Feeding: inside vs outside the tank

Hi everyone, i'm just wondering which way you do it, and which option is better for the snake and myself?

Moving an animal in feeding mode (this can start and end hours before and after feeding) increase the risk of getting tagged, in some species such as BP it can also lead to stress which in turn leads to refusal.

There is no benefit in feeding outside the enclosure.

Honestly, it depends, I do agree it adds stress and the potential of being tagged. Personally before I learned it is okay to feed in the enclosure I started feeding in separate tubs, and still do since my snakes are used to it, but in the future I'll most likely feed in the enclosure. If you have and animal used to being fed in a separate tub and that works for you then do what works. I handle the baby with a hook on feeding day, and that's also when she gets weighed, and I'm pretty sure my adult was raised being fed in a separate tub because he doesn't really enter feeding mode until he's in the tub (I'm not sure, I bought him as an adult and continued what I was told he was used to).

I also use the time they are feeding as a deep cleaning day of their living enclosures.


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This has nothing to do with the question I asked, but should I start weighing mine when I get it? I had one but he passed away a few days ago and I never weighed him. I'm trying to learn more about Ball pythons before I get another.

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Originally Posted by JadeSisson

This has nothing to do with the question I asked, but should I start weighing mine when I get it? I had one but he passed away a few days ago and I never weighed him. I'm trying to learn more about Ball pythons before I get another.

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It's good to weigh them so you know if they're gaining or losing weight. This can be helpful if they stop eating or get sick.

i think in the debate between tub feeding and cage feeding there are a few things to consider:

cage feeding: less stress on snake, less likely to get bit, can replicate natural stalking behaviors more easily (by, say, dragging the food around the cage and hiding it somewhere, making a trail), snake is more relaxed and less likely to refuse food

container feeding: no risk of snake missing and getting a mouthful of dirt that they could suffocate on, or getting a piece of bark stuck in their mouth. no risk of substrate getting stuck to the food item and causing blockages. snake won't be as likely to associate the cage opening with food and snap at a hand near their feeding day. maybe you can also see and help with any feeding problems the snake has?

really i think it comes down to personal preference, there are pros and cons with both, it's just whichever you think is safer/easier on the snake

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Originally Posted by Bea

snake won't be as likely to associate the cage opening with food and snap at a hand near their feeding day.

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This is a myth. Feeding snakes in their enclosure does not create or increase cage aggression. In fact, as deb pointed out, it can lead to you being MORE likely to be tagged because you're putting your hand into the snakes cage on feeding day when they're likely to strike. I made a short video about how to properly initiate a handling session with a snake. Long story short, you should learn how to give your snake cues on purpose (I guarantee you're already giving them cues every time you interact, you just might not know it, or understand what they are).

Honestly it really won't cause a snake to be more aggressive towards the cage opening unless the only time it is opened is feeding time.


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I feed in the cage, but I take the hides and water bowl out first if I'm feeding a live mouse. Years back I saw a snake grab a mouse by the belly, because the snake was in its hide and the mouse ran up and put its paws on top of the hide... It had a much more difficult time killing the poor mouse. Since I keep mine in tubs, and they're babies still, that just means removing three hides and a bowl, which takes about ten seconds.

All of mine are fed in their enclosures. Haven't had a problem yet.