Really?

Found this at my local Petco. People who think they need this for ball pythons or corn snakes shouldn't own a snake.

http://www.atom-computer.com/snakehook.jpg

Honestly, this is pathetic.

Wow. The only BP I could think of that you might need one for is a rabid brooding bp :) LOL and if you are buying this at Petco and you have a cobra you are in BIG trouble.

In all honesty, I think it's great :P I am by no means "afraid" of my snakes, but if you've ever owned a pissy ball python or corn snake this could be very useful. I have a corn snake that I cannot pick up by hand or he will bite, but I have a designated "snake stick" that if I use it to pick him up he calms down and is handleable.

I have a couple ball pythons that sometimes are quite crabby and I believe this snake hook would also come in handy.

There are people in this hobby that just like to appreciate the beauty of these snakes from afar, and if it means handling their snakes with these snake hooks then go on ahead.

You must have never experienced an angry or moody snake to be that harsh about it! :P

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Originally Posted by Carlene16

You must have never experienced an angry or moody snake to be that harsh about it! :P

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I've also known some Sand Boas that don't like to be disturbed in their tank. Taking them out was a pain but once they were out they were as sweet as could be. I know some Petco's and Petsmart's have sold Sand bBoas.

Could be handy.

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Originally Posted by Cendalla

Sand bBoas.

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Oops. That would be Boas.

I use snake hooks for my balls and boas. I would rather not get bit, so I hook-train them. Many times when snakes strike while in their cage, it is a feeding response. Once hook-trained, they know that I am not feeding them when I touch them with the hook. I normally do not actually get them out of their enclosures with the hook, but occasionally will with an aggressive animal. I usually just move them around with the hook, so I can grab them from the back. Needless to say, I hardly ever get bit. I have only been bit twice in the eleven, or so, years I have owned snakes.

my thing is about this hook is that it is,um, did i read that right? collapsible?!
i would think a hook is supposed to put some distance between your hand and the animal right? so it being collapsible would not be a good thing...
i'm sure it clicks into position in some way that locks it but...locks DO fail.
i'm just saying...what if someone were handling a cobra or rattlesnake with one of these and that locking mechanism failed and well, yeah you should be able to figure out what would happen in that very unfortunate circumstance.
hey, i'm just saying...

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Originally Posted by mommanessy247

my thing is about this hook is that it is,um, did i read that right? collapsible?!
i would think a hook is supposed to put some distance between your hand and the animal right? so it being collapsible would not be a good thing...
i'm sure it clicks into position in some way that locks it but...locks DO fail.
i'm just saying...what if someone were handling a cobra or rattlesnake with one of these and that locking mechanism failed and well, yeah you should be able to figure out what would happen in that very unfortunate circumstance.
hey, i'm just saying...

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I am not 100% sure, but I beleive by collapsible they actually mean expandable. The rod can slides inside another rod to make it longer or shorter.

Maybe I was being a bit critical, but I still don't think that you need a snake hook to handle non-venomous snakes. Rattlesnakes and cobras I can see, but I really cant see a ball python being picked up with a hook. With my ball python, I make sure to train it not to recognize my hand as food, but instead when it sees the feeding pliers/forceps/whatever you use, it is time to eat. Personally, I feel that there is no need to use a snake hook to get a ball python, corn snake, or other non-venomous species. I'm not trying to put down those who do, but it just seems like it would be easier to work with your ball or corn to not recognize your hand as food. Just my 2 cents.

My thing is listing ball pythons right with rattlesnakes and cobras. Makes them sound a lot more dangerous than they are.

If it were my product, I'd separate the non venomous from the venomous at least.

By the way, I didn't know rattle snake was spelled with three T's, did you ? :D

Gale

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Originally Posted by apple2

Maybe I was being a bit critical, but I still don't think that you need a snake hook to handle non-venomous snakes. Rattlesnakes and cobras I can see, but I really cant see a ball python being picked up with a hook. With my ball python, I make sure to train it not to recognize my hand as food, but instead when it sees the feeding pliers/forceps/whatever you use, it is time to eat. Personally, I feel that there is no need to use a snake hook to get a ball python, corn snake, or other non-venomous species. I'm not trying to put down those who do, but it just seems like it would be easier to work with your ball or corn to not recognize your hand as food. Just my 2 cents.

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Just curious but how many snakes, and what types do you have? :)

Who would use a 26" snake hook for a rattler or cobra? Seems way to short for me.

I have a confession, I am hook training myself with my balls, practicing for when my burm gets bigger. :weirdface

I have that same one:D
We use it for our cali king, though I guess I shouldnt as they are not on the list. LOL
That hook is not meant to "lift" a snake, it is used to control the head.
For those of you that dont think you need a hook for a non-hot, come play with my sweet king and see how nice she is. :hungry::hungry::hungry::hungry::hungry:

I get having a hook if you have a pissy snake any kind. I don't use any types of hooks with mine. But I also only have balls. I do have some pissy ones but I pretty much block the head and grab from behind.

I have that same one. Works wonders. Never picked up a snake with it tho.... But if u got a pissy one striking at u... Just grab the hook touch their head and move it away. Grab the back of the snake and ur good to go... No need to jump and dance avoiding bites like Chewy.... If Chewy got a snake hook and used it like i do SnakeBytes would be boring....... :rofl:

I have that hook! No so much for our ball pythons, but it does come in handy for our 10' female carpet python. She is not a big snake with a big bite, but she is very opposed to being taken out of her home.
We also use it with our adopted hognose, again, not a big snake, but it is still rear fang venomous and does not care for being handled.

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Originally Posted by Carlene16

Just curious but how many snakes, and what types do you have? :)

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I have 2 garter snakes, a normal BP, a pastel BP, and a baby red tail boa.

By the way, I just noticed that in the picture on the package they were using the hook on a pastel BP. So much for cobras and rattlers!

Hey maybe I should get one for my Taiwan beauties. My large girl is far from sweet and would rather bite you than look at you. The other TWB's are a bit snappy. I just use a glove and a paper towel roll :) How do you train them to use a hook? ROFL I need a full shield and armor and gloves when they are hungry.

Ehh just wasted money if its being used for non venomous. Part of owning snakes is the fact of getting bit.

Dont like getting bit, then snakes or reptiles isnt your thing. I went long time never getting bit to getting big almost everyday and i would never think of getting a snake hook for them. Their bites DONT hurt and wont ill you, so whats the point. Ill never get why some need it for anything other than venomous.

Uhm, I have a snake hook that I initially used when I got my first BP just until we both felt comfortable enough for me to reach in and pick him up. Of course now I pick both of mine up with no fear and let them rest around my neck just while I change their substrate, but I still occasionally use it when my newest "rescue" is being snappy and defensive because he wasn't handled previous to me getting him. If I know he's in strike mode and hisses at me when I open his tub then why should I just reach in and grab him? The hook does not stress him out as much as my "big scary hand", so while he becomes accustomed to being handled I prefer to stress him out as little as possible. I'm not scared to be bit, but I'm also not going to put myself in a position where I'm sure I'll get nipped.
I see no shame in using snake hooks.

The first time i picked up my BP I wished I had a hook :D So I used a plastic smooth coat hanger I was a little nervous about getting bit :rolleyes: I only used it once and now I lift his hide up touch him on the back to let him know Im there and pick him up! Yesterday I thought I was going to get bit :O he tenced up and went into strike position and even "shook" a little he has never done that I didnt let him win and I picked him up anyways He never did bite:D

No offense but this is one of does things I wouldn't ever think of buying I made a couple mistakes before and been bitten I say what's the point of having snakes if your scare of graving them. I say treat animals with the care an respect they deserve and u can save some $$$ for ice cream or a beer hahaha

I bought one a while back for field herping for flipping stuff because I didn't want to buy one online, and I then i used it once with my like 700 g at the time ball, and it bent like the cheap thing it was... handy cos its small, but verrry weak

I think anyone who would use that hook on a Cobra or Rattlesnake is just proving Darwinism.

I used that hook for a while and it is very cheaply build and flimsy. I would not recommend it.

I ended up buying a nice hook with a graphite shaft and I am much happier!

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Originally Posted by DemmBalls

I used that hook for a while and it is very cheaply build and flimsy. I would not recommend it.

I ended up buying a nice hook with a graphite shaft and I am much happier!

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Cheap and flimsy...

Sounds like most reptile products sold at Petco!

Hooks for balls? :rofl:

i want to buy one.it beautiful if i put in my bp tank so she can climb when she want.errrr.....wait a second,i think it a drift wood,my bad.lolz!.