Godley-Snell Research Center/SOP 700-10-00 Page 1 of 4 Effective Date: Title: Tubing to Restrain Venomous Snakes Author(s): Dr. Christopher Parkinson, Professor Date: _12 October 2017_

Name, Title Facility Manager: Melody Willey Date: ___________

Name, Title Attending: Dr. John Parrish Date: ____________ Veterinarian 1.0 OBJECTIVE The objective of this Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is to describe the snake restraint procedure tubing, which is to be used with venomous species. Tubing allows personnel to interact with and perform physical procedures on venomous snakes safely.

2.0 HEALTH AND SAFETY

Attire appropriate to the task must be worn at all times, including closed-toed shoes and clothing that is neither too loose nor restricts movement. All Clemson University personnel must be enrolled in the Clemson University Medical Surveillance Program.

3.0 PERSONNEL/TRAINING/RESPONSIBILITIES

All Clemson University personnel must have completed the IACUC on line training. Personnel trained and familiar with basic reptile husbandry and referenced SOPs may perform

this procedure. Prior to being assigned full responsibility for performing this procedure, personnel must have demonstrated proficiency in all techniques to Dr. Parkinson in a closely supervised environment.

4.0 REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED MATERIALS

4.1 Required Materials SOP 700-01-00 Venomous Snakebite Emergency SOP 700-02-00 Entering and Exiting the Snake and Lizard Room SOP 700-06-00 Housing Snakes in the Snake and Lizard Room SOP 700-04-00 Creating Snake Identification Cards

4.2 Recommended Materials

4.3 Prepared Materials

5.0 GUIDELINES

Godley-Snell Research Center/SOP 700-10-00 Page 2 of 4 Effective Date: The following procedures were developed to meet or exceed the National Institute of

Health (NIH) Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association). 2013. AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals.

American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. 2004. Guidelines for use of live amphibians and reptiles in field and laboratory research. Second Edition, Revised by the Herpetological Animal Care and Use Committee (HACC).

6.0 PROCEDURE

• When venomous species are being housed, at least two individuals must be present in the snake and lizard room during any animal procedures

o At least one of these individuals must be authorized to independently work with venomous species by Dr. Parkinson.

• If a snake is nonvenomous, tubing is not required for restraint, as it can be effectively restrained by hand, but it may sometimes be advantageous to perform the procedure nonetheless

1. Enter the snake room following SOP 700-02-00 Entering and Exiting the Snake and Lizard Room

2. Identify the snake of interest, pull the cage out of the cage slot, and set it on the ground 3. Using a hook or tongs lift the front half of the cage lid

a. If the snake retreats to the back of the cage it may be necessary to remove the lid b. If removal of lid is necessary, proceed by gently removing the lid using snake

tongs 4. Present the snake with an appropriately sized snake tube and gently coax it into the tube

using a snake hook or tongs. 5. When the first 1/3 of the snake has moved into the tube, gently but firmly press the bottom

of the tube against the floor of the cage to prevent further movement into or out of the tube

6. Grasp the tube at its base keeping two fingers on the tube and two fingers on the snake at all times

7. The snake should now be secure and other procedures may be implemented following approved SOP’s.

8. Once physical procedures are complete allow the snake to gently slide through the tube and into its cage

9. Close the snake lid using a snake hook or tongs and replace the container back in its slot 7.0 QUALITY CONTROL CHECKS AND ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

All procedures are subject to periodic review by the Attending Veterinarian and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

8.0 LITERATURE CITED 9.0 APPENDICES

Godley-Snell Research Center/SOP 700-10-00 Page 3 of 4 Effective Date: 1.1 Photograph documentation of tubing procedures

Tubing a Venomous snake

Select appropriate sized tube Use hook to guide snake into tube

Allow snake to follow up tube Using tube pin snake to bottom of cage and

grasp firmly

Godley-Snell Research Center/SOP 700-10-00 Page 4 of 4 Effective Date:

Keep 2 fingers on tube and 2 fingers on snake