These are pics of some of the venemoids we were able to see and interact with at NERD when we went up for a visit. I wish I had more time to debate the subject, but my life is hectic with work, kids, yaddada yaddada....so I'll just say that I think venemoids have a place in our world. If the surgery is done by a professional veterinarian there are few complications. The long term captives that have had the surgery are thriving, so digestion isn't too much of a issue. I don't think aimals should have the proceedure for the casual herp enthusiast. I think this is an educational tool only type situation.
Anyway, here are the pics of the beautiful animals we were able to see and interact with. If they were intact, this experience never would have happened........

Attached Images

	Black-cobra.jpg (22.4 KB, 46 views)
	gaboon-head.jpg (21.1 KB, 36 views)
	gaboon-pet.jpg (20.7 KB, 48 views)
	rattler.jpg (21.9 KB, 26 views)
	Albino cobra.jpg (26.7 KB, 35 views)

Those are beautiful, thanks for posting them. Of course my favorite will always be the Gaboon...

__________________
MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

The cobras are impressive too.
Something about that look!

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Truth be told I would love to have one to add to my educational talks.

__________________
Answers are great. But I prefer questions!

Visit me at www.jaysreptiles.com

The cobra to the far right was soooooooo mellow. She has to be prodded excessively to hood up and she was soooooo gorgeous, I was standing well within strike range when that photo was taken. The gaboon viper felt so strange to the touch. They look like velvetbut when you touch them they are rough. We went up there to do something fun for my birthday and we didn't even know the venomoids were there. I'd never even heard of one before that day.

__________________
Official hostage of the GFWD
"The truely dangerous people are the ignorant ones."
Founding Member of Logical People Against Arcane Boa Subspecies Classification (LPAABSC):
B c.c 1758, B. c. i. 1803 B. c. o. 1873!
"A BOA CONSTRICTOR IS A Boa constrictor!"

I never expected them, either, and it was my first time seeing any snake like that in person. I had never heard of "venemoids" prior to seeing them, and I got my butt handed to me on another forum (coughkingsnakecough). Handing me my butt is no small feat!! It was like I had posted a pic of me sitting by a campfire roasting a baby on a stick. One of the other reasons why I'm here and not there.

I was watching this very interesting show on animal planet, it was something about some hospital where they treat a lot of people who get snake bites. A bit later on in the show, they show a facility where they had I think 50 rattlesnakes (for milking and antivenin purposes). And these weren't your average rattler, either. They would apparently catch wild ones and then test the potentcy of their neurotoxins, and only keep the very strongest. One of the things it showed was feeding time for the snakes. I dunno if those mice were P/K or F/T, but they were certainly dead. Given the amount of time facilities such as that one have been open, it would be interesting to se what kind of data they have on feeding dead prey.

__________________
How many of us have ever thought seriously about eating a rat, just once, to see how it tastes?

Nobody?

Me neither.

I agree, Inphormatika! That would be a good place to start research at least. I watch that show, too, with my kids. I think it's called Venom ER.

__________________

Zane Neher.

The great and strong man is one who bears within his character many contradictions.
Crocodilian care.

Beautiful pics Kathy and Heather, but I completely disagree with venomoids. I think it is wrong and disgusting.

There is no reason IMO to de-venom a snake - the main argument for seems to be for educational purposes. I went to a show once that taught about venomous snakes, and it was brilliant, and no venomoids in sight.. the snakes were displayed and handled by trained people behind glass. Anyway, IMO, allowing people to touch venomoids creates a false security with snakes, which would not react in the same way in the wild.

I think it is a cruel practice, and not at all neccessary,. for those people who own venomoids as pets, there is no reason. There are plenty of snakes that are beautiful, that cannot cause death by injecting venom. If someone is to own a snake that could kill in the wild, they should own it with the respect it deserves in its natural form. IMO someone who keeps a venomoid as a pet cannot be bothered to go through the proper training needed to keep venomous, wants a status symbol, and doesn't want to risk death.

I read an amazing article, "against" venomoids, by Mark O'Shea, in reply to an article "for" venomoids, and I will happily send it to anyone who wants to read it. I also have the "for" article. Mark's piece is fantastic and every point he makes is absolutely right.

__________________
"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004