snake tongues

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Herptivite ultrafine.... good stuff!

[maverick]

Here is an update. I have 15 baby garters, 11 of them were doing that weird tongue thing and rolling on the ground. 2 days later 1 female died and the rest seem to be doing fine. I plan on changing their diet. Can anyone tell me what the best way to cut up pinkies is? I have a gag reflex that is crazy and its hard for me to look at stuff like that or smell. Thank you and I hope that wasnt to much information

[RicMartin]

Sorry for your loss. I use sharp scissors, & cut fillet slices at angles, rather than horizontal slices, that way they are smaller. I do this while the pinky is frozen. There's almost no smell, but the visual is what it is. I've tried automatic choppers, & they are faster, but I can't stand the mess they make. Other forum members will have better ways to help you with this, I'm quite new to garters.

[Sonya610]

Can anyone tell me what the best way to cut up pinkies is? I have a gag reflex that is crazy and its hard for me to look at stuff like that or smell. Thank you and I hope that wasnt to much information

I thought cutting up pinkies would be much worse than it actually is (I am new at it two, just a few weeks).

They actually slice up quite easily when frozen. No smell. I cut them in round little slices and once cut it doesn't look like a "pinkie" anymore. Cut the little round slices in half (or quarters depending on how small you need it) while it is still frozen too. They dethaw pretty quick and half of it sort of turns to bloody goo so try to divide it up when it is frozen to guage size/pieces if you are feeding several and want to give each the same amount.

If you are super squeamish I would suggest wearing gloves or covering part of the little body with a napkin or plastic then start slicing at the head first. Make sure they are FROZEN. It really isn't that bad but if you start at the "butt end" you have to think more about what you are actually cutting.

[kibakiba]

I use a sharp knife. I believe it's meant for fillets, but it works great for pinkies and worms. Do it while it's frozen and there wont be as much of a mess.

[maverick]

Thanks everybody. I look forward to all of that!

[guidofatherof5]

Frozen pinkies cut up with a sharp pair of scissors should help eliminate the gag problem.

[mb90078]

Again, if you have trouble with pinkies, there are alternatives out there that you can look into (frozen silversides and nightcrawlers would be the two that come to mind first).

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

maybe i am the only one who "carves" pinkies as I am feeding the snakes... LOL. I use a small pair of hair cutting scissors (designated for that purpose only) I have them already thawed and I kind of have a method worked out for "butchering" them. I take off each back leg/thigh first, then the section with the tail attached. Then the forearms along with the meat they are attached to, and then I slice the torso into several neat pieces. I find the snakes to be especially keen on the heart. the head is last, and I cut that vertically down the middle. All of this I do as I am feeding the snakes and all of these pieces are easily managed by babies... is all of this a little too morbid for you guys?! I know my family and friends can't understand how I can handle doing it at all... let alone not even think twice about it. I could cut up some pinkies, go eat dinner and then go back to it. Heck I could easily watch myself cutting up pinkies while eating dinner and I would not be phased.

[kibakiba]

Haha, when I use my knife I tend to cut it into sections, much like you do. Thumbelina loves the pinky butts.