Substrate and feeding question..

So I've had my ball for a couple months now and been cruising the site. I know many say it is unnecessary but I do feed my ball in another enclosure. I got him as a yearling so he's not a baby, the people I got him from where feeding him in a separate enclosure so I kept that up. My issue or concerns with feeding him in the cage are: a. I have Cyprus mulch so I have a concern about substrate being accidentally eaten leading into concern b. To switch to f/t from live, I have had to dip the rat in chicken broth in my mind increasing the possibility of substrate getting consumed but also the issue of the smell and mess of broth being draped around the cage.. Are these concerns valid? Any input?

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Not really, BP's can ingest some substrate just fine, if there is a larger piece, just pull it off using tongs or needle nose piers.

As for switching to F/T, feeding in a separate container can only decrease your chances... If you clean the cage regularly some chicken broth in the substrate shouldn't cause any issues. If you notice anything just clean it.

I've found that feeding in a separate tub prevents the risk of any bedding being impacted in your snake's mouth. My snakes are very young, but they are already conditioned to know that when they are put in the tubs it's FEEDING TIME! This helps encourage good appetites. In my opinion, there are zero drawbacks to making that little extra effort to feed in separate tubs. TY

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Originally Posted by TheSnakeGuy

I've found that feeding in a separate tub prevents the risk of any bedding being impacted in your snake's mouth. My snakes are very young, but they are already conditioned to know that when they are put in the tubs it's FEEDING TIME! This helps encourage good appetites. In my opinion, there are zero drawbacks to making that little extra effort to feed in separate tubs. TY

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Except lowered chances of a snake feeding and increasing the chances of you getting bit in the process.

While I can understand the concept of moving him around before eating causes stress, he really is very chill and even with switching to f/t as long as I do the broth his feeding response has been great. The only time he struck was during after a refused meal (I switched brand of frozen and this one was black and slightly thicker, so I don't think he liked it) and I think he got pissed at my poor quality zombie dance so when I went remove him after the failed feeding he struck but immediately chilled out and curled around my hand when I walked him back. He really is very chill and seems to seek out attention so i'm not too concerned about the handling aspect.

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I think it just depends on the snake. My girl is much more difficult to feed in a separate container she often won't take. She takes every time in her home though. I handle her often and she never strikes when I reach in. Also I now use eco earth and I'm really not worried about her swallowing a little of that. Just feed her/him on a basking rock or something.

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you're making it too complicated. i mean just feed your snake in the enclosure im sure if it ate the frozen rat with broth its going to eat it again without the broth. most people think that feeding it in a different enclosure stops it from sticking at you. but you said that its already cool and chill so whats the point of feeding it in another enclosure. if it looks like its going to strike at you, just poke it in the head and pick it up.

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Originally Posted by stickyalvinroll

you're making it too complicated. i mean just feed your snake in the enclosure im sure if it ate the frozen rat with broth its going to eat it again without the broth. most people think that feeding it in a different enclosure stops it from sticking at you. but you said that its already cool and chill so whats the point of feeding it in another enclosure. if it looks like its going to strike at you, just poke it in the head and pick it up.

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X2, and really don't worry about impaction in snakes unless you are using walnut shell or sand,(which you shouldn't.) snakes aren't all that smart, if you don't smell like food it's not gonna want to bite you unless it feels threatened...usually. Besides, biting really isn't that bad!:oops:

I only have one BP. I tried feeding in a separate enclosure but she got so shy and ignored the food completely. She concentrated on escaping. Since then, I have fed inside her own enclosure and on cypress. Nothing bad has happened. Through everything she has never struck at anyone and I reach in with my ratty smelling hands too am she still hasn't tried to bite me. I kinda want to get bit just to get it over with but I fear it may not be a ball python bite that is my 1st.

I can tell you with some balls, the stress of moving is just enough to keep them from eating. That was my limited experience. Even if I remove cage furniture or water bowl she refuses. At least in the beginning. She doesn't care now but if I do remove something I have noticed her response is more calculated and slower. I am sure every snake is a little different but that was my only way to get mine feeding was to keep everything the same. Now she eats like a champ and I have less work to do. Open and offer. (I feed live as the breeder did. I haven't made the switch to F/T yet.)

Moving ball pythons to feed them is a great way to have a picky eater and a great way to distract them enough to make them not want to eat.

Ever try to grab up a 3000 gram adult female that's striking the air to get food :rofl::rofl: