Why do people keep venomoid snakes?
Most people who keep venomoid snakes do so in order to be able to maintain an animal without the risk of serious injury or death (either to themselves, family members or others in the general community). Others keep them to impress friends, family, and neighbours, or for similar ego driven reasons. Some reptile educators prefer to work with venomoid snakes in public as an additional means of being able to display a species that is know to be potentially dangerous (and to perhaps demonstrate ecological or behavioural aspects of that species) without the risks associated with having a venomous representative of that species. Some venom researchers who use venom glands to produce cDNA libraries in venom characterization studies are turning to the use of glands removed through venomoid surgery in preference to destroying live snakes and dissecting out the venom glands after death.
