handling feeder rats Q...advice plz

[mommanessy247]

im trying to figure out whats the best way to safely handle a live rat when transferring from its cage to the snake cage without getting bit. i thought about gloves but was told that the snake could mistake the gloves for the rat should it miss the rat during the strike...i was also told that tongs would be the best way to go...i looked up a couple reptile supply websites and spoke with a couple people who suggested tweezers or hemostats....im getting too many options lol now im confused so what do ya'll do? what works best? tongs, hemostats or tweezers? im looking into getting something 12" or longer...to put distance between my hand and the rat & snake. i know picking up rats by their tails is not a good idea same reason why you dont pick up a cat or dog by its tail lol...well, i'll be back later to check for replies. thx for any ideas/advice offered.

[jarradw]

I have never had problems with getting bit, but there was one momma rat who really didnt like me. I used a welding glove whenever I needed to move her about and she bit the glove and it never got through to me.

[SnakeKB]

Try every way you can think of and do what seems the easiest for you. Everybody has a different method of doing things. What's easy for one isn't the same for another.

[Sarin]

When I started my Hooded colony I was terrified of getting bit. I was so used to breeding ASF's. But.. I've NEVER had a problem with any rats in my colony. Mind you, it's only 1.3, but still. I just pick up the rat like I would any small tame animal. I just drop it into the snakes enclosure and just let the snake do it's thing. I never hold the rat for them. I keep some tongs handy just in case I need to hold the rats feet or mouth.

[snakesRkewl]

If you grab by the middle of the tail and are gentle, picking them up by the tail works fine, especially for smaller rats.
I have friends that use hemostats and swear by them, I myself raise pet quality rats that never bite so it's never an issue, but I do remember when I started breeding having rats that bit or were super skittish, no fun.

[BAMReptiles]

what he said, just tail em

[suzuki4life]

from the rat cage to the snake cage...

well first off...pre killed is it.

Many people will tell you its safer for the snake and more humane but in all honesty, I like the idea because it reduces the odds of parasites. I also can stock pile tons of food that doesn't need fed. And if I am ever over whelmed, I cull all of my breeders and just use straight from the freezer until empty.

[mommanessy247]

thx so much for all the ideas guys

[steveboos]

Yeah get some large Hemostats from a local Expo or online, or just do what i do and pick up the rat either by tail or by body and toss it in the cage.

[adamjeffery]

ive been breeding rats now for about a year and a half or so. i have only been bitten once. my rats are all handle able so im not sure why the concern unless you have some crazy ass rats. if that is the case then i would start handling them from the time they are babies and use them to replace the crazy breeders.
i just grab ahold of them mid body and toss them in. if they are a jumper or just super fast rat then i hold them by the tail. when i was doing mice i used tongs and just grabbed them by the scruff of the neck and tossed them in the cage.
i like that my rats are easy to handle. they are better than cats in every way, i would rather keep rats than a cat any day.
1 more blurb of info.......i would rather be bit by a snake any day then be bit by a rat again...ouch

adam jeffery