Safest way to handle hots... I think

[672]

Alright, I've been thinking about this for a while and I think THE safest way to handle a venemous is the following...

Use Gentle Giant tongs to secure upper protion of body-reducing striking capabilities. Gentle Giant tongs allow for minimal stress on snake because of rubber coated tongs.... Then to support the entire body of the snake, use a hook on the lower portion of the body. Kinda like this:

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/3036safehot1.bmp

If that doesn't work, here's the link to my gallery:
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=3036&thumb=1

There's also a pic of gentle giant tongs in there

[JD@reptiles]

that works. i normally just use 2 hooks. or when i do use tongs i use the hook closer to the tail

[Bartman]

Would that reduce a lot of danger? Is that the safest way?

[moperri]

do u even keep venomous??

[Gregg M]

Personaly, I am a 1 hook type of guy...... Never used gentle giants........ Dont feel the need to do so....... One hook works just fine for me........ I work with everything from 6 inch puff adders to 5 foot plus gaboons...... Although tailing a hot is not a good choice for the beginner, it works well for me........ There is always a chance of being bitten by a snake while handling no matter how safe your method may be........ Every time a cage is opened there is a chance it can turn into a dangerous situation......... That way you showed will make your chances of getting bitten lower but you also run the risk of injuring a snake in a set of tongs...... Most snakes will struggle when grasped with tongs....... So it may be safer for you but you also must think about the snakes safty as well.........

[moperri]

Very well said Gregg.

[Mustangrde1]

Useing tongsare a absoulute last resort for me based on the fact most snakes when fealing a pinch tend to struggle and escape. The pinching feeling to them is a predator attempting to make a lunch of them. I AGREE with Gregg on the hook. properly used a hook is less stressful to them its just a big stick they are crawling on. I have also found tongs to be very cumbersome to use in tight corners when trying to remove snakes where as a hook gets right in. Looking at that diagram I had a pictures of a pissed off gaboon thrashing around which is not a pleasant thought.

[Matt]

scott and gregg, i agree, tongs irritate and i feel its best not to use them until absolutely necessary
one hook is usually good for terrestrial, but i use 2 on larger arboreals.
as long as the snake is over 3 feet long, tailing with one hand and hooking with the other is safe

[Gregg M]

Two hooks is the way to go for arboreals, but I dont deal with arboreals anymore......LOL

[JD@reptiles]

personally i am a two hook person, however i do carry tongs with me ocationally while herping.

as you can see we are both happy without the tongs, lol.
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/562Jordan_2_.jpg

[Gregg M]

Hey Jordan,
If that is how you feel safe and comfortable then that is the best way for you to handle hots........ Two hooks are safer for both the keeper and the snake........ Cool pic by the way...... Prairy????

[JD@reptiles]

yeah man, prarie. i went on a trip with SCALES Zoo. it was awesome. i had a great time.

[M_surinamensis]

"If that is how you feel safe and comfortable then that is the best way for you to handle hots"

Very well said... The safest way for anyone to handle a hot is in the manner which they learned and the manner in which they are most comfortable. Nervous people make mistakes... People who are respectful of the animal's capabilities but calm and in control are less likely to do so.

This can be linked to the age old "Best first hot" question... there is no one answer. There are answers which are obviously wrong, but the situation changes depending on the individual and how they have learned.

[JD@reptiles]

the only venomous stuff here are my pretty lil rear fangs. i am learning with them. I only like working with the real hots in the feild. i like searching for them, to me thats more fun than anything.

[rattler keeper]

I may be wrong but isnt keeping VENOMOUS,, even rear fanged is ILLEGAL in Ontario,,cuz there are no rear fanged herps native to Ontario,must of been hard to get paperwork to import ???
but how then how do you get paperwork if you are not a zoo or for educational purposes...
Some people are Above the law i guess............

[rwg]

I believe restrictions in Ontario are a municipal matter, and regulations vary depending on where you live and how the bylaws are worded.

rg

[JD@reptiles]

.

[672]

Wouldn't the gentle giants be a lil better? Also, when I think of 2 hooks, wouldn't the snake just slither off? Imean there's nothing to grasp it like a hand or tongs... And do tongs really harm snakes that much?

[JD@reptiles]

It just takes time to get used to handling them, than you can get them to do almost anything you want.

[tHeGiNo]

The best way to handle a hot is to not handle them at all, LOL.

[JD@reptiles]

Originally posted by rattler keeper
Some people are Above the law i guess............

Who is above the law? not me? are you?

[JD@reptiles]

oh yeah, "rattler keeper" where are you from?

[M_surinamensis]

Tongs bug me.

It's too easy to take a pair and practically cut a snake in half, even the "safer" types like Gentle Giants... stick your hand in there and then squeeze sharply some time and lemme know how it feels. Now imagine squeezing a snake that has ribs about as thick as toothpicks.

If someone spooks... like if a snake turns towards them for instance, the natural response is to tense up. If you tense up on the handle of the tongs, whatever you're handling could be injured or dead in fairly short order.

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

Everybody has good points. Jordan where are you from? I haven't seen any rattlers yet!:( LOL.

Chris

I know you were probably in sask. with scales zoo.

[BWSmith]

It's too easy to take a pair and practically cut a snake in half, even the "safer" types like Gentle Giants... stick your hand in there and then squeeze sharply some time and lemme know how it feels

I have done this, and do it to demonstrate the Giants. It is a good amount of pressure, not enought o really hurt the snake, but enough to keep it secure. Unlike Pilstroms, the pressure does increase continuously as you apply more pressure to the grip. Giants have a set limit to the pressure they exert, once that is reached, it will not change no matter how hard you try. Best tongs ever.

With that being said. I do not generally use tongs in the hot room. I keep them for an emergency. While the instance of me having to use them has not come up yet, I like knowing they are there. For instance, in the event of an envenomation, I would rather have the option of tonging the snake to secure it quickly so that I could begin pre-hospital care.

Even though i do not use them in the hot room, I do always take them herping. They are great for pulling snakes out of trees or the water. Anyone who has tried to hook a Cottonmouth as it is trying to swim away knows the value of keeping tongs on hand. When i get out to flip tin or so forth, I bring a hook. When i go to poke around gator holes, I bring the giants. Different tools for different jobs.

But I don't think that saying a particular tool is the "safest" for working with hots is relevant. Having the right equipment is essential, but without experience, you might as well use a stick. The safest way to jump off a bridge is with a bungee cord. But if you don't know how to tie the knot, the cord is useless.

[JD@reptiles]

im from ontario. i am a traveler herper, hehe. where are you from chris?

[cantil]

The safest way to manipulate a venomous snake really comes down to the method which you have the most experience/comfort/skill with. There's no point using a tool you find awkward because someone says its safer; if you aren't comfortable with it, it won't be. That being said I feel tongs are extremely practical and with practice and care in how much force is applied very safe and humane for both the handler and the specimen. Personally, though I use trap boxes for the majority of my wiry stuff, I depend on tongs when direct manipulation is necessary.

[Dozer]

rattler keeper, some cities, very few actually, have legalized venomous snakes, not many at all actually, jus' a few...

[C.m.pyrrhus]

I rely solely on hooks, and plenty of awareness and room to handle any venomous snake. Presently I have 2 smaller rattlers at home, but I do handle wild rattlers, and many can be very large, mean and agile! Scooping up a rattler in the middle of the road to insure its safety is simple enough with hooks IMO. Quick, easy and reliable IMO. They work great and have never failed me. I have personally never used tongs, and most likely will not. I would like to see how they work before I totally give up on them though.

I have used rakes, hoes and even bushy branches to manipulte snakes before when removing them from homes and such, but this is only when no hooks are available. I always transport venomous within a canvas sac or large (huge) pillowcases. These then go within a box, usually a secure cooler or Rubbermaid. These methods seem to help lower stress and help ensure proper handling and safety on my account and the snakes.

[Gregg M]

Nothing works better than a nice snow shuvel to scoop up huge pissed off gaboons....... Yes I have had to use it on more than a few occations....... LOL......