Maintaining Coral Snakes (Micrurus nigrocinctus, Serpentes: Elapidae) for venom production on an alternative fish-based diet

► A successful alternative diet based on fish was developed to maintain a Coral Snake colony. ► Micrurus nigrocinctus fed fish showed increased body weight and a longer life span compared to a wild diet (snakes). ► A fish-based diet results in comparable yields of venom, used to produce antivenom. ► No differences in median lethal dose and biochemistry profiles were found between venoms of snakes fed different diets.