Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am planning to import some tongs and hooks from midwest!

Any recommandations are welcome
Thanks
G

What are you planning on working with? ~~G~~

Well we are starting a rescue center for exotic animals. And we will be the first official center in the country. We will also relocate captured reptiles and capture escaped animals. And our equipment must be of perfect quality. We dont expect to many venomous animals but you must always be prepared.
I have heard that Midwest has the best quality snake hooks and tongs...

All their hooks are great for cage hooks, ~terrible~ for field hooks.

Flame on (I'll just duck n cover)

Chris

Some of their cage hooks are not the greatest field hooks, but I like their Pro Field Hook just as well as I like my Furmont - except the Pro Field Hook costs less, is easier to order online and comes with better customer support.

About the only Midwest product I don't like is their jigger stick, but even that's usable in a lab or veterinary situation if you have a simultaneous body pin. And I wouldn't recommend their real cheapies (the wooden handled small cage hooks) unless you're only playing with small snakes on an even smaller budget.

But their Pro Bagger and the Gentle Giants absolutely rock for smooth, safe, nonstressful captures. Those are the must-haves if you have a bit to spend. In a pinch you can make your own bagstick and do without the nifty cool gadget, but I really like the collapsible and lightweight version and consider it money well spent.

They are ok cage hooks and you are better off not taking one in the field. My friend and I bent ours first time out. And no we did not use them as a pry bar. Try Furmont if you want the best. You will pay a little more but get a stronger and lighter hook. But the way you will be using them you would be fine with Midwest.
just my 2
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"It's only funny until someone gets hurt....then it's hilarious"

Wow. I've used mine at home on some of the largest and heaviest venomous snakes (big Bitis and Crotalus) and never a hint of bend. I don't know what you were doing with yours in the field, but it's probably not a great idea to use a cage hook as a field hook as they might not be designed to carry loads that are substantially heavier than a snake. A pile of tin weighs more than any snake you'll meet outside of a bad late night movie. LOL

Midwest makes several different types and styles of hooks from different materials, so I'm not sure which one you managed to break. The only Midwest hook I've broken was an ultralight mini, and it wasn't on a snake. More like an argument with a car door. But some of their less expensive cage hooks are definitely not optimal for heavy field use. Their PFH is a good field product for an excellent price though.

Anyhow there's nothing wrong with Furmont hooks if you like the feel of them better. I think they have great balance and durability. Do you know if they (or anybody else) makes an all-titanium shaft hook?

If you have the time and patience to investigate Dick Fuhrman’s products ( FurMont Reptile Equipment), please do. There’s a reason why those who use his hooks swear by them, especially his field hook (with the unfortunate name, Stump Ripper). They are the greatest! But in the marketing department he is a little, shall we say, behind the times, and has been outpaced by Midwest Tongs. He’s been in the business for at least thirty years. I think he originally sold primarily to zoos. You would not be disappointed with any of his hooks.

-Joan

Link

Awesome, they finally have a web page with their herping gear! I agree, these are some high quality hooks, and the company is an ethical one (no sales to rattlesnake roundups). I like my Furmont hooks a lot and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them especially if you plan to use them in the field.

Customer service at Furmont has been a little sketchy in my experience, and their bagstick is an absolutely miserable thing to try to assemble and disassemble. I paid a lot for this item, way back before Midwest's model existed, and was really disappointed. It's not bad to actually use, but it can't easily be stored in a compact space unless you take it apart, and once you do that it is no fun at all to get back together. They said that standard pillowcases could be modifed to fit it, but I tried that and it was still quite awkward. It's also annoying to carry in the field. I like my cheapie homemade bagstick a lot better than the expensive and annoying to use Furmont model.