Venom Explained

Venomous reptiles in captivity will be the topic I am covering in this post. One of the main debates regards the risk outweighing the rewards, as one bite can end your life. In this post, I will talk about the various venom groups and touch on some of the important facts that you are required to know regarding keeping venomous reptiles.

Several countries have laws and regulations that relate to the keeping dangerous animals in captivity. Owners require a DWA (Dangerous Wild Animal) license in order to legally keep them. Other countries do not enforce this law and therefore you do not need a license in order to keep venomous reptiles.

In order to apply for a DWAL, you will need to enquire with your local council, as it is they who supply the license. You must be 18 or over to apply and a fee may be enforced. Please contact your local authority if you wish to find out more information.

Back to the main topic; venom. How many types of venom are there in reptiles?  The answer is- there are a lot, but they fall under three main types.

NEUROTOXIC

This type of venom attacks the victim’s nervous system, causing suffocation by paralysing the respiratory system. This is quite common amongst elapids such as cobras.

King Cobra

CYTOTOXIC

Accounting for around 80% of all venomous bites, this toxin damages the tissue and causes necrosis. Death occurs by severe necrosis or blood loss. This venom is usually found in vipers (such as rattlesnakes) and causes swelling with pain.

Rattlesnake

HEMOTOXIC

Hemotoxins attack blood vessels, disrupt blood clotting, and causes organ degeneration with blood loss. This is usually found in snakes such as boomslangs and within the viperidae family. Although there is no immediate pain, it still remains deadly venom.

Boomslang

If you are not used to studying reptiles (especially snakes as they are the most venomous in regards to species within the reptile family), then it is next to impossible to spot a venomous snake just by appearance. There are a few that are infamous such as cobras with their distinct hood, and rattlesnakes that rattle their tail. However, some are not so easy to spot such as a mamba as they can be confused with non-venomous snakes. Therefore it is important not to approach an unidentified snake species in the wild.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of the 7,000 - 8,000 people bitten by venomous snakes in America every year, only 5 die. This rate is higher in areas that medical care is less accessible such as parts of Africa and Asia. This may sound high but when you compare it to dog bites per year, in America, there are 4.5 million dog bites with twenty percent of those requiring medical attention. 

Green Mamba

When kept in captivity, there are certain rules you must follow when keeping a venomous snake. Most importantly, always use a snake hook to handle your snake. This allows you to control the animal without it being too close to you. If the snake is very long, use two snake hooks to manipulate the snake so it does not get a chance to bite you and also does not escape.

When it comes to venomous lizards, there are not many candidates. Gila monsters and beaded dragons are the only ones that you could keep as a pet (with a DWA license of course). The Komodo Dragon is also venomous although keeping one of them is by far – too dangerous. Lizards such as the Gila Monster grind their venom into the wounds of their prey, increasing the amount in the victim’s bloodstream. Furthermore, their venom is produced in their lower jaw as opposed to snakes that produce their venom in their upper jaws. 

Gila Monster

Not everything regarding venom is negative from a human point of view. Research into the medicinal properties of venom have achieved some promising results that can potentially help with diseases such as type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, and ADHD to name but a few. Hopefully in the future they will produce a cure for these diseases amongst many others.  Additionally, those who keep venomous snakes have the ability to ‘milk’ them for their venom in order to make anti-venom.

In concluding, if you are considering keeping a venomous reptile, please do your research and apply for a DWA license (if applicable in your country). I do not own any venomous reptiles myself but I have seen them up close in vivariums and can honestly say they are majestic creatures. If you come across an animal in the wild and unsure if it is venomous or not, the best option is to leave it alone and walk away; in that situation, the risk is definitely not worth the rewards.