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Hognose Venom link

kimbyra

kimbyra

cornsnake addict
Howdy folks!
I posted this link on the "best pets" thread, but thought I would repost for others who may be interested. Most people haven't heard that cute "roll over and play dead" hognose sankes actually have a mild venom. They usually don't use it, but they can. I tend to have allergic reactions, which is why I wont buy one even though I REALLY want one.
This is why not to get a hognose ...
http://www.herpnet.net/bite/
 
still not a good reason not to get one... i mean, i've seen tons of other hognose bites that weren't more than corn bites. This guy obviously had a sensitivity to the hognose venom. Not to mention he let the hog chew on his finger for 5 minutes!
 
WTF, was he doing a scientific study and using himself as a guinea pig? Not too bright IMO. Especially for somebody that knows they are allergic to something.
I'm allergic to bees, but there's no way I'd throw a rock at a hive and stand there for five minutes getting stung.
I've heard that hoggies make great pets. Just don't feed them your hand and it should be OK lol
 
Numb Skull

I've been breeding western hognoses for 15+ years. Ive never been bitten by the rear teeth.The only bite I've suffered in that time was my own fault.
You simply shouldn't feed any snake holding the food item in your fingers! :dunce: The poor guy struck and missed the mouse and mistanely got my finger.He didn't chew and left go immediatly upon realizing that the hand that feeds isn't food.
I wouldn't let that Keep me from owning these fine creatures! Generally they will throw fake strikes with their mouth closed. What was this guy thinking?
Would you let a snake chew on you for 5 minutes? :flames:
I'm sorry but someone like that shouldn't even own a snake. Would he try that with a cape cobra? :grin01:
 
It might be a risk you are willing to take yourself.

But what if you're in your backyard with the snake and a 3 year old neighborhood kid runs up and grabs it and gets bit. Then you have to go tell his parents to watch for swelling because your mildly venomous snake just bit their daughter.
 
I want to know why this guy didn't go to the hospital. If he is keeping hognose snakes then he should know that a reaction like that is abnormal and probably due to an allergy. I don't know about anyone else, but I am super paranoid about allergies and how lethal they can be. As soon as the swelling passed the wrist I would have gotten to the hospital.
 
Exactly what is your snake doing out in the back yard anyway? :shrugs:
Especially where a 3 year old could grab it?

Slippery Ernie said:
It might be a risk you are willing to take yourself.

But what if you're in your backyard with the snake and a 3 year old neighborhood kid runs up and grabs it and gets bit. Then you have to go tell his parents to watch for swelling because your mildly venomous snake just bit their daughter.
Click to expand...
 
BTW, I do agree that the guy is an idiot for letting the snake chew on him, and then not going to the hospital. I have allergic reactions to just about everything, and so does my autistic daughter who loves snakes as well. That is the only reason I won't get a hognose ... but I still want one.
 
Rear fanged snakes have one of the worst venom delivery systems invented by Mother Nature. They have to actively get their mouth completely around their prey and chew to deliver any venom. Hognose venom is considered equal to bee or wasp venom. For those with potential or known allergies, it makes sense to avoid a mishap by not owning one. On the other hand, when I read that link, I found his injury to be incredibly mild. I was expecting to see necrosis and real damage or some nervous system reaction. So his hand swelled up, woo-woo. Even he said it wasn't that painful.

It all comes down to what risks you're comfortable with. I personally think full grown retics are more dangerous than hognose venom. And who in their right mind would have any rear fanged snake out where a 3 three year old could get it? If so inclined, it could get its mouth around a child's finger and bite. That's like putting a 9 foot burm in a baby's crib. OK, a little exaggerated, but you don't put children knowingly in harm's way.
 
You can have an allergic reaction to any bite though - even from animals that are nonvenemous (I believe it was TrpnBils that had a reaction to a savannah monitor bite and they're not venemous). I love our hoggies and even if they are talkative they're still fun. I'll also agree that if you let an animal chew on you for 5 minutes you're an idiot. Not to mention at the first sign of swelling he should've taken an antihistamine to help counter it, then gone to the hospital when it didn't get better. I believe that with correct handling that they're fine (and if you can't handle them then you shouldn't have a snake).

~Katie
 
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