Stop flinching during feeding

[KrazyKevin]

I don't know how to answer man I have never fliched because I use tongs when they are live or if I pre-kill. I good pair of tongs are only $6 about 7 inches long

[travis11]

haha. Been there, not that bad though. You also need to be very careful too, BPs can be sensitive animals. When i got my first BP he ate for me 3 times and the 4 time i "flinched" and the mouse accidently hit the snake in the face and he got startled. He ate that mouse, but went off FEED for the next month. PTSD maybe? LOL

[MrLang]

My spider goes absolute psycho when he's eating and it's kind of scary. I use the lid of the tub as a shield when I open it. I used to drop the prey a LOT and since he's a little wobbly, sometimes it takes him 2 or 3 hits to get it. This has caused me much grief.

I'm going to get these as I think it will help me: http://www.bigappleherp.com/Hemostats

I currently use a long tweezer style hemostat. I think they suck. You said 'tongs' so maybe that is what you already use... but if not check out a LONGER hemostat so you can feel 'safer.'

You also kind of have to just get over it. I used to release as soon as they struck because I'm jumpy too, but as I see more videos and meet more keepers I see that they hold onto the prey till the snake gets a firm grip and even give a little tug to make them really clamp down. That's what I do now and recommend it.

GL

[Dracoluna]

Since I had to switch my bp over from live to f/t, I decided to get tongs the day I bought her. I wasn't sure what to expect feeding response-wise so I bought the 10-12" variety 'just in case' and they have worked wonderfully. To keep from flinching too much as my girl does strike pretty hard, I rest the edge of the tongs on the side of her tub to steady it but now that I'm getting used to it, I find I don't jump nearly as much. Also, I do what MrLang suggested and hold on, giving a little tug, to simulate a live prey item. It helps with the startle response since I know I can't just let go.

[CherryPython]

I've had Pretzel for nearly a year and a half now and her strike still makes me jump. Its just me, i'm not scared, I'd love for her to tag me at some point. I use tongs. She's just SO lazy recently and strikes less often, but i'm being persistent. I don't really wanna leave it in there and be done with it... no fun

Grant has had Munch at his house now for 3 weeks, and not flinched once Though he did admit it made his heart race a bit

[ShaleneRafuse]

I literally jump everytime I feed Ferb. I'm not scared to get bit, he's just so bloody fast, it shocks me each and everytime. Even with tongs, my heart beats like it will jump out of my chest.

[Maddumpling]

I literally jump everytime I feed Ferb. I'm not scared to get bit, he's just so bloody fast, it shocks me each and everytime. Even with tongs, my heart beats like it will jump out of my chest.

Thats me. I'm not scared one bit. In fact I would like to feel a snake bite, but like their eating response just shocks me.

[Slim]

You can feed your snake from the next room over with these bad boys...

http://www.reptilebasics.com/hemostat-18

[deathfromabove]

lol i do the same, i always jump they just strike so fast its almost impossible not to jump, i tried seeing how far he could strike one time and moved the mouse further away from him as he was about to strike and he missed and whacked my hand but immediately let go, it didn't hurt but bled pretty bad lol wouldn't recommend doing this, but really shows how far they can strike but not too accurate at a distance

[MrLang]

This video highlights A- why you should use tongs and B- how big of babies us flinchers are

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjZ69by5i2I