An aspiring keeper with many curiosities

[StudentoReptile]

From what I have heard, a set of sturdy hooks (different sizes, of course) are about the best tools for working within the confines of an enclosed room. It has been told to me by more than one hot keeper that tongs are not favorable because most models do not have a safety feature for when you squeeze the handle; in other words, you can squeeze the handle hard and inadvertently crush the ribs or spine of the snake on the other end. Many keepers choose not to use tongs for handling their snakes for this reason, and only use tongs for removing water bowls, sheds, etc. The only exception is the Gentle Giant made by Midwest which does have a safety release, which means at a certain point, you can squeeze it as hard as you can, and it only applies the necessary (and safe) amount of pressure required to grip the snake. The disadvantage is that this is a big set of tongs, and not really feasible for small, thin species.