"feeding with tongs" question

[TonyL]

I believe the majority of us are using tongs to feed f/t rats or mice to our snakes. When feeding in a rubbermaid, I found it easy regardless of the size of tongs. However since I moved to custom cages with front opening sliding doors, I found myself having a touch difficulty feeding in these larger cages at times.

Namely my black bloods who hit like a ton of bricks! These are in 4 x 2 x 18 in. cages. I cannot imagine feeding larger snakes.

What size tongs does everyone use and for what species?

Any tips would be great too.

Thanks.

[dank7oo]

I have a few pairs of 10 inch tongs. I use one for my corn (LOL I know ... just dont wanna be bit) and the others I use for my chameleons (sometimes ...) It lets them get used to taking food other than only free-roaming, plus gets them used to having your hand in the cage.

Jason

[Matt_K]

I use 18" tongs for all my larger boids.. Just reach in and stand back.. LOL..

[adam2373]

I use 12 inch rubber tipped tongs for my snakes. I find the rubber tipped ones are safer for those over excited feeders if they miss.

[smallball]

I use my hands for both my jungle carpet and my ball python.
I find that the tails are long enough that I am not to worried about being eaten.
They seem to always hit the pray and not me for now, maybe I will learn my lesson one of these days.

[Stockwell]

Tony get yourself a pair of these. 16 or 18 inch Hemostats
I think Grant might be able to help you with that.
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1801tongs.jpg

[lakeridgekennel]

With alot of my big snakes i just place their food in the cage but that takes a bit of time to get them to do that but it takes a bit of strike out of them and makes them a bit easer to handle.
just my 2 cents
Sean

[tHeGiNo]

I admittingly, for the most part, use my fingers :P.

[Matt_K]

The 18" ones that Roy has pictured are the same ones I use.. But you knew that Tony, as you have seen them..

[TonyL]

Thanks for the quick replies everyone.

I currently use 8 in. hemostats and was looking at which size to upgrade to for some of my bigger snakes.

I will be buying the 18 inch hemostats and reducing my chance at getting bit! LOL

Guess I have another item to add to the September list of things to buy at the show.

Matt...make sure Grant brings the 18 inchers!

[marisa]

How much do the 18 inch ones go for at the shows? You know an average price Matt?

Marisa

[Matt_K]

I've never seen them at the shows.. The biggest i have seen there is like 12" and they were about $30.. I'll talk to Grant about getting in some 18"s then update this post! :D

[Jayson]

I paid about $50 for my 18" hemo's at the expo. I dont remember who's table though.

[C.m.pyrrhus]

I have never used tongs for feeding any snakes, including the rattlers. I simply throw food in the cage, as all my snake are relatively good at eating. I could see the need for them with certain species and individual snakes, I just have no real use for them currently myself in my collection. The boas will just simply get up on the snake after it is thrown into the cage.

The rattlers are all fed live food 99% of the time. I simply place the mice on one side of the cage, they pick up the scent and hunt from there. Only one rattler in my collection will currently eat any rodent given, frozen thawed, fresh killed or live. Two (of the six) eat lizards. Unless I had to tease meals for them or had large and highly aggresive rattlers in the future, I will remain just tossing in meals. Everything I have hunts and eats just great. I keep myself safe from snakes too.....FYI. :D

[Dom]

I use the 8 inch midwest for baby snakes.. the 16 inches for mid sized snakes (I personally don't like the 18 inches as they do not lock on the prey .. I find them harder to use) ..

I use the 42 inch Midwest long metal tongs for feeding the large snake .. they can pick up the head of a goat or pig while I hold the back legs with my hands.. Unless u know of a batter way to hold a 10 - 30 pound prey let me know lol

[Samba]

12" Barbie tongs are all I need... for my burm... =)

[thunder]

i mostly feed my snakes out of their enclosures, in rubbermaids, so i dont need to use tongs (i put the prey in first then the snake). however, i do have a couple of pairs of hemostats which i find to be useful, and 18 and a smaller one. i dont know how much they cost tho, since i got them from a friend who is a doctor.

[Bartman]

Where I volunteer they feed their big snakes (retics and burms) rabits that are around 10+ pounds. They just pick it up with two long snake hooks and it usually gets it like that. If not they just chuck it in.

I personally just use 18" hemostats.