Feeding Tongs

[lordofthereef]

I am looking for some thing but long feeding tongs. The aqua tongs and similar products are WAY to big. The length is great but that clunky giant grabber on the end is simply terrible. I don't need anything that is going to allow me to move rockwork and stuff. Would prefer there to be at least a two foot arm.

Any suggestions?

[lordofthereef]

EDIT: Should read "thin, but long" not thing :)

[Sisterlimonpot]

I made some tongs out of some scrap plexi. The kids got a hold of it the other day and broke it but I've had it for a couple years. Here's a picture of it hope you get the idea with it being broke and all.
<img src="http://api.photoshop.com/home_7597f43bc1cf43e59b7b221c6f90495f/adobe-px-assets/e5a1b15e8b7c4010a510096020b5bc12" width="845" height="634"/>

<img src="http://api.photoshop.com/home_7597f43bc1cf43e59b7b221c6f90495f/adobe-px-assets/7a992bc56c4f47f4855943a0881e08d5" width="845" height="634"/>

I used blastic dowels that were from one of the kids discarded toys and I melted the ends making a plastic rivet for everything to pivot. The front (which isn't there) was heated and twisted so that it created a place to grab. it wasn't strong enough to move or pick up rock but it kept my hands out of the water and may work for what you're looking for.

[lordofthereef]

I get the idea, but it still looks far too giant. How accurate are they. Not sure if I used the right word there. I am wanting to be able to grab feeder fish/shrimp and easily let them go once my eels nab them. I definitely have scrap plexi laying around, but I just don't feel those would be delicate enough.

[DZs]

Make some long chop sticks. I use regular ones all the time since I can't reach the bottom of my tank in some places. Actually the set I use for the tank are two chopsticks with a paper roll and rubber band in between them, made of wood so it will float back up to the top, Kiddie style lol.

[Sisterlimonpot]

LOR,
When I had a couple BTA's and a haddoni I was able to feed those krill with no problem. I made it out of scrap 1/8" if you are trying to put them directly in the path of a power head they are a bit flimsy, but they are pretty accurate. And easy to hold onto and let go of food. I also use them to correct fallen snails and grabbing anything else in the bottom of the tank.

The good thing is that you can make them as long or as short as you want. And you definitely don't have to use 1/8"

[Richard Reefer]

I have a large pair of stainless steel tweezers/forceps that are 18 inches long, I got them at a local medical supply house. I've seen them in lengths of 24 inches too. You can also find them rather cheap on ebay.

[lordofthereef]

I am actually converting from live to dead. I am basically training these guys to take food from something like this. Going from live shrimps to dead, to hopefully being able to just drop various meaty chunks in without having to hand feed. Have been using hemostats, but would like to go without sticking my whole arm in the tank. The chopstick method is actually probably inferior to the forceps in that I can't have nearly as much control yet I would still be sticking most of my arm in.

[jeff@zina.com]

Don't the LFS in your area have feeding sticks? Acrylic rods up to three or four feet long with pointy ends to jab the food?

Jeff

[lordofthereef]

I went ahead and ordered a pair of THESE (http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/JBJ-AT-006.html?fe_feedid=126). Seem to be what I was wanting with a fairly small tip. Also, pretty darn cheap. Here's to hoping it is a lttle better than most og JBJ's electronic stuff (though this isn't electronic).

[lordofthereef]

Don't the LFS in your area have feeding sticks? Acrylic rods up to three or four feet long with pointy ends to jab the food?

Jeff

Yes, but I don't want a feeding stick. First off it's a PITA to jab a tiny shrimp. Second, these eels have trouble pulling them off. I used a simple meat skewer and it didn't work out so well.