Quote Originally Posted by Ginevive View Post
Eh, I re-read it. I still stick by my belief that putting your hands or fingers near a snake in feeding mode, is unwise. But to each their own. I drop the rat in, and let the snake do its thing, and like I said, I hold the rat's head back with the metal antenna if it looks like its jaws could reach my snake. At no time does my hand get within striking range of my hungry snakes; this is just how I prefer it.
And if you're dangling the rat into the tub by hand; I just don't like feeding live by dangling the rat in, nose-first. Doesn't the snake then grab the head of the rat, pointing the mouth of the rat into the snake's mouth? Where the rat could bite the snake's inner mouth? If not.. and the snake is grabbing the side of the rat in your hand.. that's still too close to the feeder's hand, to me. But whatever works for you.. I just have visions of the uninitiated, holding out a rat to their snake, and getting constricted.. it is not a fun event.
If a snake does not constrict/eat after a reasonable amount of time, I just use a plastic tub as a shield to prevent a snake biting me (learned that one from experience!) and remove the rat live.
I don't see where I made any assumptions. I read what you typed (namely, that you feed prey items to snakes by hand) and went from there. I hope that you don't get constricted. I don't know what I would have done if my hubby was not there to peel Ginger off of me. And this was a snake that was not paying any heed to the live rat in her cage at all.. but went after my hand as a prey item when I went to remove it! Good luck.


... the mention of tongs would sort of be a hint.

Also, no where was the MENTION of me or any amount of advice to feed with hands...

One would think that a post suggesting someone go buy tongs to feed, and the last bit of my post " feeding with tongs" would mean, hey, maybe this person feeds with tongs and is promoting it. hmmmmm i wonder.