They are not too expensive. Make sure your make shift hook does not contain "tape" long most people attempt to use. Anything with sticky tape should be kept safe from a snake rather be a direct line between you and it! Reptile Basics has some small hooks that work great. I actually use my small hook on my biggest male. With him all I have to do is tap him on the head to wake him up, and let him know I'm coming in to get him, and hes calm. If i were to just open the cage and grab him though, that would be a bad circumstance. With my young ones, I make sure they are conditioned for a hook, but prefer to not need it. I'd rather break cage aggression all together. The hook is mainly letting them know its not time to feed, so they don't expect any kind of food, as long as they are fed properly though, this usually isn't as big of a problem.