KNMG;4852396; said:
What's the point in keeping venomous period? I guess the same question could be asked about nonvenomous, but why possess something that could kill you? I know there are very beautiful species etc, etc. I have also felt that any procedure done to de-venom a venomous snake, professionally or not is mutilation. They evolved to produce venom for a reason. If you are afraid of the possible consequences then get a cornsnake. Why do you guys who currently keep hots, keep them? I am very curious. I have had a few friends through the years who have kept Mambas to Copperheads and they never really had a concrete answer besides they were gorgeous or it's a species that not many keep. Is there a purpose? Is anyone breeding what they keep? Any insight would be great!
Well tecnicly a horse could kill you as well (even to acidentaly). I think there is a niche for venomous keeping in our hobby for many reasons, including species conservation (many hots are endangered and allot of people are keeping animals very rare, even in zoos), human medicine (we need more snakes and other venomous species, including arachnids in the rigth hands, they could provide priceless natural toxins for the relif of MANY diferent human ailments, from Alzeimer to diabetes) and the experience people have gainned privatly in their collections about animal reproduction and husbandry is priceless for the acommplishement of the above tasks. However Im as well for a VERY STRICT regime of legislation under which these animals can be had as pets...actually I dont think anyone having them should just have them as pets, it is a extra responsability for the hot keeper, I beleave every single animal should be a project either of education, conservation, you name it. And Im also for the banning of venomoids as we know them, HOWEVER this is something I have been wanting to say for some time and now its the moment.
We know for fossil, genetic and other evidence that all modern snakes started out as being venomous and slowly most groups lost their toxins (or at least reduced them to a great degree) and lost as well the ability to inject them...ohter groups did the exact oposite and took the use of venom to a new level, those are todays vipers and elaphids. By genetic manipulation of these snakes, we could introduce genes that supress the fang development, venom aparatus and venom itself. We could also introduce genes that influence behaviors. I think its teoricly possible to make for example a designer "gabon viper" completly harmless, without venom glands or fangs and tame as a corn as well...by the cortesy of corn snake genes. A brand new species of snake made by man. I dont know if you guys like genetically modified organisms but in my opinion that would be a cool snake to have and a true venomoid...cost however would be probably insane.