How do you guys not flinch when feeding f/t

It just bugs me because when I see a lot of feeding videos and when they feed f/t you never see the camera move or anything and like they never flinch when the ball python comes at them. I still flinch when I feed my ball pythons even though I just put the f/t rats in my ball python's tub. So how do you guys not flinch? Is it something you get used to or what? I also ask because I know there will be those feeders where they need the zombie dance and stuff from tongs. Thank god my ball pythons eat without tongs.

Why does it bug you that some people don't flinch?

I don't flinch anymore, though I did at first so I got used to it. I sometimes do jump a little though when I have one that strikes faster than expected or misses and tries to come my way!

It bugs me because I still flinch. I don't want to flinch because I actually cause the ball python to miss the food sometimes.

Feed a retic. Guarantee you won't flinch at a BP anymore ;]

Some of them still make me flinch, yes, especially at this time of the year, when they can be RIGHT THERE as soon as the bin opens, lol. Best thing I ever saw--friend of mine was feeding a huge female, and as soon as he opened the bin, she launched herself out right at him. He screamed, jumped back, and threw the rat at her---she caught it in mid air, lol.

Yes it is something you get used to. Trick is...!! Not to anticipate the strike, the snake will always be faster! just hold and dont anticipate it, just let it happen! you will get used to it though just like anything repetition is the father of learning. Good Luck!

man, i always look like a little chicken making those youtube feeding vids :(

I feed live by the tail and I don't ever flinch anymore. At first I did, jerking my hand back every time but now I have realized that my boy and girl have pretty dang good aim!!! Just give it time my friend.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The feeding response this time of year is CRAAAZY. I dropped a med F/T the other day when I was zombie dancing it for my bee and he was being so crazy coming out of the tub and at my hand, etc, that I actually had to thaw another rat and feed it to him to be able to get the other one out.

Note to self: buy plier style hemostats at next reptile expo - tweezer style can't pick up a rat over 100g

I don't jerk and never have. I'm actually usually right there once they grab it (if live, I have a couple live feeders) to make sure they grabbed it right. Lol. However, if you feed boas, BPs are far from scary. :P My BCI comes flying out when she smells rat in the room. She hit so hard a week ago that my tongs vibrated. :D I've been tagged a few times over the years though and as of yet, none of the bites have hurt. So maybe I don't flinch because I'm not afraid to get bitten? Dunno. Or maybe because I'm fascinated by their feeding process. *shrug* Seems like you'd get used to it though if you do flinch. Eventually it should just become natural to you and it won't bother you anymore. :)

I dunno why I don't flinch, I guess that it's because my little guy is only 300g :P. He'll still strike so hard that it nearly tears the tongs out of my hands, now THAT I'd like to stop. He's as enthusiastic about his food as I am about mine! I'll post a better feeding/eating video as soon as I have a cameraman.

I keep my snake in a viv, so I brace my arm on the top of the enclosure and then just move my wrist with the tongs. Resting my arm on something has kept me from pulling back, especially at first.

Last week when my girl took her first "off the tongs" f/t I flinched a little. Made me feel like a dork because my 6yo daughter who was standing by watching her didn't flinch and was like "That was so cool!" :oops:

This seems strange to me, only because I've never flinched. Then again, my set-up is a little different, so maybe I feel more comfortable and less exposed.

I use tongs to feed all my animals, as I can position it better than worrying about my hand. My corn snake has a fantastic feeding response. She's great! I thaw her mousey in hot water so it's got a strong heat signature. I walk into the room and she'll immediately track me. Her enclosure has the front fold down door. So I'll take her wet mousey with the tongs and hold it into her enclosure. I angle my hand upward so that the mouse is between my hand and her. I'll move the mouse just a bit and 'walk it around' so that she's actively tracking it (again, away from myself) and then BOOM! She'll hit so hard it usually twists the tongs out of my hand. A few times she's coiled the tongs too, and I've had to go get them later once she seperated the mousey from them.

But, I never really flinch. Probably because I know she'll twist my tongs away if I lose my grip, and I don't want to have to reach in there later, haha. Plus, she always strikes so precisely. I become more impressed with her skill rather than worrying about me getting bit.

The ONLY time she's ever tracked me and looked like she was checking out my hand was when the mousey had run just a little too cool. A quick dip in hot water helped her get her aim back instead of checking me out, and she hit it like a truck.

Gosh I love that girl. She's SO big for a corn snake. And strong. Fantastic animal.

As far as tips for flinching, just don't worry about it. The more you focus on it, the more your body becomes hyper aware. Just let it happen. You know it's going to happen. You know the snake is going to strike. It's going to hit harder than you expected. So don't try to control the situation. Just be there, do your thing, do it safely and move slowly so that you have time to read the situation. If your snake is known for waiting at the edge of the bin, stand to the side with your arm above holding the mouse, so that you're putting the mouse/rat between you and the snake.

Before I feed, I make sure to take a deep breath and prepare myself for the strike--that way I don't jump or get caught off guard.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

Best thing I ever saw--friend of mine was feeding a huge female, and as soon as he opened the bin, she launched herself out right at him. He screamed, jumped back, and threw the rat at her---she caught it in mid air, lol.

---

I hope you never let him live that down. lol that's great.

I used to flinch, but I guess I did get use to it, for me it's more knowing that jumping can only make things worse, so I made a conscious effort to not flinch, now I don't even think about it. I don't feed with tongs, I don't know why, never have. Now if something catches me by surprise, I still haven't lost that instinctual urge to get out of the way of it, doubt I will. During feeding though, I pretty much know what to expect so there isn't too many surprises, but they happen.

I still jump. I cant help it. Even though its no surprise as to whats gunna happen they still always catch me off guard lol.

I drop the f/t in the tub and even if i watch the strike thru a closed tub i still flinch. Its kinda like an excitement thing i think lol.