Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I found the 12” and 10” tweezers in this 4 piece tweezer set invaluable when collecting scolopendra, scorpions and carnivorous katydids. They really are a high quality set – heavy and durable, for all you bug hunters out there.

Update: I had the moderator pull my previous post because I inadvertently linked to one of my past orders in my account on Amazon.com. Anyway, the product is no longer available through the Amazon “storefront”, so, I re-posted with a more “discrete” link to the actual seller.

SteveWit mentioned that he would need something much longer for a scolopendra. However, if you grab a 12” long scolopendra in the middle with just the 8” long tweezer, you can pick it up “relatively” safely, but the test WILL make a man out of you lol.

Robert

Link

Thats ok. I'll take your word for it. They attack the forceps and you can actually feel them grinding on it. No thanks.
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Steve W.

You can keep your hand all the way at the far end. 12 inch tweezers mean you have your hand halfway down grab a very pissed off animal that will not hesitate to tag you with a very painful envenomation. Also every one I ever picked up would try to climb whatever I caught them with in their effort to get free, they are not known for giving up or being still.

And while I am at it, the first one I found a very long time ago I caught with two pencils held like chopsticks and a bucket.... I know better than to try that again after a few more encounters. I got away with it then and every time since, but I am much more careful now.
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Herp Conservation Unlimited

If people really learn from their mistakes, I should be like the smartest guy in the world

Now, that's a test for EL HOMBRE! I picked up six med to large scolopendra in the Davis Mts with the 12" tweezers without any fear of "reprisals", and there weren't any close calls. However, I gave my friend the 10" tweezers and I found him face up on the ground next to a cut with a large scolopendra dancing on his chest...

For those who like to stay away from the action, here's a link to a set of 12" forceps.

Robert
Link

It takes huevos to catch a scolopendra with-em...

to be young and dumb
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Herp Conservation Unlimited

If people really learn from their mistakes, I should be like the smartest guy in the world

I dunno... I was just out there with Sighthunter & he caught one with his bare hands - I would have pics, but I was holding the flashlight.
Joe saw him catch one a few years ago at the Longhorn
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"There's a fine line between genius and insanity. I have erased this line."
Oscar Levant

and I would not have believed it had I not seen it. He did NOT get tagged either.
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Herp Conservation Unlimited
Conservation through captive propagation
Mexicana Group Directory
Photography by Joseph E. Forks

at my skill level that crosses the line from brave to stupid, I hope he is more skilled than I
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Herp Conservation Unlimited

If people really learn from their mistakes, I should be like the smartest guy in the world

I know how to catch the suckers. I just use a much longer set on forcepts. LOL
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Steve W.

steve is a great big PUSSIE

What is that???
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Kent

Mastigoproctus giganteus. They make great pets.

Robert

Ok. I've seen black ones. That one looks blue, or is it just the lighting in the pic?
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Kent

Yep, Ian's loving that big female I brought back. He just needs a male now. I guess I'll have to go collect a match!

RUSS

Where did you find that one? My guess is between town and the Observatory

Robert

Yep, just past the entrance to the park heading up, ~2030.

RUSS

I didn't know what scolopendra were, so I googled it. I think I'm with Steve, so that makes me a pussie too!!!

I'll stick with snakes, thank you very much!
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Kent

Welcome to the pu$$ club.lol
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Steve W.

Thanks, I'm honored!
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Kent

no matter what you use to pick them up it is always exciting getting them in the shallow deli cup with the lid on it.
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___________________________
Herp Conservation Unlimited

If people really learn from their mistakes, I should be like the smartest guy in the world

Has anyone else ever noticed alterna crawling eratically sometimes much like a scolopendra? I've observed it twice, both times east of Langtry on the shoulder of 90. Lot of side to side movement like they were trailing a scent or something. In fact the first time I found a big centipede was after I had observed that behavior in the kingsnakes. Thought I had me another alterna for a few seconds. Caught the beast with my hemostats and he wrapped around it and started mashing his fangs on it. I swear if they were anything but stainless steel he would of bit through them. I've only seen them on nights with alot of recent moisture. Same with vinegaroons and solupugids [sp]?

When you see erratic movement like that in alterna, this si exactly what they are doing! The male is tracking a female! It will always be a male doing this.

Wayne

lets get shirts....with a big pussie on it......can we look for pu$$ie on the ROW?????

LOL
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Steve W.

I got bit by one in South Texas; I'd reached under a rock without checking (STUPID STUPID!!) and wham.
OMG. I thought about just cutting off my hand cause it would hurt less.