Feeding in a separate tank?

[judiilana]

We've heard that we should be feeding our BP in a different tank to the one it lives in so that it doesn't learn to associate movement in its regular everyday tank with food. This is apparently to maintain its docile nature.

We've also read that the snake should not be handled for 48 hours after feeding.

Is it okay to handle it just enough to move it from the feeding tank to the regular tank?

Thanks.

- judiilana

[starmom]

It is a myth that a snake fed inside its container will mistake the keeper for food. Think it through: How would people manage this if they had several snakes? How could I do it with 13 balls and 3 boas; not to mention the huge breeders with hundreds and hundreds of snakes.
You do not need to change the location of your snake for feeding. Really.

[Argentra]

True, it isn't necessary to move them. I used to, but have found it a lot easier, and less stressful on the snakes, to leave them in their home enclosures. I do move my baby corn, but that's just because I don't want her getting any substrate in her mouth since she's so small.

A good way to 'teach' your snake the difference between feeding day and other days is to pre-scent the room at least half an hour before feeding. That way, when they smell/see the prey they know it's time to eat and expect food. Otherwise, they just accept the hand. It's worked so far for me and has worked time and again for others, including large breeders.

[WaRocker]

Wow this info goes against all that I was told on here before. So... now what do I do.

[Spaniard]

People succuessfully do both methods, choose a method that you feel comfortable with; but know that the association tid bit is false. I personally leave all my snakes in their home enclosures and have no problems with that method. I think that handling a snake right after it eats to move it from the feeding enclosure to the home enclosure is a needless stressor.

[missi182]

I strongly agree with keeping a ball in his/her enclosure - so that the need to be handled right after a meal to be returned to the enclosure is eliminated, and the animal has the security of his/her home to "hunt" the prey from. It is a myth that your bp will associate your hands with food during handling if you feed inside the enclosure, unless you smell like rats. If anything you are more likely to get bit moving a bp (in my opinion) after it has eaten, because it is still in hunt mode.

[West Coast Jungle]

Wow this info goes against all that I was told on here before. So... now what do I do.

I dont know what you heard before but the majority of people with many years experience dont move a Ball python to feed and dont handle for 48 hours after a meal.

Pretty basic stuff.

[JoshJP7]

I do both and see no differences between the two... The reason I feed outside the enclosure is 1.I get great feeding responses from my snakes the second they get in the feeding tub. Theres no if, ands, or buts about it when they get in there they are ready to eat! 2. It gives me time to clean their cages and what not. I can vouch that it is quite time consuming to take each snake out to feed them but I do 2 at a time so its usually 2hrs every thursday to feed. Other people have stated their concerns for why they choose not to feed in a separate enclosure but speaking from experience I have to say they are about as true as the feeding your snake in its tub myth. I live and die by the phrase if it aint broke dont try to fix it so as long as I feed FT I will continue to feed in a separate feeding tub... Come this winter when I get my own place and start breeding my own rats Ill probably just feed inside their enclosures.

In the end its all what works for you and your snake. Its more important that your snake eats not where it eats.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

<----------------26 snakes fed in their enclosure weekly, no aggression and no missing fingers

Feeding a snake in his enclosure does not make him more aggressive or mistakes your hand for food.

Feeding outside the enclosure will not make your BP more docile, feeding outside the enclosure can cause enough stress to lead to a refusal, it also will put you at more risks for a bite when placing your BP back in his enclosure (Moving a BP in feeding mode is not a good idea )

Bottom line do what you are comfortable with, but do not do it based on a myth!

[JoshJP7]

Substitute 1 myth with 2 ... good advice