Hooked on the Midwest Double!
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H2 Double Hook
We have quite a lot of equipment in our herp room. Some are various items Scott has jigged up over the years, some are old favourites, some are new that we wanted to try out, some that are a fantastic idea and we have rebought over the years when the previous item had seen better days, some are that good in construction and design we have had for decades, and they have never let us down.
A common phrase you hear when buying something new is “You get what you pay for”. In our experience this is especially true when it comes to snake-handling equipment. Most of our collection is venomous. When keeping venomous snakes the main priority is about minimizing risk. A significant risk-mitigation is having reliable, top-quality products that don't bow, break, crack or fall apart. This is why we use Midwest products (and have done for the last twenty years) and recommend their products to people wanting to buy something new. Midwest Tongs has more than 40 years of experience making animal equipment. Over this time they have expanded on the range of their products, tested and produced first class animal handling equipment - from snake hooks and tongs to custom animal capture equipment. They are some of the most reliable tools we have come across and it is easy to see why their products are used by a great deal of professionals and hobbyists worldwide.
There are a few reasons why we don't hesitate to recommend Midwest products. Obviously the quality of their products is one reason, another is is the willingness Midwest has to improve safety. The safety of both the animals and humans. I’m vertically challenged. (Or a short-ass as most people like to put it.) Sometimes the length of a hook designed for a larger, heavier snake (and other various equipment) has me feeling (and looking) awkward. Midwest are happy to customise their products for your safety and ease of use. They are also happy to collaborate with you on a tool designed distinctly for you. The customisation service they offer is a nice touch on top of an already awesome product. A snake catcher or any business that revolves around animals looks a lot more professional with their names on the tools of their trade.
We understand there are plenty of cheaper options out there for equipment, especially if you don't live in America. Pet shops sell hooks that are undeniably a lot cheaper. You can also walk out the door with them instantly, not have to wait for them to be delivered to your door. The delivery from Midwest is fast. We received our last lot of products in approximately a week, after the invoice had been dispatched. From the USA to Australia with Covid in full swing is pretty damn impressive. I’ve had purchases locally take a lot longer than that!
Like any keeper, both Scott and I have our own preferred "tools of the trade". Scott has used two hooks that are his go to hooks for quite a lot of our snakes. He’s had these two snake hooks forever.
The oldest one is a hook that he absolutely loves and really in all honesty, I doubt its going to take one more “fix”. (Yes those are zip-ties covered in silicone, it's had a few fixes over the years as he refuses to loose this hook!)
He bought it 26 years ago from the Herp Shop and loves it - it's a sturdy hook and a great length for a lot of the species we keep. It's not just the practicality Scott loves, there are also a LOT of memories associated with this hook!
The other is a Midwest Hook that he’s had for a good 16 years now. It’s a standard 24” hook with a bevelled edge. They now retail for $29.95 American. (I cannot remember what we paid for it back then.) I wont sugar-coat it, change that to Australian Dollars and add freight, it certainly isn’t as cheap as the pet shop option. (This is where you make the freight worth your while and order a couple of products!) Unfortunately, the exchange rate puts quite a few people off, especially those that think ”It’s just a hook”. And