I am a sucker who can not say No to an animal in need.

[nikkubus]

I don't mind you asking- in fact, I'm happy to share that. I'm sure you've heard of using "shift cages" as they do in zoos? It's ALL about "planning" with hots. That's why I'd personally take on rattlesnakes long before (as in "never"!) a large-giant snake- because I can think creatively & plan but I can't get any bigger nor much stronger, lol.

This was my home-made version: I made several sizes (some smaller ones) so I'll only describe here the largest one for the biggest rattlesnakes.

I used custom lengths of black PVC drain pipe from the local Home Depot- the large one is about 3' long, diameter is about 8". To that, I bolted on a handle on one side. On one end, I bolted on a drain cover (they sell them to fit exactly)- and for the other end, I installed a handle on another drain cover, so my fingers were NEVER near the drain holes* (!) & so I could use my 24" hemostats to put it on or take it off.

*Remember that rattlesnake fangs swing out with a stabbing motion- they don't have to get their mouth around something to bite, as some snakes need to do. For this reason, I also installed "fang guards" (cages made of perforated metal) over the vents on the Neodesha cages that I used when I took rattlesnakes for programs...even though I know better than to rest my hands on a screen (below which is a rattlesnake) when you're in a room full of curious people, you never know what they might do. You really have to plan ahead for everyone's safety.

Anyway, when this "tube" is lowered into a snake's tank, most see it as a dark safe cave in which to hide, so they generally go in on their own. If not, they can be encouraged using a snake hook. This was not only useful for cleaning hot snakes, but I even used it to get a stubborn opossum out of my garage one summer night a couple years ago. Once the animal is inside, the open end is capped (& can be latched on or taped on for security with hots), then when you want to remove them, they are easily slid back out.

Because of the drain holes at both ends, I realized it was perfect for bathing the snakes that came to me wearing the stink of their filthy former cages: All I had to do was run a bath in my bathtub of lukewarm water, at a depth about halfway up on the tube with the snake inside, & then using the handle, I'd swish the tube back & forth to promote the water flowing through. The snakes actually seemed to like it- they were pretty quiet & relaxed, & when they came out, maybe it's my imagination, but they had the look of wonder & a better mood with the stink now gone. See?

That's incredibly genius. I've seen some really creative stuff used for dealing with tarantulas but most the people I've seen handle snakes don't have a whole lot of gear. Hooks, tongs, tubes (very simple ones) trash cans, and those grabby hook-like things, that's about it. Even so, I'm going to steer clear. I am just way to spacey in my older age lmao.