New advice, what do you guys think?

I've been trying to get my new spider female to eat for about 4 weeks now. I took some peoples advice to let her be and get used to her new home and try and feed her everyweek. This didn't work for the first 3 weeks so i decided to do something different. I thought to myself that usually when i go in a get her out of her cage to feed her she is really shy and affraid. So i decided to handle her everyday for a week and then try to feed her this weekend. And it worked! I was very excited. So im thinking that for people who take their snakes out to feed them and are trying to get them to feed for the first time it would be better to handle them more so they aren't totally freaked when you take them out to feed them. What does everyone think about this idea?

I did this with my first two snakes and they ate fine their first meal. I should of done this with her first but she was my first one to refuse food so I wasnt sure what to do. But I do think this is a good method to use

I handle mine all the time but it hasn't ate yet. But I've only had it for 2 weeks and have only been trying to feed it for 1 week because I knew to give it time. So mine will hopefully eat eventually too. :)

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Originally Posted by jsballs08

I've been trying to get my new spider female to eat for about 4 weeks now. I took some peoples advice to let her be and get used to her new home and try and feed her everyweek. This didn't work for the first 3 weeks so i decided to do something different. I thought to myself that usually when i go in a get her out of her cage to feed her she is really shy and affraid. So i decided to handle her everyday for a week and then try to feed her this weekend. And it worked! I was very excited. So im thinking that for people who take their snakes out to feed them and are trying to get them to feed for the first time it would be better to handle them more so they aren't totally freaked when you take them out to feed them. What does everyone think about this idea?

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Well that would work if you intend on moving them to a different bin to feed every time.
Most people don't recommend doing that and advise keeping them in their cage.

I would like more info on that subject. I have always heard NOT to feed them in their cage, but in a different "feeding" tank....

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Originally Posted by amanda_rose07

I would like more info on that subject. I have always heard NOT to feed them in their cage, but in a different "feeding" tank....

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It's not recommended for ball pythons. Let me explain why.
Ball pythons as you know are a very shy species of snake that have a tendency to fast because they are under stress.
No matter what anyone says, holding a ball python will stress them out at some point. When transferring them to another feeding tank there are moving into a new and unfamiliar environment which is obviously stressful. Some snakes (like my corn snake) feed better in a different tank because thats what their used to. Snakes that are known to be more aggressive are suggested to use feeding tanks so they don't associate their hand with the food in the cage. Balls feel safe and secure hunting in their own cage and being left alone to eat.
Usually if they eat f/t or live it can play a factor in this as well.

Ball pythons wont associate a hand with food/feeding time? I have one snake who wouldnt eat unless I pulled him out. He stays in his hide 24/7. My younger ball would eat in her cage, but I dont think she would hesitate a bit to bite me if I threw food into her cage either....

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Originally Posted by amanda_rose07

Ball pythons wont associate a hand with food/feeding time? I have one snake who wouldnt eat unless I pulled him out. He stays in his hide 24/7. My younger ball would eat in her cage, but I dont think she would hesitate a bit to bite me if I threw food into her cage either....

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You can't say "do it this way" and have it work out for every case. I personally keep 9 ball pythons in a rack and feed them in the rack. For the ones that that eat anything anytime go ahead move them to a feeding tub. But for most of my ball pythons if you move them they wont eat.

As for getting bit, I have only got bitten by one ball and that was just stupidity on my part. The funny thing is the one that bit me was my worst feeder now he is my best feeder.

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Originally Posted by Somed00d

You can't say "do it this way" and have it work out for every case. I personally keep 9 ball pythons in a rack and feed them in the rack. For the ones that that eat anything anytime go ahead move them to a feeding tub. But for most of my ball pythons if you move them they wont eat.

As for getting bit, I have only got bitten by one ball and that was just stupidity on my part. The funny thing is the one that bit me was my worst feeder now he is my best feeder.

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Aha, nice job!
Thats basically what I was trying to say. Most balls feel more secure and won't eat anywhere but their own cages.
But some will and those you can move to avoid association of the hand, ext.
Most balls won't bite at you from their cage when you go to get them out unless they smell food on you, are hungry, or in shed. They usually bite for a reason. :]

Ball pythons are ambush hunters and like to hunt from the safety of their hide a lot of the time. Some are okay with being moved to a feeding enclosure, but I see no reason for it. Just moving them around before and after feeding is quite a disruption, not to mention mishandling them after they've eaten can cause them to regurge.

Balls like to hide and ambush prey, so I give them the oppurtunity to do so. I feed all of my BP's LIVE and in their enclosures. ;)