Philodryas baroni, what's the truth about their venom's potential?

[Adolfo Melilli]

Hello, Four mounths ago i bought a sub-adult pair of Philodryas
baroni, they are so beautiful to me, they have become my favorite
snakes..

The only thing I'm a little concerned about is that they are rear-
fanged venomous snakes, I've read something (not much) on the net
about their venom, potentially capable to cause local damages to
muscles and nerves around the bite.

I must say i NEVER observed any attempt to bite in my pair, they are a
little nervous when I pick them off the tank, but calm down in 30
seconds, I never saw any defense behaviour apart from trying to escape
from my hands...

Do you think I should keep wearing leather gloves when handling them?
Up to what point is it worth trusting in them?...Do you know about any
sggressive specimen?

[N Jill Marsh]

On Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:09:31 -0800 (PST), Adolfo Melilli

Post by Adolfo Melilli
The only thing I'm a little concerned about is that they are rear-
fanged venomous snakes, I've read something (not much) on the net
about their venom, potentially capable to cause local damages to
muscles and nerves around the bite.
Do you think I should keep wearing leather gloves when handling them?
Up to what point is it worth trusting in them?...Do you know about any
sggressive specimen?

I have no experience with P. baroni, though I own another species of
rear-fanged 'warm' snake (hognose). The quick look I took on-line
certainly doesn't provide a clear answer.

Have you come across the forums at kingsnake.com? They have one
specific to rear-fanged snakes:

http://forums.kingsnake.com/forum.php?catid=90

You may be able to get a more informed answer to some of your
questions there.

As for what I think, I've been envenomed twice, and it's no freaking
fun, and my impression is that hoggies are less venomous than P.
baroni. If you decide to handle them without protection, be extremely
scrupulous about clean hands and don't let your fingers ever act like
prey around them.

nj"sfe"m

[Adolfo Melilli]

Post by N Jill Marsh
I have no experience with P. baroni, though I own another species of
rear-fanged 'warm' snake  (hognose).  The quick look I took on-line
certainly doesn't provide a clear answer.
Have you come across the forums at kingsnake.com?  They have one
http://forums.kingsnake.com/forum.php?catid=90

Thankyou very much for indicating that forum, I should have known it
since I used to go browsing on it some years ago... I've seen there
are already some posts regarding the baroni, that's a good sign
because other owners are there... I will pose my questions to them!

bye