Take the time to remove tripping hazards like power cords, lab equipment, tables, and any other workspace clutter.
A code number corresponding to each individual snake. This will allow you to keep track of which specific snake(s) produced the venom in a sample. The names of the scientists and lab technicians involved in the extraction process.
Laboratories that work with venomous snakes should always have anti-venom on hand for every type of snake in their inventory.
While thicker gloves (e. g. , made from leather) are more resistant to snake bites, they’ll also reduce your dexterity.
You can condition snakes to enter a hide box by placing food inside of the hide box when you want the snake to enter. The snake will be drawn to the food and you won’t have to handle a dangerous animal. Avoid wiggling your fingers to lure the snake into the hide box. The snake could strike out and bite you.
Shut the hide box door quickly, before the snake has a chance to turn around inside the box. If it’s angry, it could attempt to bite you through the open door.
So, if a snake is roughly 2 inches (5. 1 cm) in diameter, attach a 2. 25 in (5. 7 cm) tube to the hide box. The diameter of the tubing has to be large enough for the snake to enter without turning around. If the tubing you use is too large or too small, the snake either will be able to wriggle free from the tubing or won’t fit inside.
Wait until the snake is near the end of the restraint tube before attempting the next step.
The snake may try to wriggle free from your hands, so be ready to tighten your grip and grab the snake at any moment.
Keep your hand only about 1 in (2. 5 cm) behind the snake’s head in order to keep its fangs away from your body.
The snake should only strike when it’s about 3–5 inches (7. 6–12. 7 cm) from the collection vessel. If it’s any farther, the snake could strike the edge and break a fang.
Don’t exert too much pressure; just press hard enough that the snake’s fangs are extended and held in place in the collection vessel
Most hide boxes have removable lids to allow for easy cleaning and drying.
Once the snake is back inside, close the port using a pen or other long object. You don’t want your hands near the open port of the hide box.
If you’re milking multiple snakes, at this time you can start the process over again by drawing another snake into the hide box for the purpose of being milked.
Depending on your snake-milking schedule, do this either after you’ve finished milking 1 snake or after you’ve finished milking several (if you labeled the collection vial before you began to extract the venom).
If you’re milking multiple snakes, you can pour the venom from each individual snake into separate freezable beakers at 10-minute intervals. This will prevent the already-harvested venom from sitting at room temperature for too long.
