Feeding tongs / Snake hook recommendations?

Hello folks,

I'm about to add a juvenile boa to my collection (and possibly some BPs this summer) and wanted your advice on feeding tongs / tweezers and snake hooks.

I already have 10" feeding tweezers (the cheap zoo med ones) but they do not grip well and I was thinking that with a boa on the way, I might want ones that are longer than 10" and are sturdier / easier to handle larger prey items. I know some people use hemostats as well, but am unfamiliar with them and whether they would work better than tweezers.

The snake hook I plan on using to move the boa's head, let him know I'm there and not food (when shedding, etc.), or use to maneuver him to be easier to grab out of the enclosure. I know that I will probably not use the hook much, but I figure it'll be better to have it when I need it.

If you have any thoughts on what size (length or head size) of hook would be best and /or if you own one that you like, I'd love your opinion. All of the ones I've found so far are either crazy expensive or look very flimsy.

Thanks, as always, for your advice and patience with all of my newbie questions. :)

No experience with snake hooks but I'm upgrading my feeding tongs to hemostats. They can be bought at reptile expos and probably medical stores. Hemostats are stronger, less awkard, and come in different sizes.

For snake hooks I like the "golf club" style, having that grip is nice. You can also make your own with an old golf club and paint roller.

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/show...ook-(very-easy!)

Thanks for the input guys! I was putting together an order for amazon and saw 12" hemostats that were pretty cheap, so I went ahead and ordered them. If they seem flimsy or if I need something longer, I can try the reptile show in Atlanta this summer.

jclaiborne- That is a cool thread you linked to. I am not handy at all, so I will probably look for a pre-made one with a handle, as you suggested. If I already had a shop with tools and clamps though, I'd be all over the converted golf club hook. :)

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Originally Posted by artgecko

Thanks for the input guys! I was putting together an order for amazon and saw 12" hemostats that were pretty cheap, so I went ahead and ordered them. If they seem flimsy or if I need something longer, I can try the reptile show in Atlanta this summer.

jclaiborne- That is a cool thread you linked to. I am not handy at all, so I will probably look for a pre-made one with a handle, as you suggested. If I already had a shop with tools and clamps though, I'd be all over the converted golf club hook. :)

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There are some companies that sell the golf club hooks as well. They just are around 35 bucks. You can check out midwest tongs (http://tongs.com/p_snakehooks.aspx), LLL Reptile (http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...sbandry-tools/), Reptile Basics has the golf club style (http://www.reptilebasics.com/husbandry-stainless) or even sometimes ebay has them...

I saw a 24" one on ebay and paid $25 for it with free shipping. I checked out midwest, but they wanted $19 for shipping.. crazyness.

I'll let you know how well the $25 one performs. :)

Make a friend who works in surgery ;)

Most Hospitals have millions of dollars in outdated surgical grade stainless steel hemostats, forceps, ect that sit around collecting dust. You should see some of the surgical instrumentation ive repurposed to snake equipment. My favorite feeding tong is a 45 degree duval lung clamp ;)

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I purchased a 12" one off of amazon for myself a few months ago, works great, a lot better than any tweezer type item.

I carry this one in the trunk of my car for moving snakes off the highway (yes, I'm THAT guy)...

http://www.reptilebasics.com/24-snake-hook

Never moved anything a large as an adult boa, but I've never had a problem with it.

Thanks slim...
Now I feel quite dumb... I put in a reptile basics order just last week and could've added that to my order... and paid like $9 less than I did getting the one on ebay.. *sigh* Now I know.

My boa will only be like 3' when I get him, so I'll have time to upgrade later on if need be.

I'm hoping I won't need the hook, but who knows what mood he'll be in when he gets here. :p