Feeding routine

[ChelseaV]

So I ended up giving the smaller of my two new snakes to a friend who also has a small scale reptile rescue.

Now I only have the larger of the two. When I first picked her up, the previous owner said he would feed her in the tank after he emptied it. Well yesterday I fed her like so and noticed immediately afterwards that any movement I made in or around her cage, she seems very excited, almost like she was going to strike my hand. I haven't picked up her since she ate, but I moved a small hide around and she immediately came out as if she was expected food.

I don't know if I feel comfortable feeding her in her tank anymore? What should I do to get her to just act calm when I open her tank now? Will feeding her in a different box outside her cage help? If I can avoid being bitten when I reach my hand in, I'd like too.

[Martian]

I'm new to this as well, but after I feed my bp I just leave him alone for two days. I don't even open the cage to move anything and I've never experienced this issue. Maybe she just has a strong prey drive.

[SKO]

My big guy will do that if he is still hungry. Prey size might be too small (sizes vary a lot at the store I buy from) and he wants more. Just has a strong feeding response. When it gets close to feed day, any time I open the cage or even make it vibrate a little, he will stick his head out like "hey... you got something for me?"

Cage aggression is a myth. Feed, leave them alone for two days, and if they still seem active and responsive after feeding, up the prey size a little.

[ChelseaV]

Ah, that's a relief. I never hand trouble in the past with my other ball python and feeding him in his cage, so this had me a little worried. Definitely will be getting her larger food then. She had 2 mice hoppers yesterday afternoon. I have a feeling the person I got her from didn't feed her routinely..

Thank you!

[Snake Judy]

Snakes stay in hunt mode for a while after they eat. It has nothing to do with feeding in the enclosure - you'd see the same behavior if you fed somewhere else. If you let her be for the recommended 1-2 days after feeding she should be back to normal the next time you try to interact.

[Karnage Reptiles]

I usually take everything out of the Cage and feed them in the tank leave them alone for two days. I've never been bitten or striked at.

Karnage Royals
1.0 Yellow Belly
0.1 Bumble Bee
1.0 Het Albino
0.1 Het Pied

[ChelseaV]

Ok, awesome. Thanks guys, I was really stressed out about this. She's the sweetest snake and I've just never liked having to move a snake back and forth from tank to feed bin back to the tank. Next time I feed her I'll give her slightly larger food and leave her be for 2 days.


And here in was worried she was going to be a picky eater.