Hooks?

Why do SOME people use hooks to handle big snakes? I dont own and never have owned big snakes but a buddy of mine has a burm thats 12 ft and he doesnt use hooks. And he said he never would. Is it necessary?

I always thought they were for venomous snakes and or ppl that are afraid to handle their balls

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Originally Posted by BoostedMX3

I always thought they were for venomous snakes and or ppl that are afraid to handle their balls

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I knew about hooks for venomous snakes but ive seen people use hooks to "control" big snakes.

A lot of people use hooks for:
Venomous snakes
Larger snakes
Aggressive snakes

I think it's to mainly help them move the snake inside and out from their cage.

I wouldn't want to stick my hand in and pull out a 15ft retic :/

They are good for field herping.
Some people do hook training for bigger snakes. A slight tap on the head to let the snake know you are not there for a feeding.

Even my oldest carpet python is a little "big" for a snake hook to be useful for any kind of lifting, but it's great to have something to guide his head if he starts to get a little curious at my heat signature. I don't want a feeding response bite from an adult carpet python. For giant pythons, anything more than doing a little bit of head-touching is beyond what a fairly thin stick of metal can accomplish.

However for my younger carpet pythons, it helps with their length. With my demonic rainbow boa it is essential unless I want to get bit a half dozen or more times, which really gets old after the sixtieth or so bite. I seriously can't even look at her sideways without her taking a swing at me. I have yet to be bit by her when using the snake hook.

I use a hook to rub my adult retics head to make sure he is awake and knows I'm about to pull him out. LAST thing you want to do is stick your hand in and try to pull out a sleeping male retic . . . you're going to have a bad day if that happens!

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Originally Posted by reptileexperts

I use a hook to rub my adult retics head to make sure he is awake and knows I'm about to pull him out. LAST thing you want to do is stick your hand in and try to pull out a sleeping male retic . . . you're going to have a bad day if that happens!

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Yea i can only imagine.

I use a hook to get the attention of my larger animals. I will rub them on the head and use it to pull them to the front if need be. My hook is one of the large Midwest brand hooks made with a golf club handle. Hook training is a good thing with an animal that could put some serious hurt on you with an accidental feeding response!

Often people use it to get the attention of their big snakes and move/push their head out of the way if they are agressive or in feeding mode. Also if you were collecting eggs or something.
It's not really needed if you trust your snake enough, but you never know...

Disagree - trust the snake enough or not. IF it's a large constrictor, there is a great chance it will be needed at some point or another.

I don't own any large snakes nor any super aggressive snakes that I can't handle with a pair of gloves but I do plan on getting a Blood Python and hook training it just for good measure. Just seems like it's in good practice and a useful skill to have under your belt in the long run.

I use a hook on my carpet. She's rescued as an adult an when I first got her she would launch at me when ever her cage was opened now shes fine and I just use it too make sure she's up and in a mood that is cool for me to grab her. And I have herded refused rats away from her with it so I could grab them since even if she doesn't want it she hovers over it on her perch so I can't just reach in an grab it.

We dont "use" hooks on our bigger snakes but hook training early on will save you alot of time and pain in the long run. Large constrictors no matter how sweet you think they are or how much you "trust" your snake have feeding responses. And hooks correct that problem very easily. A simple touch of the hook can snap them out of it and let them know they are not being fed. When feeding dont let them see the hook at all.

Everyone pretty much sums it up with hook training snakes. It doesn't hurt to have at least one :gj: