Whether you live in the desert where there are a lot of snakes or you keep a snake as a pet; you need the best snake hooks to handle them safely.
Good snake hooks are sturdy, balanced, rugged, and reliable. Most importantly, they enhance the safety of both, the handler and the snake. Snake hooks can help you get a snake safely out of your way from your chicken coop or handle them safely during cage cleaning or while feeding a particularly aggressive pet snake.
In this guide, we will discuss the 7 best-rated snake hooks with their pros and cons. We will also cover features to look for in snake hooks and other FAQs on the topic.
Best Snake Hooks – 2022 Top 7 Picks
#1. Editor’s Choice: DocSeward Snake Hook
DocSeward Copperhead™’s series 33-inch hook is ideal for working with snakes -small and large – in a captive environment. It is a lightweight, highly balanced hook that does not compromise on its strength. This is a piece of art – you can see that in the hook’s excellent craftsmanship.
The hook’s rubber grip enhances safety and helps you catch or move snakes easily.
Features
- Dimensions -33 x 4.12 x 1 inches L X W X H
- Copper ferrule for greater balance
- Available in standard and max sizes
- Crafted in the USA
Expert tips
Use this snake pick-up tool on hikes – you can use it for keeping snakes away and also retrieving fallen objects like keys!
How it compares
DocSeward snake hook is extremely well made. It is effective for handling all kinds of snakes including ball pythons, rattlesnakes, etc. It is beautiful to look at, rugged and has a copper ferrule that allows greater balance without compromising on its strength.
#2. Best Overall: Midwest Snake Hook
Midwest Tongs is the world leader in snake handling equipment.
This 40-inch Midwest Snake Hook from Tom’s Reptile Supplies is very well-designed. It features a long opening that lets you grip larger snakes without hurting them. The tip of the hook extends an inch past its handle which lets you use it in tight spots around your snake’s cage or in between rocks etc.
Features
- Weight 0.8 lb.
- Size – 40 inches (40 x 5.5 x 1 inch)
- Made of aluminum
Expert tips
Check out this video by Midwest Tongs on how to safely use this snake hook.
How it compares
If you work with snakes, you need Midwest snake hooks. They are widely used in areas known for deadly snakes and are bestsellers in Australia known for wild snakes. Midwest snake hooks are the choice of professional snake handlers. Their price may be on the higher side, but you get what you pay for.
#3. Best Snake Hook for Small Snakes- ReptiZoo Portable Mini Snake Hook
Repti Zoo is a reliable brand name among reptile keepers. From hygrometers to terrariums, their products are well known and appreciated.
Repti Zoo’s portable mini snake hook is affordable and reliable. It is perfect for taking on those hikes as it folds and sits comfortably inside your pant pockets. Its adjustable size makes it perfect for handling a variety of small-sized snakes.
Features
- Stainless steel construction
- Small size – 7.8” to large 23.6”; hook measures 2.4 inches wide and 2.4 inches deep
- Max. weight of snake it can handle – 2 lb.
Expert tips
- Useful for guiding and controlling small snakes or moving furniture in snake enclosures.
How it compares
ReptiZoo is a popular brand name as far as reptile products go and they are well-made, durable, and reliable. This hook is small enough to handle small-sized snakes. Its lightweight portability also makes it ideal for travelling around with it. The price is very attractive too.
#4. Best Snake Hook for Medium-Sized Snakes: REPTI ZOO 57″ SN H05 Professional Stainless Steel Retractable Snake Hook
This snake hook from ReptiZoo, SN-H05 is specially designed for handling medium-sized snakes up to 4.4 lb. It is adjustable from 30 to 57 inches. Check out its great features:
Features
- The tongs are constructed from aluminum alloy and the duckbill-shaped hook itself is made of sturdy stainless steel
- Stretchable and adjustable from 30 to 57 inches
- Ideal for handling snakes up to 4.4 lb.
Expert tips
Watch this video that explains how to get the telescoping handle working.
How it compares
ReptiZoo is a reliable name in snake-related products. This snake hook from the brand is dependable, sturdy, and well-made and shows excellent craftsmanship. It is best suited for medium-sized snakes up to 4.4 lb. The price is slightly on the higher side.
#5. Best Snake Hooks for Large Snakes – YomyRay Extendable Snake Hook Reptile
YomyRay extendable snake hook for large snake can easily withstand snakes up to 6 lb. It also comes with two telescoping hooks that can extend all the way to 53” and 25”. Also, both hooks feature a duck mouth design that won’t harm the snake.
Features
- Dimensions – 53inch,135cm And 25 inch (65cm) – three length/4-section telescoping.
- Stainless steel plus aluminum alloy tube
- Comes with RoHS environmental protection certification (RoHS certification helps minimize risks to human health and the environment).
- Straps to tie to the wrist to prevent slipping
- Sponge on the grip as extra protection if the handler sweats
- Grooved design on the handle for better grip
Expert tips
- Loosen the black adjustable piece on the larger end and slide the far end with a plastic piece in.
How it compares
YomyRay extendable snake hook can be used for safely handling large pythons like the green tree python which are about 5 ft. You can also use it to tackle a 2-meter boa with it. The durable and sturdy hook is also beautifully made and its telescoping sections make snake-handling safer. It is also great as a walking stick on hikes where you may encounter large snakes frequently.
#6. Best Budget Buy: Weiyirot Snake Hook
The Weiyirot snake hook costs less than $10 and is made of sturdy stainless steel. It is lightweight, portable, and compact so you can carry it on your hikes or camping trips. The reptile catcher hook also has a duck-bill hook shape that won’t harm the snake.
Features
- Lightweight – weighs less than 50 grams
- Extensible 16.5-68cm / 6.50-26.77 inch
- Ergonomic design
- Good grip for safety
- Made of stainless steel
- Duckbill shaped hook won’t hurt the reptile
Expert tips
Use the hook to pick the snake off the ground just forward of the middle. This ensures even weight distribution which is important to avoid the snake sliding off the hook.
How it compares
The Weiyirot snake hook is well-made and extends into 4 sections up to 26.77 inches. It is safe for handling small snakes without hurting their skin. The price is extremely reasonable.
#7. Best Snake Hook and Tongs with Grabber: Yorikyas 64 inch Snake Catcher Hook Stick Tongs Grabber
This is a professional-grade snake hook with tongs and grabber. You can use it to catch snakes or remove them safely. The telescoping handle comes out in 4 sections so you get a varying length from 21.6” min to 64” max. The long snake feeding tongs are also recommended for snakes that have the habit of grabbing at your hand thinking it is food.
Features
- Smooth hook to prevent hurting reptiles
- Telescoping handle – dimensions between 21.6 to 64 inches
- Hook width 11.5 cm and length 14 cm
- The shaft is made of stainless steel
- The handle is made of soft rubber for good grip.
Expert tips
- Always use the hook with the telescoping handle to enhance safety.
How it compares
The 64-inch, high-quality snake hook from Yorikyas is an ideal snake grabber and can also be used as a pick-up tool. Its design is based on safe technology to handle snakes humanely and safely. Its rubber handle allows a firm and comfortable grip. The price is slightly on the higher side but you get value for money.
How to Choose a Snake Hook?
The choice of a snake hook depends on the following:
The Species
The snake species you handle will decide the size and brand of snake catching equipment. Larger hooks are necessary for handling large species of snakes such as Pythons.
The Diameter of the Hook
The diameter of the hook should be wide enough to support the weight of the snake. For example, species such as pythons need at least 3 to 6 cm flattened diameters for added comfort in holding the snake.
The Length of the Hook
The hook’s length should be greater than the snake’s striking distance. Remember: for most species of snakes, the striking distance is 2/3rds the length of the snake – sometimes more. Most hooks come with telescoping designs that open into 3 or 4 sections that let you comfortable tackle snakes from a safe distance.
Safety
Look for hooks with duck-mouth designs. These won’t hurt the snake and are more humane than the sharper designs.
Ease of Assembly and Use
Look for snake hooks that come ready to use. Many hooks need to be assembled and that can sometimes be tricky.
Snake Tongs Versus Snake Hook: Which One To Use?
Many expert snake handlers keep a set of snake hooks and tongs both when they go field-herping but usually use just one of them. The choice between snake hooks and tongs depends on various factors.
Many expert herpetologists and veterinarians use snake tongs as a last resort. Many believe that they tend to aggravate the snake. Also, with improper pressure, snake tongs can end up doing permanent damage to a snake. The market is flooded with improperly made snake tongs that could break the snake’s bones killing them.
Snake hooks are safer and when used properly, ensure the snake’s and the handler’s safety. Hooks with duck-mouth design let you humanely manage the snake or coax it into the bag.
Of course, there can be a downside to snake hooks as well. Sometimes, improper dimensions of the snake hook could allow the snake to slide off the hook onto the shaft or even fall down on a hard surface and get injured. If the hook is of improper length, it could also compromise the snake’s safety.
Bottom line: the choice between snake hooks and tongs is a personal one and also depends on the species of the snake and the expertise of the handler.
Conclusion – Best Snake Hooks
The best snake hooks are sturdy, balanced, rugged, and reliable. Most importantly, they are safe for both the handler and the snake. They can help you get wild snakes safely out of your way during hikes or when you are feeding an aggressive pet snake.
We recommend the DocSeward snake hook as it is very well made. This heavy-duty snake hook is effective in handling all kinds of snakes including ball pythons, rattlesnakes, etc. It has excellent craftsmanship, is rugged, and uses a copper ferrule that allows greater balance without compromising on its strength.
Do check out our other recommendations for snake heating pads.