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03-24-14, 09:43 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jun-2012
Location: TN
Posts: 61
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Better tongs recommendation?
I have a pair of these Zoo Med tongs
10" Feeding Tongs
commonly found in pet stores. Hate them. I am constantly dropping mice because of how the end of the tongs are shaped. The ends meet at a very small area of the inside surface of the tongs and if you are enticing a shy snake and are holding a mouse for any length of time eventually you slightly let up on pressure and the mouse drops and spooks the snake.
Looking to replace with something about the same size but where the ends have more surface area touching when you close down the tongs so you don't have to squeeze them as hard to keep a grip on the mouse as you waggle it around.
Would love any suggestions. Thinking something along the lines of these:
Exo Terra : Tongs / Feeding Tool
but not sure I want rubber ends, or if these are really much better.
__________________
FlagonFly
- - - - - -
1.0 rosy boa; 0.0.1 African dwarf frog; 0.1 Italian leatherback bearded dragon; 0.0.1 ribbon garter; 1.0 log-jumping beta; 1.1 mixed-up hounds
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03-24-14, 09:57 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Jun-2012
Location: Pocatello ID
Posts: 1,722
Country:
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Re: Better tongs recommendation?
I'm interested in suggestions on this too.
__________________
Too many snakes! 22 species & counting. 1.2 Crested geckos 2.2 Gargoyle geckos 2.1 Box turtles 0.3 Chihuahua 2.2 evil cats.
Elemental Exotics Terms & Conditions
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03-24-14, 10:21 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Dec-2013
Location: Akron, Ohio
Posts: 1,055
Country:
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Re: Better tongs recommendation?
I use a long set of hemostats. About 16" or so. Then I grind off the locking teeth by the handles so that they won't lock down on the rat by accidentally squeezing to hard. That being said holding on to food is a good way to get nailed by an overly excited snake, so you might try just leaving it in the enclosure at bed time. Idk your situation or what snake your feeding, but just trying to help you avoid a nasty situation I've had the displeasure of experiencing.
__________________
"I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed person"
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03-24-14, 10:27 PM
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#4
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Morelia Enjoyus Maximus
Join Date: Oct-2011
Location: Kitchener
Age: 54
Posts: 4,615
Country: 
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Re: Better tongs recommendation?
I have a 24" needle nose pliers. I never drop the prey and it is far enough from my had that I should never have to worry about being bit.
__________________
0.1 BCI 1.1.2 Jungle Carpet Pythons 1.0 Jungle Jag 1.0 Goins King Snake 0.1 Leopard Gecko 0.1 Albino Gopher Snake 1.0 Pastel Ball Python
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03-24-14, 11:50 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Apr-2013
Location: Cobourg, Ontario
Age: 33
Posts: 340
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Re: Better tongs recommendation?
hahah I actually went and bought some small metal cooking tongs from walmart and they do the job pretty well. Our petstore doesn't carry feeding tongs. :P
__________________
1.1.2.4 Crested Geckos
~Alduin and Gidget~
~Meriadoc and Peregrin~
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03-25-14, 05:47 AM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Jun-2013
Location: ontario
Posts: 651
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Re: Better tongs recommendation?
Mine are called Gator. Picked them up at a show. Work for me.
__________________
1.Corn snake. 1.Mexican milk snake. 2.California king snakes. 2. Western hognose snakes. 1. Pastel checker garter. 1. Checker garter. 1.Columbian red tail boa. 1. Ball python. 1. Smooth green snake. 1. Five lined skink. 1. Grey tree frog. 1. Chinese water dragon. 3 Bearded Dragons. 2 Leapard Geckos. 1. Black cat. and Lucy my border collie/lab. 
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03-25-14, 05:48 AM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Mar-2013
Location: Gainesville
Age: 34
Posts: 1,298
Country:
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Re: Better tongs recommendation?
I have also used needle nose pliers in the past, but I didnt like them too much as sometimes I felt like my grip on the mouse was too strong, and a shy snake wasn't enthusiastic enough to get them away from thw tongs.
now I use 10 inch rubber tipped reptile feeding tongs, and while im a bit too close for comfort for aome of my snakes overall I am very happy with them. My kings and carpet are very food motivated, but not that accurate, so it gives me peice of mind that they are striking silicon/rubber instead of metal.
That being said, sometimes I just put the prey in the cage and walk away. Only do the zombie dance to entice the snakes out of hiding so I can check on them now and again.
__________________
0.1 Jungle Carpet "Bhageera", 2.0 Corn snakes "Castor & Pollux", 1.1 Cal Kings "Lux & Nyx", 0.1 Honduran Milksnake "Demeter", 0.1 Rosy boa "Neki-monster", 1.0 Axolotl "Grendle", 2 tarantulas, 0.1 Leopard gecko "Remus", and a freezer full of mice (and Rats!)….
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03-25-14, 07:54 AM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Sep-2012
Posts: 244
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Re: Better tongs recommendation?
Look up Midwest Tongs. Bit expensive but all their equipment is top notch! I have a bunch of it and it has never failed me, in the field or home.
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03-25-14, 08:17 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Nov-2013
Location: St Marys
Age: 49
Posts: 987
Country:
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Re: Better tongs recommendation?
I have the same tongs as the OP...I have constant issues with them as well...for any rat weighing more than 20-30g, it will not hold them..scares the snakes when they drop  tried metal salad tongs, but they grip too much of the rat imo...cant make them "dance" for the reluctant feeders...still looking for the "perfect tongs"...like the idea of the rubber ended ones, though...I have had a few snakes the I heard their teeth smack the metal (the aggressive feeders)...and I don't like that...
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03-25-14, 11:30 AM
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#10
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Morelia Enjoyus Maximus
Join Date: Oct-2011
Location: Kitchener
Age: 54
Posts: 4,615
Country:
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Re: Better tongs recommendation?
I can hold a 3lb bunnie with the pliers. Never any issues.
__________________
0.1 BCI 1.1.2 Jungle Carpet Pythons 1.0 Jungle Jag 1.0 Goins King Snake 0.1 Leopard Gecko 0.1 Albino Gopher Snake 1.0 Pastel Ball Python
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03-25-14, 11:37 AM
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#11
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Captain America
Join Date: Dec-2009
Location: Farmington IL.
Age: 55
Posts: 10,602
Country:
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Re: Better tongs recommendation?
I hand feed all of my snakes. The only time I ever would use tongs is if I had venomous snakes. Which I would never own.
__________________
Boas: 1.0 Pastel, 2.2 Brazilian Rainbows Pythons: 0.1 Lesser Royal, The Carpets 2.0 Jungle, 1.0 Jungle x Jag, 0.1 Tiger Jag, 0.1 Coastal Cheers Chuck
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03-25-14, 11:58 AM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Feb-2014
Location: Texas
Posts: 112
Country:
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Re: Better tongs recommendation?
Quote:
Originally Posted by marvelfreak
I hand feed all of my snakes. The only time I ever would use tongs is if I had venomous snakes. Which I would never own.
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I hand feed my snakes usually. If/when I get a HD burm and its getting some size on it I will definitely use tongs.
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03-25-14, 01:28 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Sep-2012
Location: The Woodlands
Posts: 502
Country:
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Re: Better tongs recommendation?
I had a 24" hemostat with the locking mechanism cut off, but currently use a set of needle nose pliers. Works great
__________________
Keep Low. Move Fast. Kill First. Die Last. One Shot. One Kill. - Educated keeper forever evolving.
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03-25-14, 04:16 PM
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#14
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Non Carborundum Illegitimi
Join Date: Mar-2010
Location: Keynsham
Age: 49
Posts: 9,556
Country: 
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Re: Better tongs recommendation?
BBQ tongs 
__________________
May you have more good days than bad 
You never know how strong you are - until being strong is your only choice
There are no dark clouds - just well hidden silver linings!!
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03-25-14, 04:38 PM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Sep-2013
Posts: 201
Country:
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Re: Better tongs recommendation?
I've used 10 inch hemostats for the last 20 years. I don't grind the teeth off, I just kind of contort the angle with my grip so they don't lock. Back when I used to work at the reptile store here in town, we used to keep all the cage keys on a key ring and hook that through the hemostat finger hole, so that's another habit I've held on to.
__________________
1.0 Bredli, 1.0 Jungle Zebra, 1.0 Coastal Jag, 0.1 Jungle Jag, 0.1 Dumeril's Boa, 0.1 Burmese Python, 0.1 BCI
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