Is a separate feeding box necessary?

[Nagini19]

My son has had a ball python for a year, and we were told to put her in another feeding box (we use a Rubbermaid tub) instead of her aquarium to feed her, so she would not start striking at us when we were reaching into her tank to handle her. That's worked fine, but now we have the ball python bug and are getting 3 new ones. Do you folks with multiple animals feed in their enclosure or a separate tub? Does it matter?

[Morjean]

Hi!

Tank aggression due to feeding inside the enclosure is a myth, there is absolutely no need to do that!
Rather, it's generally recommended to feed inside the enclosure using feeding tongs, because moving a snake from its enclosure to a feeding bin and back is stressful and can cause regurgitation! If you're afraid of impaction due to ingesting substrate, just put down a piece of slate or a tile on which to feed.

[PitOnTheProwl]

No need as already mentioned.

[BMorrison]

Nope totally unnecessary


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[Captainsloose]

No need. Frozen thawed and tongs. I just take the hide off him and put in his food. My ball is very picky, he was only fed live by his former owners. frozen thawed was a struggle at first, until I figured out he wanted his mice very warm, and only in his cage.. The hairdryer trick works wonders.

[JHPythons]

Avoiding the stress put on the snake from being removed from its hide and enclosure completely outweighs experimenting with the theory that removing a snake for feeding will lower the chances of being bit when reaching in because the snake thinks your hand is food.

So is short it's completely unnecessary

[IsmQui718]

Unnecessary as mentioned by the others.


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[TurkeyPython]

Completely unnecessary and can cause stress and make them not want to eat but I personally do move them. It's really more just for my entertainment(sorry if that sounds bad). My snakes are fine with it(only ever refuse in their winter strikes) and I handle them frequently and use that container to bathe them if they need it so they don't associate being taken out or put into that container with food unless they smell it, as some people may put the argument that they'll associate being taken out with food if you do feed in a separate enclosure. I just like to watch my snakes eat from all angles lol. But no, you don't need to do that and shouldn't do that with a picky eater

[blue roses]

I feed in their own vivs. Both are still easy to handle.

[Oxylepy]

Never had one strike at me thinking I was food. Had two hatchlings strike defensively. Had one adult (when I had a large aquarium style viv for it) strike after he put his food down. And had the other adults stare at me amd prepare to strike, but when I moved they realized I wasn't food and turned to run away.

Feeding in their enclosure works fine. If you're using a viv/aquarium and have a heat lamp for it, set F/T food under the light if the snake doesn't take it. Leave it for a day and the snake will likely eat it in that time.