Took the tongs for food!!

[Ufoo9k]

One of my 1yo took the tongs for food and started coiling around them and would not let go. After a lot of turning and twisting and getting hold of my hand in the process, he finally let go. He seemed to be replacing his jaw and the moment I got him back in the tank started hammering himself in the side trying to get to the rat that was in the middle of his tub ? This is the second time I have had a tong attack and wondering if this could have broken something ? He seems "fine" right now but wondering if it'll be trouble later ?

[DVirginiana]

Just keep an eye on him; if there's no swelling or anything out of place after a day, he's fine. My guess is if he seems alright now, he's probably going to be fine.

Will he take food if you just leave it in the enclosure, or do you have to use the tongs? Maybe just make sure the prey is warmed up and plunk it in front of him before he has a chance to get a look at the tongs. Once they go after tongs or get distracted by something outside the enclosure, they can get a little sidetracked from the actual prey and start going after whatever is moving. I have to hold the lid from a plastic tupperware bin in front of my body when I feed mine, otherwise she'll start following my movements instead of the rat.

[Bcycling]

Not sure with the info you gave, but one thing I have learned is do not hold the feeder down with the tongs if you are using a hair dryer to warm it up. It gets the tongs warm and the snakes then think the tongs are the food. Make sure your tongs are not getting warmed up with the feeder.

[ItsAllNew2Me!]

He should be fine. I have had this happen and actually have heard a metallic ting when a snake actually struck the hemostats. She was just fine and finished eating as soon as she found the mouse. I have since then started holding the mouse by the scruff of the neck or by the back skin with the tongs\hemostats so only the rat is showing. That way when they go for the bite the only thing they can come in contact with is the rat. I still get them coiling around the hemostats from time to time but i can just slide it out. Good luck!! your buddy should be fine.

[Ufoo9k]

Thanks guys! I use the tongs to put the rats in the tubs so that when they go at it before I can let go they wont go for my hand! My other 1yo snaps the moment I open his tub (aggressive bugger) so tongs are very helpful. The last 2 feedings 2 different snakes went for it before I got the tongs out and I'm thinking of finding a new way to get the rats in the tubs...

He ate the rat while I was not looking so I assume he is ok. Will check him tonight for swelling.

I put the rats in a bag and under hot water, but by the time some of them finally eat the rats must be warm so I dont know if Im really lucky with my snakes or if they just dont care since they were always fed f/t.

[ItsAllNew2Me!]

I love the aggressive feeders... those are the ones that you know are gonna get big . I would say if you place the rats in there by holding them by their back skin so that only the rat is reachable by the snake from the front then you should be ok even just when dropping them in the tub in case they want to attack the dead rat off the tongs. It is feed day today so i will try to get a pic for ya on how i do it tonight.