Couple questions

Here are my concerns….

i have 2 daughters (8years old) we just bought a 4 month old ball python. she is so sweet and gentle. the store has been feeding her f/t and she eats fine. here are my concerns. i may be over thinking here but, I'm a "cover all my bases" kinda guy/dad.

to feed in her tank or separate tank…..

i understand separate tank notion so she doesn't get used to eating in her tank. less chance of her biting when a hand goes in. But now i have to handle her to return her to her tank after eating in her separate tank. she may be still aggressive and i feel shouldn't be handled now.



live vs. Frozen. I'm not concerned about mouse/rat injuring her, i would watch like a hawk and never leave her unattended with food in there. however, is there any thoughts about not letting her eat living things in hope to keep her less likely to strike at a hand. but now, i have to dangle food in front of her and tap her nose to eat the f/t. i feel like this is encouraging her to strike when things touch her face. i feel she should be eating moving rodents that are on her floor (level) no hand will ever approach her on her level.

please share your thoughts/ experiences. thanks!!!

Feed f/t in the tank.

She doesn't bite when the hand goes in, she bites when a rodent goes in. You know the difference between a block of wood and a hamburger? They know the difference between a human and a rodent :)

I feed in her home. I do not use a feeding tub and have never had a problem. Smell is key here! Don't stick your hand in front of a hungry snake when you have been handling the rat/mouse.
Frozen is safer and will not make a difference in her being aggressive.

thanks guys!!

ok and she won't get use to striking and eating with my handle 12 inches away while dangling a mouse? in other words associate my hand in their with eating?

Hold the f/t feeder with long tongs or forceps, not your fingers.

ok, thats what i did the other day. so next feeding, i will continue with the frozen but will keep her in her tank. is it ok to handle her for a little while, then return her to the tank to feed? of course i will not handle the mouse until she is returned to the tank.

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Originally Posted by supamyk

ok, thats what i did the other day. so next feeding, i will continue with the frozen but will keep her in her tank. is it ok to handle her for a little while, then return her to the tank to feed? of course i will not handle the mouse until she is returned to the tank.

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As far as handling right before feeding, it kind of depends on the snake, its generally a good idea to leave them be, feed them, then give 24-28 hours after feeding to digest in peace. That way they don't get stressed and not eat or regurg on you.

I feed in tank, with forceps, and generally try and disturb him as little as possible right before (so he wont be scared and not eat) and after the feeding. Then they feel comfortable, and you don't have to worry as much about getting tagged or the snake throwing up all over you or the floor. Regurgitation isn't great for the snake and is generally pretty gross. Just keep your hands out of the way as much as possible and if you do get tagged, don't sweat it, not a big deal.

Since you are using f/t make sure you dry off the prey pretty well, wet prey will get more substrate stuck to it, and while eating a bit of substrate isn't horrible, a ton is not ideal. Just keep an eye on the snake, (I check in every 5-10 mins till prey is completely eaten) and everything should be just fine.

If you handle the snake often, it won't learn to associate the tank opening with feeding, as opposed to just opening the tank to feed and never handling the snake.
Except for my first n00b feeding about two years ago, I've always fed in the tank, with my hands no less. (Don't worry, I finally have tongs. Now to ditch the tanks...)

What I do is wait until night time, and turn all the lights off in the room where her enclosure is in except for the infrared light. I try to make as little noise as possible so that she doesn't know I'm there, lift the screen top, throw the frozen thawed mouse in and leave her be for 15 min. And when I go back the mouse is gone..