HI can anyone give me tips about the correct way to use the hook to remove a python. I've got a coastal and she is about 14 months old, she sleeps a lot and when I use the hook to get her out she gets startled and sometimes moves to all other parts of her cage to get away. When I do get her out she does settle straight away and moves onto my arm quite quick. Just want tot make sure I'm not getting her agitated by removing her the wrong way???? Thanks for any help. Harry
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JrFear
Very Well-Known Member
try using your hand to wake her up if shes asleep! is she snappy?
i usually take all mine out with my hands until there in strike position!
i usually take all mine out with my hands until there in strike position!
Reptile_Boy
Very Well-Known Member
using the hook gently hook her and pull her out so she isnt coiled up grab her tail and base the hook about halfway under her body and lift her up pull her out replace the hook with your hand and handle
Dar1stheory
Active Member
I've just run in to the same dilemma actually, it seems that when going to get him out (3 year old Coastal), he quickly makes a dash for the other end, and wraps the end of his tail around a solid branch, then I'd end up having to use hands anyway...
Some have suggested to me that if they're not generally snappy, but like you said may be startled on waking up, that just lightly touching with the hook is enough to just alert them to your presence but avoid a surprised bite, then try and pick up with your hands, which is a lot less awkward, and may be easier to get him out before he finds things to cling to...
Some have suggested to me that if they're not generally snappy, but like you said may be startled on waking up, that just lightly touching with the hook is enough to just alert them to your presence but avoid a surprised bite, then try and pick up with your hands, which is a lot less awkward, and may be easier to get him out before he finds things to cling to...
longqi
Very Well-Known Member
There are very very few pythons that need to be hooked out of enclosures
Try to imagine how uncomfortable a hook would feel if it was used on you and,
more importantly what frame of mind it would put you in
Hands are a much better way of handling all non venomous snakes
Hands give strong secure support whereas hooks just drag them out
If you are scared of the snake simply wear gloves or a tea-towel wrapped around your hand
Try to imagine how uncomfortable a hook would feel if it was used on you and,
more importantly what frame of mind it would put you in
Hands are a much better way of handling all non venomous snakes
Hands give strong secure support whereas hooks just drag them out
If you are scared of the snake simply wear gloves or a tea-towel wrapped around your hand
JasonL
Almost Legendary
Place the hook in a spot to stop it striking at you and pick it up with your hand... if it is just flighty and doesn't bite or rarely bites, just pick it up. Hooks can make a small task a big one.
Open the back door of your house...then throw the hook as far as you can.thats a good start.hehe..kidding but it is much better to get a few nips now and let em learn the hands or you will be using hooks for the rest of their lives,. i have 2 jungles and 3 diamonds and ive never really used the hook.yes i own one..and i do use it if my 6 footer is "not happy" and i HAVE to move him..but apart from that let them learn to trust your hands m8,a few bites now is worth the trust at the end.try gloves until you feel comfortable with the strikes..most are bluffs anyways.one of my jungles thought she could bluff me out..struck every time i went in..so if she struck..i took her out..she learned lol.good luck m8.
Hooglabah
Very Well-Known Member
i agree hooks are a last resort or to be used when moving elapids for cleaning.
a cold metal hook will more often lead to a bite than a warm soft hand will.
plus once your snake is 6+ ft and 2 + kg unless you buy a big custom hook the shaft and head are often to small or bend under the weight.
a cold metal hook will more often lead to a bite than a warm soft hand will.
plus once your snake is 6+ ft and 2 + kg unless you buy a big custom hook the shaft and head are often to small or bend under the weight.
Yep and it will be over before you know it and youll be like.."what thats it??"..rarely will they cling on...BUT IF it does ever "hold"..DO NOT just pull the snake off this will harm both of you .there are many threads around here for ways to get them off..cold water..credit card under the teeth etc etc.but please never just rip it off. let us know how you go after a couple o weeks of handling.oh thats the other thing..do you actually "handle" your snake or only when you need to work in the enclosure?..cos reg handling will almost always stop the strikes.
..rarely will they cling on...BUT IF it does ever "hold"..DO NOT just pull the snake off this will harm both of you .there are many threads around here for ways to get them off..cold water..credit card under the teeth etc etc.but please never just rip it off. let us know how you go after a couple o weeks of handling.oh thats the other thing..do you actually "handle" your snake or only when you need to work in the enclosure?..cos reg handling will almost always stop the strikes.
redbellybite
Almost Legendary
why are so many of you saying to use gloves?...dont use gloves ,you can and most likely will do damage to the mouth ,as your unaware of the bite and most even with gloves on, will react to pull the hand back if struck at and the teeth can be ripped out in this motion ....Hooks are simple things to use if done properly ...simply put in lift the snake up and place your hand underneath the snake as you lift to take the weight off the snake ...once out of the cage,put the hook down .
most that strike in their enclosure will settle once out ,but telling people to cop a few bites is BS ,yes it can and does happen to most of us ,but if it is something you can avoid, do so ...
If you have a young snake, you are most likely to cop a few strikes or bites this is true ,if your not comfortable in using a hook ,then dont, but you certainly arent wimpy if you do .
Zoltag
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Nothing wrong with wearing gloves. Those of us who are not masochists and dont enjoy being bitten like the extra protection and extra protection gives more confidence, with a lower chance of pulling back when the strike does come
After saying that, there is only one animal in my collection at the moment that I wear gloves for. It literally does not stop striking and biting from the moment you go to its enclosure until you are sick of waiting for it to calm down and put it away.
After saying that, there is only one animal in my collection at the moment that I wear gloves for. It literally does not stop striking and biting from the moment you go to its enclosure until you are sick of waiting for it to calm down and put it away.
Hooglabah
Very Well-Known Member
you try and avoid getting bit sure but useing a hook is still risky no matter how expirenced you are granted not that risky but there is still the risk of injuring the snake and yeah being cold and metal and hard is probably not to pleasant for the snake.
redbellybite
Almost Legendary
"If you are scared of the snake simply wear gloves or a tea-towel wrapped around your hand"
thats one by longqi .....
and you recomended it too as was quoted below....
"a few bites now is worth the trust at the end.try gloves until you feel comfortable with the strikes..most are bluffs anyways"
thats one by longqi .....
and you recomended it too as was quoted below....
"a few bites now is worth the trust at the end.try gloves until you feel comfortable with the strikes..most are bluffs anyways"
Hey mate,
Snake hooks are great depending on the snake your using it for... it has pro's and cons too...
If you are going to use it, gently slide it under the belly and slowly lift him up, IF he uses his fail safe trick of coiling his tail on a branch, then use the hook to take most of his body out... once this has happened place you hand on his body, make sure the snake knows your not trying to kill him (stroking him first works) put the snake hook away of course and then uncoil his tail with the other hand.
This is what i do with some of my snakes cause sometimes they develop a very strong territorial attitude when in the cage, and if anything warm comes in, the first reaction is to bite. Often once the snake is out they are back to been dog tame, hence why I only use the hook to get them half out and then I use my hands. As much as people will say "use gloves" or "use your hands", if the snake is going to bite you or try to bite you, while you have your hands in the cage, you actually risk hurting the snake.
The hook does nothing to the snake, (unless your beating him with it) as snakes are quite used to putting their whole weight on a thin object.
If your snake, of course, is not showing any signs of aggression while in your hands are in the cage, then by all means use your hands.
I hope this helped, I have 5 snakes all with very different personalities, and these are the rules I use when it comes to taking them out of the cage.
Snake hooks are great depending on the snake your using it for... it has pro's and cons too...
If you are going to use it, gently slide it under the belly and slowly lift him up, IF he uses his fail safe trick of coiling his tail on a branch, then use the hook to take most of his body out... once this has happened place you hand on his body, make sure the snake knows your not trying to kill him (stroking him first works) put the snake hook away of course and then uncoil his tail with the other hand.
This is what i do with some of my snakes cause sometimes they develop a very strong territorial attitude when in the cage, and if anything warm comes in, the first reaction is to bite. Often once the snake is out they are back to been dog tame, hence why I only use the hook to get them half out and then I use my hands. As much as people will say "use gloves" or "use your hands", if the snake is going to bite you or try to bite you, while you have your hands in the cage, you actually risk hurting the snake.
The hook does nothing to the snake, (unless your beating him with it) as snakes are quite used to putting their whole weight on a thin object.
If your snake, of course, is not showing any signs of aggression while in your hands are in the cage, then by all means use your hands.
I hope this helped, I have 5 snakes all with very different personalities, and these are the rules I use when it comes to taking them out of the cage.
redbellybite
Almost Legendary
ohhhhh well thats my problem I dont know how to handle snakes ....silly ole me
longqi
Very Well-Known Member
For someone new to the game or for training a large python that is not used to handling gloves or a tea towel work very well
Because you know you are protected you dont flinch at the bite so no damage is done to the teeth
Snakes learn very quickly not to bother biting if they get no reaction
Because you know you are protected you dont flinch at the bite so no damage is done to the teeth
Snakes learn very quickly not to bother biting if they get no reaction
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