How Do You Feed In A Seperate Enclosure? need help please

[jrosen123]

Hey everyone,

I have recently made the decision to try and find my little bp in a separate enclosure. I have decided to do this because I have almost been bit a few times now because she gets too eager to strike.

So I have a few questions, but a simple "step-by-step" sort of instructions would be pretty helpful.

1) Do I put her in the other enclosure AND THEN start the thawing process, or should I have the mouse all thawed and ready before I put her in?

2) I know you aren't supposed to handle snakes after they eat, but the short transfer from feeding enclosure to her main tank is ok right?

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks

[Corvid]

Here's how I do it. Hope this helps!
1. I thaw my food out before hand.
2. Remove the snake and place it on the scale to weigh it
3. Carefully pick the snake up and place it in the tub/feeding container (I say carefully because my snakes know that when they're getting weighed they're going to get fed, they get excited)
4. Secure the tub.
5. Repeat steps until all snakes are in their tubs (this builds anticipation)
6. Start with the 1st snake that you put in and feed away, Feed all snakes.
7. While snakes are eating I spot clean cages and refill waters as necessary.
8. Then the last snake has gotten their food down start to put them away.
My snakes have their routine down pat, so I take the tub/feeding container and will hold it to their open cage and they will go back in their cage on their own. Sometimes the new ones will need a little guidance, but I try to handle them as little as possible after eating.

[jrosen123]

wow, thanks alot. That helps me alot. and it is even easier, seeing how I only have 1 snake, and unfortunetly I don't have a scale(yet), but I only have one snake, and she obviously isn't breeding,

Thanks alot for the quick, and simple but very helpful response

[Smith285]

I would think if she's close to striking when you open the enclosure that the last thing you would want to do is pick her up and put her in a separate tank... I'd just use tongs if I were you

[Melicious]

I would think if she's close to striking when you open the enclosure that the last thing you would want to do is pick her up and put her in a separate tank... I'd just use tongs if I were you

I second this. I pre-scent my room for half-an-hour and then I feed off of tongs. I have a rather...spirited het. albino male who's very willing to eat for me. ^_^

[jrosen123]

I do use tongs, but I have been pre scenting the room, which may explain why she strikes

[Kaorte]

I agree with mel.

If she is already striking at you while she is in her normal enclosure, why move her and risk actually getting bit? If you are trying to combat cage aggression, be aware that it won't help to move her to a separate tub for feeding.

[Corvid]

The question is, is it cage aggression, or a feeding response?
If the snake is striking everytime Jamie goes into the cage because of a feeding response then separating while feeding should help. The snake will become accustomed to being pulled out of the tank (to play, hang out, get fed etc.) but it'll then know that when it is in its feeding tub, then it's eating.
If you're going to have the snake sit in the cage and never come out, then it's fine to feed in in the cage. If you're wanting the snake to be comfortable interacting with you then it might be a good idea to feed in a separate container.

[Kaorte]

Cage aggression is a myth. Some snakes are more bitey than others but there is no direct relation between being bitey and feeding in the same enclosure.

If anything, moving to a seperate container will increase the risk of being bit.

[TMoore]

The question is, is it cage aggression, or a feeding response?
If the snake is striking everytime Jamie goes into the cage because of a feeding response then separating while feeding should help. The snake will become accustomed to being pulled out of the tank (to play, hang out, get fed etc.) but it'll then know that when it is in its feeding tub, then it's eating.
If you're going to have the snake sit in the cage and never come out, then it's fine to feed in in the cage. If you're wanting the snake to be comfortable interacting with you then it might be a good idea to feed in a separate container.

I feel like I've posted this so many times but here it is again.

Your theory is that if you feed a snake in their tank, they will then associate their tank and your hand coming in with feeding and bite you when you reach in, right?

But if you take them out to feed them, wouldn't they then associate being taken out of their cage with feeding, and bite when they are out of their enclosure?

I honestly think that theory has no validity.