How to Safely Extract and Store Snake Venom
Clean the room., Acquire a separate tall rolling table on the side to keep your equipment off the work area., Take a sterile glass or plastic cup and seal the top with saran (plastic food) wrap., Acquire an assistant who is qualified and comfortable...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Clean the room.
It must be large enough to move around the workbench in an uninhibited way.
This means removing tripping hazards (for example, power cords, throw rugs, toddlers, dogs, other snakes). -
Step 2: Acquire a separate tall rolling table on the side to keep your equipment off the work area.
Snakes tend to move around a lot and knock stuff over when you try to pin them down to a cold metal table.
Make sure it is about waist high, to enable you to easily reach your labeled venom collection vessels. , Use rubber bands to make sure the saran wrap stays taut.
Stick a piece of masking tape on the collection glass and label it with the type of snake that you will be collecting from. record the number of snakes if you using the same vial for multiple individuals.
Label a code number corresponding to each individual snake.
Label the names of the people involved in the extraction process. , It will save you a lot of heartache when you're trying to self-administer antivenom. ,,, Choose items that make it more difficult for the snake to bite through, including boots. , Be absolutely focused when handling a venomous snake. , For example, some people prefer gloves for protection while others do not because such gear comes at the cost of reduced dexterity., Milking a snake should never be attempted by an amateur without any training. , Snakes can be trained to enter this "shift box" through conditioning. , Afterward it can be safely removed from the main enclosure when you want to transport the snake to another location.
Shift boxes can be fitted with capped ports for administering anesthesia or installing a clear plastic restraint tube for handling. ,, The diameter of the tubing has to be large enough for the snake to enter without turning around. , This can be done by adding water through a small port in the top of the box to encourage the snake to want to exit.
If you do use water, make sure the box is dry before putting the snake back.
Wait until the snake is near the end of the restraint tube before attempting the next step. , When the snake is near the end of the tube quickly detach the tube from the port on the shift-box and grab the snake's body at the base of the tube.
It is important to keep the snake from moving forward too much or backing out.
You don't have to squeeze too hard. ,, Let the snake do the work. , You don't want the snake to strike the edge and break a fang. ,, The venom should be frozen −20 °C (−4 °F) or colder within an hour after extraction.
Venom can be stored in this way for up to one month. , Keep one port open for the snake's reentry.
Since the snake's head is already near the end of the tube, it is often easier to let the snake progress forward.
Return the snake to the shift box by allowing the snake to crawl through the port head-first. , You don't want your hands near the open port of the shift box. ,, -
Step 3: Take a sterile glass or plastic cup and seal the top with saran (plastic food) wrap.
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Step 4: Acquire an assistant who is qualified and comfortable with handling snakes.
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Step 5: Have the appropriate antivenom available for the snake you are milking.
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Step 6: Wear eye protection if handling spitting cobras.
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Step 7: Wear protective clothing.
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Step 8: Relax your mind.
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Step 9: Keep in mind that there is no standardized way to handle venomous snakes.
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Step 10: Get experience from a trained professional.
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Step 11: Coax the snake into a separate box installed on the side of the snake's enclosure.
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Step 12: Slide and lock the door shut.
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Step 13: Have an assistant help you carry the box to your work table.
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Step 14: While the snake is in the box on your work table
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Step 15: insert the correct diameter of clear
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Step 16: plastic restraint tubing into the side of the box.
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Step 17: Coax the snake to crawl out of the box through the restraint tube.
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Step 18: Move quickly but smoothly.
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Step 19: Allow the snake to move forward just until the head is protruding out of the restraint tube.
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Step 20: Hold the venom collection vessel close to the snake's mouth.
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Step 21: Try to keep the container as close as possible to the snake's mouth.
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Step 22: Look for a small amount of venom at the bottom of the container.
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Step 23: Remove to cold storage immediately.
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Step 24: Close and lock the shift box after it is dry.
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Step 25: Cap the port using a snake hook or other long object.
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Step 26: Have your assistant help you carry and reattach the box to the side of the snake's enclosure.
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Step 27: Unlock the box and slide the door open to allow the snake back into the enclosure.
Detailed Guide
It must be large enough to move around the workbench in an uninhibited way.
This means removing tripping hazards (for example, power cords, throw rugs, toddlers, dogs, other snakes).
Snakes tend to move around a lot and knock stuff over when you try to pin them down to a cold metal table.
Make sure it is about waist high, to enable you to easily reach your labeled venom collection vessels. , Use rubber bands to make sure the saran wrap stays taut.
Stick a piece of masking tape on the collection glass and label it with the type of snake that you will be collecting from. record the number of snakes if you using the same vial for multiple individuals.
Label a code number corresponding to each individual snake.
Label the names of the people involved in the extraction process. , It will save you a lot of heartache when you're trying to self-administer antivenom. ,,, Choose items that make it more difficult for the snake to bite through, including boots. , Be absolutely focused when handling a venomous snake. , For example, some people prefer gloves for protection while others do not because such gear comes at the cost of reduced dexterity., Milking a snake should never be attempted by an amateur without any training. , Snakes can be trained to enter this "shift box" through conditioning. , Afterward it can be safely removed from the main enclosure when you want to transport the snake to another location.
Shift boxes can be fitted with capped ports for administering anesthesia or installing a clear plastic restraint tube for handling. ,, The diameter of the tubing has to be large enough for the snake to enter without turning around. , This can be done by adding water through a small port in the top of the box to encourage the snake to want to exit.
If you do use water, make sure the box is dry before putting the snake back.
Wait until the snake is near the end of the restraint tube before attempting the next step. , When the snake is near the end of the tube quickly detach the tube from the port on the shift-box and grab the snake's body at the base of the tube.
It is important to keep the snake from moving forward too much or backing out.
You don't have to squeeze too hard. ,, Let the snake do the work. , You don't want the snake to strike the edge and break a fang. ,, The venom should be frozen −20 °C (−4 °F) or colder within an hour after extraction.
Venom can be stored in this way for up to one month. , Keep one port open for the snake's reentry.
Since the snake's head is already near the end of the tube, it is often easier to let the snake progress forward.
Return the snake to the shift box by allowing the snake to crawl through the port head-first. , You don't want your hands near the open port of the shift box. ,,
About the Author
Victoria Vasquez
Creates helpful guides on DIY projects to inspire and educate readers.
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