How do I keep from jumping when I feed my snakes?

So I’ve been feeding for about 6 months, and I still jump really bad when I feed them frozen rats lol I’m worried I’m going to hurt their teeth? Is that possible? It’s not that I’m afraid of them or even afraid of getting bit, I’m just a jumpy person in general and the fast striking catches me by surprise no matter how prepared I think I am for it. Any tips? I’m worried I’m gonna hurt their teeth by jumping too hard.

Longer tongs or hemostats. :)

Lol I can relate. I'm not scared of my BP or being bitten but I'm the kind of person who jumps 3 feet when the toaster goes off. I tend to let go with my tongs instinctively when my BP strikes though.

Maybe you could try letting go of the rat when it gets to the distance your BP usually strikes or wiggling the rat up to the opening of the hide and just placing it there? Depends on the snake though, I know some really like to see the zombie dance, and it can be really hard to predict when they strike especially if they are in a hide and you can't see them.

I can totally understand this! I still don't like to watch it. In doing some research about Ball Pythons in the wild, I learned that they normally will find a rodent burrow, go inside, and eat the prey. I have changed the way I feed my BP now based on this.
1. I thaw out the rat and make sure it's nice and warm.
2. I remove the snake from the enclosure.
3. I put the nice warm rat deep inside the warm hide.
4. I put the snake back in the enclosure and direct his head so that he goes inside the warm hide.

He will go in partway, see the rat, pause, breathe hard, and then THUMP and he's got it! :rofl: It's all very entertaining!

Practice! You need to get more snakes! :rofl: (or practice with a toaster or a 'Jack in the Box'- remember those? LOL)

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Originally Posted by Luvyna

Lol I can relate. I'm not scared of my BP or being bitten but I'm the kind of person who jumps 3 feet when the toaster goes off. I tend to let go with my tongs instinctively when my BP strikes though.

Maybe you could try letting go of the rat when it gets to the distance your BP usually strikes or wiggling the rat up to the opening of the hide and just placing it there? Depends on the snake though, I know some really like to see the zombie dance, and it can be really hard to predict when they strike especially if they are in a hide and you can't see them.

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Lol my baby I just recently got has been fed live, but he’s doing well with frozen so far. He gets all the way up to the rat and puts his nose on it for a few seconds before backing away and striking. It’s so weird and alarming :rofl:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Practice! You need to get more snakes! :rofl: (or practice with a toaster or a 'Jack in the Box'- remember those? LOL)

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lol the toaster thing is a good idea! I’d love to get another but after the one I just got my boyfriend told me no more snakes for a while :rofl:maybe I’ll go to reptile expo and say “oh honey I have no idea how he got in my pocket!” Lol!

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Originally Posted by Shadowy

So I’ve been feeding for about 6 months, and I still jump really bad when I feed them frozen rats lol I’m worried I’m going to hurt their teeth? Is that possible? It’s not that I’m afraid of them or even afraid of getting bit, I’m just a jumpy person in general and the fast striking catches me by surprise no matter how prepared I think I am for it. Any tips? I’m worried I’m gonna hurt their teeth by jumping too hard.

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What are you holding the rat/mouse with? A pair of vice grips?

Jumping, that’s were the fun is. I’m not bragging, a lot of us have been doing this a long time. I might not jump on the outside, but every once in a while I jump on the inside, lmfao. I think most the long time keepers do, lol. It makes it interesting. Especially with balls, you think their not even remotely interested, gotta try every trick in the book. Then bam outta nowhere they hit like a small explosion. Gotta love it.

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Originally Posted by Sonny1318

Jumping, that’s were the fun is. I’m not bragging, a lot of us have been doing this a long time. I might not jump on the outside, but every once in a while I jump on the inside, lmfao. I think most the long time keepers do, lol. It makes it interesting. Especially with balls, you think their not even remotely interested, gotta try every trick in the book. Then bam outta nowhere they hit like a small explosion. Gotta love it.

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Exactly! A little adrenaline is good for ya! We really don't want snakes that eat in slow motion, do we? I mean, I have a few "polite" snakes but I wouldn't want
them all to be that way. The way they are capable of explosive action one minute, & then still be sweet to handle, is part of their charm & mystique. :snake2: