Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My little 3year old hog is usually quite placid. But on a couple occasions I did something that must of startled him and he went into his threatening posture. He struck at me and puffed and musked. So I sent off for a little 1-1/2" hook with a 2' aluminum handle. Sure makes picking him up a piece of cake now. Once he is lifted up he is gentle as a kitten. It also works well picking up my buried cornsnakes. Nice new snake tool.

I am not aware of anyone getting bit by a hognose out of defense. They will often go through the motions, but only with their mouths closed. They are considered harmless snakes for a reason.
-----
*Humans aren't the only species on earth... we just act like it.

".the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without
spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

Musk is icky. If my hog musked me when I picked him up but was fine once I was holding him, I'd probably hook him too. Sand boas I just fake out with one hand while I grab their tails with the other.

Total waste...hogs dont sit on hook. It would be useless. The only reason I even take hooks into the wild is to help pin and to help lift. Everything else, excluding hots, is grabbed barehanded. Not many snakes just sit on hooks, though copperheads and cottonmouths seem to sit fairly well. And besides, after you get that first shot of musk, they are out for the next while. And by that time, they are quite calmed down. Know from personal experience...found another hog yesterday and boy he shot me up good lol. Andy
-----
Andy Maddox
The Reptizone

Who are you who can say it's ok to live through me? Alice In Chains

Oh, I didn't know they wouldn't sit on hooks. I guess I should have guessed it, most terrestrial snakes just don't stay on hooks too well. The only snakes in my collection I hook on a regular basis are my rattler and my carpet pythons.

Mine does, quite happily, thank you very much!

Have a great week-end!

Simon

...I gently picked him up as I usually do and he quickly turned and latched on to my middle finger. He held on for about two or three seconds, then let go. There were no effects from the bite other than the usual itching I get from any snake bite.
Yes, they CAN, and do, bite!
I would see nothing wrong with using a hook to pick them up. As a matter of fact I have taken to using a small, home-made hook just to pick him up, in case he's "bitchy'.

cheers!

Simon

I use a hook when removing my female desert sand boa from her cage. Not because she is aggressive, but because she has a strike first, ask questions later approach to food.

My male eastern king has to be hooked out of his cage if I don't want him to strike at, coil around, and try to eat my arm. Again, just a feeding response.

I think hooking the snake out lets the snake know what is going on (you are coming out, I'm not putting food in). It won't hurt the snake as long as you don't try to pull him forcefully out of a hide box or drop him off the hook.
-----
Chris Harrison