Re: Stegonotus cucullatus - bite reaction and behaviour

"stegonotus" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> We've recently acquired a pair of Stegonotus cucullatus (slatey-grey
snakes)
> from the Northern Territory (Australia) - don't worry, we live in
Australia
> so they weren't smuggled.
>
> Very little information seems to be available on these snakes, so I have a
> silly question.
>
> In all of our books and information found via the internet it states that
> these colubrids are non-venomous, however I was told by an - apparently -
> respectable source that there is suspicion that the animals are in fact
very
> mildy venomous.
>
> After being bitten about fifteen times by the female we have acquired, on
> two of the bite sites I now have small blisters, which have had phases of
> (very mild) itching, burning and stinging.  I am assuming that these
> blisters are from bacteria on the teeth or in the saliva of the snakes, or
> perhaps teeth are lodged under the skin. These areas where the blisters
have
> occurred were washed within five to ten minutes of the bites. The bites
> which were not washed occurred a day later and no reaction has been
noticed.
> My other half also received two bites, neither of which resulted in any
> reaction other than short-lived mild itching on one site. Her bites were
not
> washed.
>
> Also interesting to note was the manner in which the snake delivered the
> bites. Few times did she strike, and when she did the bites were often
slow
> and preceeded by mouth gaping. The majority of the time the bites were
> delivered she would nose around on our skin for a short period of time
until
> she found a tasty (or soft) spot, then she would open her mouth, tilt her
> head and proceed to gnaw on the area for a relatively long period of time.
> After gnawing for some time she would pull her head back, rather than
simply
> releasing (this is why I suspect the blisters may have been due to teeth
> lodged under the skin), tearing the skin, then releasing.
>
> I'm also wondering how many of these snakes are in captiviy over in other
> countries. Are they common? I've seen them for sale on some -
> non-Australian - site for $7.50US. I was rather surprised at the price
> difference, even though the US and other countries often have reptiles
> cheaper than us. The pair we acquired cost $350AU - $175US or so - with a
> $50 discount since we bought several other reptiles. This is relatively
> cheap also, since the only other S. cucullatus I have seen for sale in
> Australia was for $410AU ($205US approximately).
>
> Anyway, does anyone else own these reptiles? Have you received any bites?
> Did you notice any form of reaction?
>
>

I don't know about those type of snakes, but I get the same reaction from
any colubrid bite-usually corn snakes. I think it is due to bacteria in the
mouth. Best to check it out, however!

-cat