Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone has ever used Midwest's catchpoles for crocs? If so, how was the experience? Would you recommend the product to be good quality and safe for the animal?

Thanks,

Chris
-----
Chris Law
U.A.P.P.E.A.L. (Uniting a Proactive Primate and Exotic Animal League)
Herpetoculture Element Representative

I have one of thier catchpoles and have used it a time or two when moving my large male Specatacled Caiman. (He is about 6 feet long)

I think it works ok, but I feel if he were to be really agressive about it, and spin or thrash hard he might be able to injure himself. I am sure he could jerk it right out of my hands if he wanted to/felt pressed to. He is by no means "tame" but is fairly mellow for a caiman, and is used to the routines of it, and being moved back and forth from his pen.

IMO the catchpole does not really give you that much "control" over an animal like a crocodilian, but does allow you to keep it a distance from you. I would be wary about using it on a larger animal that was unfarmiluar with being noosed and moved in that way. It may be more usefull on a smaller animal.

I purchased it mainly as an extra safety mesure just to have on hand, and do not use it all that often. (I personally prefer the "grab the neck behind the head and then tape the jaws" routine to anything else with my caiman.)

I find an acrylic shield to be the most usefull tool for managing my animals - It is simply a thick piece of clear acrylic that has a handle drilled and screwed into the middle of it. It makes it so you can protect your arm/whatever when you are working in the pen, and still see clearly what the animals are doing.