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in one of jeffs youtube vids he says he only uses snake hooks for pulling out tubs cause he dont wanna hurt the bigger snakes my question is how do you deal with a big aggressive snake with no hook or even take out tame ones wether its to handle or for cleaning cages. all my snakes are docile but i would never go in the cage to pull them out without sliding them to me with the hook first if anythign touched them besides a hook first its dinner. any and all input and thoughts on this matter would be great

use a snake hook to control the head of the boa. By control I mean blocking its strike range to me. This can be done fairly effectively without pinning them or putting any real force on them. After I have their "strike pathway" under control I will use my free hand to grab the back of their body. Typically they will try to grab onto stuff in the cage so I remove the water bowl first. Once I am starting to pull them out they tend to become less aggressive and just focus on trying to get back in the cage. At that point I put the snake stick down and use both hands to gently work them out.

thanks i dont have any huge snakes yet but all my snakes besides one all i have to do is use hook to get part of there body close to me to grab it better like i said then they are fine feeding mode gone adn they are ok havent had a evil big red tail yet hope i dont ever have to deal with it lol i am looking into getting a fat end hook for moving them over now that they are getting bigger i would feel alot better using a hook thats 3-4 inches wide to pull em over to me to grab

I actually haven't yet owned a snake hook. I've been meaning to get one just in case, but my snakes have been pretty well-tempered. When I get them out, I usually "pet" them first to let them know I'm there. Then, I grab them somewhere around the middle of their body. Oh, and when it's feeding time, I try to always feed them in a separate container away from their cage. I was told this helps them not associate food with whatever enters their cage.
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Rachel Squier

Currently have:
1.1 '03? BRBs (Blaze and Shimmer)

On the way:
1.0 '07 Albino BCI
0.2 '07 100% Het Albino BCIs
0.1 '07 DH Sunglow BCI

I may be wrong but I'm starting to think the "feed in a seperate container" is a kind of urban legend?

Literally, I have dozens of snakes. Each and every one fed in it's tub/cage. I do not have any that are overly agressive when the enclosure is opened. OF course, on dinner day, they know it and are actively looking for dinner.

IMO, it has more to do with if the only time the enclosure is opened is to feed. I open every enclosure, pull every tub daily. Yes I have some that are more agressive than others. I also have some young-uns that are likely to hiss at you. Working with them has fixed all these issues. AND, agressive behaviour is usually a SYMPTOM of something else. I have one girl that was always there ready to bite when the tub was pulled. I increased her feeding schedule a little and problem fixed. They are all individuals, she was just hungry!!! Gonna be one of the bigger girls as an adult. Can't change genetic pre-disposition!

Other urban legend is babies get stressed out in large cages. Babies get stressed out when they can't hide from predators. Appropriate hides in a large cage will work just fine!!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

Hmm... I guess I never really thought about it. Maybe I'll try feeding them in their own cage.
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Rachel Squier

Currently have:
1.1 '03? BRBs (Blaze and Shimmer)

On the way:
1.0 '07 Albino BCI
0.2 '07 100% Het Albino BCIs
0.1 '07 DH Sunglow BCI

Sure about that ?
Might make for an interesting thread ?
>>Can't change genetic pre-disposition
>>Thanks,
>>
>>
>>Dave Colling
>>
>>www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com
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TnK

All of my snakes are fed in their tubs or cages. I've never owned a hook and very rarely have I ever needed one.

Brian
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Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com

I don't normally throw my support 100% behind what someone says, but I COMPLETELY agree with everything you just said.
Good post!
jb
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Jonathan Brady
"Sarcasm is angers ugly cousin" -Dr. Buddy Rydell (Jack Nicholson) in "Anger Management".

Thanks, I did feel a little like I was sticking my neck out!!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

i would never feed in seperate tub i use to but i started feeding only at night with dim lights so i can see easily and that works alot better they know food is at night not day and took away alot of jumpyness also feeding in seperate cage feeding responce is still there once done and then they associate being takin out with food and thats never good lol nor is moving a big snake with full belly

Good point with the full belly. Maybe I'll start feeding in their own cages.
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Rachel Squier

Currently have:
1.1 '03? BRBs (Blaze and Shimmer)

On the way:
1.0 '07 Albino BCI
0.2 '07 100% Het Albino BCIs
0.1 '07 DH Sunglow BCI

I feed in separate enclosures sometimes for convenience... lets say I have a breeding pair temp. put together that need a 'pick-me-up' meal, or the cage is a disaster, I feed in the holding tub to save time WHILE I clean or so that when I place the breeding pair together again I do not have any rodent smell IN the cage where it can help trigger a feeding response on the other snake by accident.
I always thought it couldn't hurt to feed in another tub, but I do agree it depends on how often you are in the cage while not feeding too... plus if you have a large quantity of snakes, it obviously doesn't save time to take then out singly and feed. ;p I used to feed in tubs, but now unless the aforementioned situations arise, I feed in cages. I just let the snakes know I'm coming in, by hook, towel, or sometimes misting with water lightly... either way, it saves me a nibble! ;p
In the end though, it is whatever works for you... as long as they are fed correctly and well cared for, how you feed them is your decision and should be done in a way you feel comfortable!
Good luck with finding the best way for you!
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Steph S.
Boas...
1.1 Albino boas (Loki & Hope)
1.4 07 Het. albino boas (Petty & Lady,Sierra,Madeline,Lola)
0.1 Reverse stripe poss. het albino (Cookie)
0.1 Salmon/hypo (Scarlet)
0.1 Anery poss. het snow (Missy)
1.0 Anery (Reno)
0.1 DH Sunglow (Bonnie)
0.0.1 Hypo het anery
1.0.0 Het. Anery (Guy & ?)
0.3 Normals (Ophelia, Sasha, & Lulu)
1.1 Surinames (Solomon & Surreal)
1.2 Hog Isles (Mr.Orange & Peaches, Tang.)
0.0.1 Central American (Sassy)
0.1 Emerald Tree boa (Jade)
1.0 ATB (Satan... seriously!)
Pythons...
2.1 GTPs (B., Monty & Jewel)
0.0.3 BPs (MJ, Precious, Houdini)
1.1 Carpet Pythons (Jackson & Charlotte)
0.1 Blood python (Akaia)
Misc.
1.1 Mandarin Ratsnakes (Jack & Jill)
1.0 Boxer/Pitt Mutt (Tyson)

Honestly, I have never had any problem with any of the boas I have...I have brought up all my boas from either babies or yearlings...they are all very calm and handleable. I typically just reach on in their boaphile and pick them up or they will sometimes just start climbing on out of their cage when I open up the door or tub. The only snakes I would always use a hook on are the Scrub Pythons I used to own along with a very territorial olive python. Other than that, never had to use my hook.
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Brandon Nixon

never had one but i bet they got some nasty big teeth lol all my snakes are docile buggers just if i reach in and touch em im getting nailed by em they need that initial touch of the cold hook my question was more so directed to no hook with aggressive snake or even ones with strong feeding responce/cage aggression

Tim, I have a hook and definitely keep it handy. Only use it when necessary. For that food agressive girl I used to always use. Now that I increased her food intake, back to being calm and handleable w/out resorting to the hook.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

you dont count dave you like the close calls mr hmm wonder how close to my fingers she will get when she takes the rat from em this time lol just messin with ya dave i never open a cage without a hook in hand nor do i take a snake out without atleast touching it first some need to be picked up with hook just a inch or two to get chubby fingers under hmm wonder if bob is gonna pop in to make fun of that one lol

I've never used a hook with any of my boas. Though I do have to occasionally tap the nose of my Costa Rican female with some object to calm her down as she is quick to respond to an open cage door.

The danger with a hook is allowing it to support the weight of a heavy snake, like boas, that can result in damage to ribs or other internal damage.
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http://www.GilbertBoas.com/
http://www.BoaList.com/

wow seems less and less ppl are using hooks. i would never use a hook to support a boa just to snap it out of my cage not yours mode well babies i hook out all the way and i dont like getting my hand to close to the snake when snapping it out of that mode so i use long hooks hmm wonder how many ppl dont use tongs to feed either lol

since every read and replied might as well toss in a pic of one of my future pairings hypo arabesque poss het albino X albino poss jungle the color twars the front of the albino is more her real color the real soft smooth color

i have mine in boaphile cages i simply just go in with my hands and pull them out never had any probs i do the same when i take them out of tubs after their feeding

i would pay to see you reach in my boaphiles or tubs and pull them out without bein tagged that would be a site to see

I use a hook for pulling open drawers. I use the Styrofoam stick mostly.

I'll do more on this tomorrow.

Something for me to look forward to. Great fun and another little video to shoot!!!

Thanks for the idea!
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All Original/Boaphile Plastics
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i cant wait to see more on this 2marrow when you get a chance specialy a vid make sure to use one of the more aggressive larger ones just to put things into better prespective. thanks again cant wait to see and here what you have to say and lastly did you wear gloves this time using good ol john deer tractor blower from this storm we just got lol

Funny I was thinking of posting that question so i may as well jump in. I have a pair of het for albinos and my female was always calm she never even ate in front of me, I would put the rat in and she would just sit there but I would return later and the rat would be gone. Well it seems like since she had her babies in 5/07 she has been this way. I have been nervouse about going into the cage, If i come near the cage she follows me like she dares me to open that cage door and will sometimes strike at the door. I now have them both together and cant get the nerve to seperate them for feeding until I purchase a hook, she might be a little over 7' I cant even take the male out because she will come my way

well we shall see how jeff does it with his foam stick lol cant wait to see his short vid he is such a goofball