Strange feeding habbit

[Spider_Python]

Ok so my spider ball python wont eat in his feeder tank he wants me to feed him in his tank and I don't want to do that because I read everywhere that this will cause him to become tank aggressive and I do NOT want that. Anyone have any ideas of what I could do to get him to eat back in the tank I've been feeding him in since I got him?

[gardenfiend138]

There is a very large consensus that feeding in tank leads to aggression is a big ol' myth. That being said, I feed in a feeding box for numerous other reasons. What type of substrate do you use? A lot of people feed in the living enclosure regardless of the prey/ substrate type, but I don't know what you could do to get him to eat somewhere he doesn't want to... is it feasible to feed in his living enclosure? Is it very cluttered and do you use a substrate other than paper?

[Vypyrz]

It's ok to feed in their enclosure. If you are concerned about substrate ingestion, you can always put a piece of news paper, paper plate or paper towel in the enclosure and present the prey over that, and just remove it sometime after they eat. The only time mine are agressive in their enclosures is when they smell rat at feeding time, and that is a good thing...

[LizardPants]

I've always preferred feeding in a dedicated feeding enclosure/bin. There are benefits besides preventing aggression as preciously mentioned.

Also, aggression related to feeding in their enclosure may be a myth with balls, but with other species it's certainly not a myth. The Myth Busters like reptiles, let's have them test this!

[Spider_Python]

We should so have them test this but it might take a long time for them to discover the truth behind this. And thank you for you reply I will take all replies into consideration

I've always preferred feeding in a dedicated feeding enclosure/bin. There are benefits besides preventing aggression as preciously mentioned.

Also, aggression related to feeding in their enclosure may be a myth with balls, but with other species it's certainly not a myth. The Myth Busters like reptiles, let's have them test this!

[yeroc1982]

I feed all my snakes in their tub, and when i go to get them out of their tub, they NEVER strike or look like they are going to. Just dont stick ur hand in if it smells like rats/mice.

[Alexandra V]

All my snakes have been fed in their enclosures for as long as I've had them, and I've never had issues with cage aggression. In fact, I'd say that you might actually increase risk of being bitten by reaching in there to remove the snake on feeding day.

If he wants to eat in his enclosure, then feed him in his enclosure. I'll bet you 100$ that you won't encounter any cage aggression because of it and besides that it's best that he just gets food in him, no matter what.

[SlitherinSisters]

It's a total myth that they become food aggressive if you feed them in the tank. Bps aren't aggressive to start with so you can't 'train' them to be aggressive by feeding them in the enclosure. My guess is that your bp doesn't eat in his 'feeding tank' because he's stressed out by being moved. If you don't want to feed him in the tank because of the bedding you are using, all you have to do is put down some newspaper when you feed him. Problem solved.

I only have one BP that strikes at me when I open the tub and that's my spider because he's cuckoo not because he's aggressive. I feed them all in their tubs, live rats, and they share the snake room with the rats. If it were true that bps become aggressive mine should be coiling my hand off every time I open the tub.

[yeroc1982]

If it were true that bps become aggressive mine should be coiling my hand off every time I open the tub.

lol

[Powerspythons]

Cage aggression as a result of in cage feeding is a load of bull poop. That being said, just feed your snake in its enclosure! You should be fine.(and I emphasize *should* because there are always exceptions!!)