why?

ok so whats the purpose of feeding your snake in a container other than their container?

is it recommended, or just personal choice?

I say its a personal choice, I feed mine in their regular tubs. I think its better than feeding in a seperate container, no needing to handle the snake to put it back into the other tub risking a regurged meal and no bites from the snake thinking your another meal (although some of mine seem to always be thinking im a meal) when trying to handle it to put it back. Just my :2cent:

It's purely a matter of personal choice.

For a while, there was a very popular myth that said if you feed your snake in its own home, it will grow to associate your entry into its home with food, and become aggressive. A myth that, if you think about it, doesn't make any sense at all. Other reasons people feed in a separate container are: to avoid the risk of ingesting substrate...to have better control over a live rodent...or just because that is what the snake is accustomed to.

Reasons to feed in the snake's own home: It may feel more secure...it may mistake your hand for more food when you go to move it back...it may regurge because of handling...convenience.

There are pros and cons to both sides. Your choice.

The thought behind it, is that feeding in the same enclosure can cause aggression. This is not the case with a species like bps. They are very shy and the move in itself can cause stress and refusals to eat. It can work for some people, but it isn't necessary as long as you open the cage for regular maitenance.

4th tally for personal choice.


We do seperate, esp for our snake whos in the 4 foot long enclouure since there are to many place the mouse could go and i dont feel like having to go through all that, and...its a talll tank and I have to stand on a chair to get inside.

yesterday I fed my girl in the same enclosure...she didnt know what was gonig on at first but after about 5 minutes she knew mamma was trying to feed her a yummy rat.

like the above post said...aggression arising from feeding in the same tank isnt really found in bp, I do it mostly cause I am a weiner and I dont want to get nipped trying to feed in such awkward enclosures like where we keep our male. hes one of those boys who lets you know when he doesnt want you around.

It may be OK for smaller snakes if you choose this route but try that with a retic and your asking for trouble.

I personally hook train them. I tap them with the hook and then reach in the cage. When it is feeding time, the hook is nowhere near them. Over time, just the touch of the hook on them will kill the food response (retics have huge food responses) and you don't need to worry about moving a 10 footer or larger around to feed it or try and put it back in the cage when it's in full feeding mode.

Given the shy, secretive nature of ball pythons and the fact that they need to feel very secure in order to feed, I think it's safe to say that if you have a picky eater, moving it right before feeding probably isn't the best idea.

For other snakes, or one of those ball pythons that just loves to murder the rodents ... rock on with the feeding boxes!

The most important thing is to "'know your animal" and understand that what might work for 99% of the rest of the world may or may not work for your snake. ;)


-adam

I have an African House snake (little bugger) that I feed in a separate enclosure only because he has CareFresh in part of his regular home and he eats with such force and speed that I don't want him munching down a pice of the substrate.

He's NOT a shy feeder. In fact the day I bought him I was walking around the herp show with him in a cardboard box and the breeder said "Oh yeah I forgot to feed him", and dropped a live pinkie into the box. The house snake ate the mouse WHILE I WAS walking around the show.

Since his first meal was "dining out" I've been consitent in taking him out.

The other 6 (oh gosh, six already?) snakes "dine in".

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Adam_Wysocki

For other snakes, or one of those ball pythons that just loves to murder the rodents ...

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Seriously...Carmen loves killing mouseys...wraps nearly all of her 30" around her feeder mouse...DIEDIEDIEDIE!

She puts the constrictor in boa constrictor...=D