe with a painless needle full of a new med? Now this hypothetical drug cause no pain, has no side effects, no damage, and makes it 100% impossible to regenerate venom glands. Would you use it on your hots?

PS- Again, just an interesting thought to kick around.....not saying I would encourage it if it was possible.
 
Maybe you should turn that into a poll, just yes or no without arguing.
 
After reading that Venomoid thread on the BOI, I would highly doubt it.
 
I vote a resounding NO. There are a number of reasons for my vote, but I think I will not justify my response at this point in time. Let it speak for itself.
 
Junkyard said:
After reading that Venomoid thread on the BOI, I would highly doubt it.
Click to expand...
Anyone starts flaming I am going to start hitting the report post button, hopefully that will cause most to reconsider saying something really harsh. I think most of us are without a mental disease that causes us to get crazy.....therefore should be able to post like reasonable people.

Come on folks, lets hear your thoughts.
 
My View

Absolutely not! Mother Nature gave these magnificent creatures their venom and delivery apparatus for a reason and I think it is a crying shame to change them (although your hypothetical drug would certainly be an improvement over venomoid surgery!).

Without getting into a huge discussion, I would say that those wishing to possess venomous reptiles be throughly trained with lots of experience and those not willing to devote the time should stick with non-venomous species. My 2 cents worth.

Clif
 
RhinoGab said:
Absolutely not! Mother Nature gave these magnificent creatures their venom and delivery apparatus for a reason and I think it is a crying shame to change them (although your hypothetical drug would certainly be an improvement over venomoid surgery!).

Without getting into a huge discussion, I would say that those wishing to possess venomous reptiles be throughly trained with lots of experience and those not willing to devote the time should stick with non-venomous species. My 2 cents worth.

Clif
Click to expand...
Great answer, this is the type of dialog I am looking for in this thread.
 
NO! Though I agree that this would definitely be a major step up from the current method of "devenomizing" snakes, I still wouldn't do it or condone it. Some like it hot! :hot: :dgrin: :uzi: okay enough fun with the smilies ;)
 
I myself truly believe these animals were designed this way for a reason and it's above me to decide to change it, as easy as it would become hypothetically! just for the sake of someone wanting to handle it! After all the venom in these animals is what causes us to have to show the respect to them they deserve, is it not? Thanks for opening up this can of worms!
 
I would never change a hot. Its part of what they are. Would you like to be injected with something that made you sterile and impotent? Really it wouldn't hurt.
 
I put my $.02 in a while ago, but I am glad to see these responses. Somehow, I expected to see more of a response from "the other side". Once upon a time, I had a few devenomized snakes. I even used them in some educational programs (such as when I guest lectured for the Herpetology class at a local university - including a "lab" on how to work with venomous snakes. I demonstrated techniques for safely manipulating a variety of cobras, rattlesnakes, gilas, etc., including the use of tongs and hooks.) There was just no way I was going to let students I didn't know practice catching, manipulating, or containing techniques on real hots. One could argue that a kingsnake or other nonvenomous snake could have been substituted, but it certainly wouldn't have been realistic. Nothing behaves quite so much like a pi$$ed off rattlesnake as a pi$$ed off rattlesnake.
Anyway, I prefer my hots intact. Its just the way they are supposed to be. Not to come off as an adrenaline junkie or thrill seeker; but it just isn't the same when they can't fight back, so to speak. The end result is carelessness in handling, shortcuts, and unnecessary risk. (Yes, I know someone that was nearly killed by a 'void)
As to the hypothetical scenario posed (a harmless, effective, permanent way to cause the "disappearance or deactivation" of venom) - If I wanted a cornsnake, I would buy a cornsnake. When I want a cobra (rattlesnake, whatever), the same rule applies: This is what it is...if it isn't what you want, or you don't have the skills and knowledge to deal with it, DON'T BUY IT.
 
ffollett said:
I would never change a hot. Its part of what they are. Would you like to be injected with something that made you sterile and impotent? Really it wouldn't hurt.
Click to expand...
Sterile sure, impotent....no thanks. No kids for me please......I have enough kids with scales thanks.
 
I know its a month old, BUT...........

I had to say no.
I just believe they should be left natural. If you don't have the experience, or aptitude to learn safe handling of hots, you just should not own one.

Ciao,
Rick
 
Although I'm not as adamant about the void issue as some, I still don't approve of it. I personally can condone it in an instance such as Harald described where they were used as teaching tools. In these cases they would be professionally altered as well, not some kitchen table butcher job.
I agree you just can't adequately teach someone how to handle a hot by showing them with a kingsnake.
Beyond that though, there is no reason to do it in my opinion.

I voted no on the poll. I'm not an adrenaline junkie, heck, my rattlers I've had for years and have never physically touched them. There just hasn't been any reason to. I don't have the need to interact with my snakes like that, I keep them for what they are and that's enough reason for me to have them.
I do feel the venom plays a part in other aspects of the snake's existance though, particularly digestion. Sure they can still process their meals without envenomating it, but to remove the venom from the equation is taking that additional step away for no reason.
 
After hearing about the possible issues with venomous snakes digesting food I'd have to say no myself. Hadn't really thought of that in the past and didn't know it was an issue.
 
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