Tong Recommendation

[Derek1]

I plan on doing more field herping next year. Is there a tong y'all recommend if I come across a venomous or a generic water snake(they seen to musk and bite more than others) that I can use to safely pickup but not injure the snake? Seems like there are quite a few and prices are all over the place.

[SSSSnakes]

I plan on doing more field herping next year. Is there a tong y'all recommend if I come across a venomous or a generic water snake(they seen to musk and bite more than others) that I can use to safely pickup but not injure the snake? Seems like there are quite a few and prices are all over the place.

In my opinion, Midwest has the best equipment. Tongs.com Professionally made and great quality. The gentle giants are safer for the snake but harder to use when field herping. They still have the standard tongs that may be better for field herping and you can get either in many lengths.

[CrotalusR#1]

every thing i have purchased from Midwest has always been poorly built and has failed multiple times in very serous situations involving highly venomous snakes.
that's my experience with them but i know most people love that brand... id personally go with collapsible tongs.

[SSSSnakes]

every thing i have purchased from Midwest has always been poorly built and has failed multiple times in very serous situations involving highly venomous snakes.
that's my experience with them but i know most people love that brand... id personally go with collapsible tongs.

Sorry to hear this. It is the only brand I buy and have never had an issue with them. I do have most of my stuff custom made to what I want. They can make you anything.

May I ask, what you bought and how did it fail on you?

[millertime89]

Midwest is the best hands down but I got a set from Craig at Millipedes and More and I couldn't be happier. Similar to the ones with the red top part in the picture at tongs.com actually.

[CrotalusR#1]

May I ask, what you bought and how did it fail on you?]

the worst fail was with the collapsible hook they make. i was working with a large formosa island cobra and while i had the snake tailed and hooked the snake hook completely collapsed bringing an extremely toxic snake on to my hand. all it had to do was open its mouth and that would have been it. i put the snake away and went over the hook. both aluminum things where tightened completely down but the shaft moved freely like it was not tightened at all. i have had this happen with both collapsible hooks from them. also the handle back piece fell off allowing the handle to move freely. on both of them the rubber piece that is on the base of the hook and end of the shaft fell of. all those problems happened with in days of perches.
it has happened many other times while handling venomous snakes.

[red ink]

If your just feild herping and having a look at the specimen without having to restrain or capture it... learn to tail and hook instead of tongs.

Much safer for snakes than tongs in inexperienced hands....

[CrotalusR#1]

If your just feild herping and having a look at the specimen without having to restrain or capture it... learn to tail and hook instead of tongs.

Much safer for snakes than tongs in inexperienced hands

i agree, a hook is way better. you are able to manipulate the snake in more ways than with tongs... i have seen in person on more than one occasion some one break ribs with tongs.

[millertime89]

I'll be honest. I use my tongs more for feeding than field herping. But they come in handy in a pinch. I carry both a hook and tongs when I go out because I do agree that a hook is generally more useful.

[SSSSnakes]

I use tongs for holding large food items for feeding and picking up water bowls and decoration from the enclosure. Never have liked using them on snakes.

[CrotalusR#1]

SSSSnakes
Have you ever had any problems like what I explained in response to your question?

[SSSSnakes]

SSSSnakes
Have you ever had any problems like what I explained in response to your question?

The only problem I ever had was with the original adjustable hook. The head would twist on larger snakes, but they have fixed the problem by adding a groove to the stick. Some of the tongs and stick have weight limits. I have my equipment from them custom made to handle the larger snakes that I deal with. I prefer the Mark Oshea series. They are made from heavey duty aircraft aluminum with titanium heads.

[CrotalusR#1]

I will defiantly check out the Mark Oshay series. They need to make the collapsible hook with a lock not something you tighten. i guess its to be expected tho, losing a bit of strength for the convenience of it being collapsible.