Tongs or Not

[dave68]

Just curious as to who uses tongs and who doesn't (for feeding of course), and if it varies from species to species etc.
Couldn't resist this post as a previous thread got me thinking/curious.
All replies gladly welcomed,
Allison

[Brent Strande]

I always use my 18" hemostats...

May need larger when feeding boas as they grow... I don't want to not use em til the day that I inadvertently trust a snake too much, and he catches my warm wrist rather than a fat rat... haha!

[HeatherRose]

I use hemostats. My ball python and Venezualen rainbow are too nuts when feeding time comes around. I'm scared enough to even *think* about rats when I am handling my ball python :p I just don't want to be that close when they strike because it's hard and fast when they do. The other snakes get fed with tongs also, as I don't want the food to smell like me, picking things up with hemostats is fun (easily amused I am) and rats are gross!

[Gary D.]

I simply don't want the smell of prey on me when I will likely be working with other animals who may or may not be on the same feeding schedule. Hemostats for mice, standard tongs for rats, and animal grabbers for large rabbits.

[Vengeance]

I also use hemostats, my balls have to crazy of a feeding response. 9 times out of 10 when I open the lid on feeding night they take a great interest in my hand everytime and it's not untill I get their attention on the rat that they stop paying attention to my hand. So hand feeding is not an option for me.

[Bartman]

I use my 18 inch hemostats all the time. Sometimes for the baby corns ill just use my hands but they dont even strike, they just open their mouth and go over it most of the time :)

[CamHanna]

Fingers for little snakes (2' or less), Tongs for bigger ones.

[Leviathan]

I have to 12 inchers. I use them for everything! Especially superworms cause they make me squirm.

[ydnic]

I don`t use them - although I only have colubrids. I do use them for worms and cricket cause I hate touchinng them. I am more scared to get bit by a meal worm than a corn snake - lol

[BoidKeeper]

I use tongs with everything except for the snakes that just eat with the feeder left over night. For everything else from hatchling corns to large Colombians, I use hemostates.
Cheers,
Trevor

[marisa]

Tongs for every single snake, big or small.

Marisa

[chas*e]

Tongs/hemostats for everything.....always...big or small or you will tend to become complaicent...and will bleed

[emkovar]

It depends on which snake im feeding. When im feeding the JCP of the Chondro YES ALWAYS.

But when im feeding the corns and children's python i don't bother

[lolaophidia]

Hemostats- Once you've got them- why not use them for everything? I don't ever want to smell like food to my snakes. I used to use the fling by the tail method, only took 1 miss by a snake who broke a tooth off in my finger to change my ways. Now they get excited when I pull out the hemostats- not every time they see my hands. I think that's a good thing.;)

[karmeleon]

I enjoy the excitement of handfeeding my colubrids as any bite is not going to be serious. So far so good.

[lolaophidia]

My concern was primarily the snake breaking teeth off (or ripping them out if I was hit and pulled away) and possibly getting stomatitis due to the mouth injury. Something I'd rather avoid...

[Orianna]

Hands. Don't have any hemostats. I always hand pic the prey and since I am allergic to the fur I have to constantly wash my hand after each kill, so holding the tail of the prey infront of my snakes doesn't bother me.

[ATBlover]

I use 6" hemostats for my ATB but i dont use anything for my balls or JCP...when the GTP comes around..i'm gunna use my hands until he gets about 2 feet!....Thanks.....Connor

[jim mcallister]

I have em but don't use them often. All 18 of my snakes (corns/kings/jcp's, hondo's) are easy to feed, Just lay the prey in (f/t) and let the feastings begin. Although with several i have to be quick or crafty or i'm sure they would enjoy a little human flesh lol.

[ATBlover]

lol yea wouldnt any snake...a little change for once....imagine eating chicken for your whole life..LOL..Connor

[mark129er]

I hand feed all of mine. I have tongs but find them to be clumsy. I do use them @ work though.

[boas_and_such]

i don't use them with my king, corn or hognose but i use 12 inchers with my BCI...

[crazy4reptiles]

I use to use tongs until I somehow lost them... so I've been using my hands... been o.k. but as the BP's grow they are becoming a little crazzier at feeding time.... prob gonna pick up another pair soon:D