Manipulation and sexing

Which tools are used to handle reptiles and snakes?

The basic tools for handling reptiles and snakes are the snake hook, feeding tweezers and, for breeders, the sexing kit. They let you work without direct contact, which reduces stress for the animal and risk for the keeper.

• Snake hook: stainless steel and extendable, in 66 or 100 cm, for moving, inspecting or redirecting small snakes inside the terrarium or in the field.
• Feeding tweezers: stainless steel, in 20, 30, 38 and 48 cm, for offering live or dead food to reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates without the risk of bites.
• Sexing kit: 6 metal probes of different thicknesses and lengths for determining the sex of snakes, from juvenile colubrids to adult boas or pythons.

Who can use a snake sexing kit?

A snake sexing kit is a tool for people with prior experience or for use under veterinary supervision, as stated on its product page. The probes are stainless steel, with a rounded, polished tip to minimise the risk of injury, but incorrect technique can harm the animal, so it is not a procedure to learn on your own.

Choosing the right probe thickness for the size and species is part of the technique: that is why the kit includes 6 different sizes. It is reusable and durable. For the rest of everyday handling, such as feeding, long tweezers are the most convenient and safest option: they improve hygiene, avoid direct contact and let you control the live food inside the terrarium. More terrarium accessories in reptile accessories.