Big snakes, small enclosures.

I could care less about whatever match anyone has on who's e-pene is bigger than whos. I had just finished watching the videos...

The AfRock being too big for its enclosure? No. It's just right. It might outgrow it within the next few months, or several months... but its not too small at the moment. AfRocks are one of the largest opportunists among the giant pythons, and rely highly on the ambush technique for sustenance. The only time they're widely active in their natural range is during breeding season, and shortly before.

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Originally Posted by AjBalls

I have all the respect in the world for Brian, but I don't see the need to put a 6' Nile monitor in a 5'6" tub for feeding purposes. Especially when it is recommended that monitors have a cage twice their length. I wouldn't want to move a possibly still hungry 6' Nile that could rip your finger off, I don't even like messing with Niles half that size. Or upset the monitors stomach and have it regurgitate.

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Agreed, whole-heartedly. Moving any large reptile into another enclosure for feeding is pure ignorance, no matter how skilled or knowledgeable you are. Feeding response, possible damage to the animals internal organs, possible damage or death from said effects to both keeper and kept just play too high. It's like the old method people used to feed Burms...move them to your tub, thump the rat on the head, toss in said rat, and then move animal still in feeding mode back to enclosure. It's simply asking for trouble, or a nice hospital visit. Not only can monitors do a serious amount of damage with their claws, but their teeth and jaws are made for tearing, breaking, and crushing, vs a simple grasp and hold.

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Originally Posted by CeraDigital

Agreed, whole-heartedly. Moving any large reptile into another enclosure for feeding is pure ignorance, no matter how skilled or knowledgeable you are. Feeding response, possible damage to the animals internal organs, possible damage or death from said effects to both keeper and kept just play too high. It's like the old method people used to feed Burms...move them to your tub, thump the rat on the head, toss in said rat, and then move animal still in feeding mode back to enclosure. It's simply asking for trouble, or a nice hospital visit. Not only can monitors do a serious amount of damage with their claws, but their teeth and jaws are made for tearing, breaking, and crushing, vs a simple grasp and hold.

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The difference between being there and me doing it at my house is that they can have 3 or 4 people moving the animal. I'm sure they could manage to carry a 6' monitor without incident. I'm no expert, i'm just sayin.

There's a LOT of very experianced keepers out there who DO advocate feeding in a seperate enclosure. Just because YOU don't(and I don't either) doesn't make it wrong. It makes it "not your opinion".

Your way is no more right, just because you state it a few times. If he gets good results by feeding his monitors in a seperate container, or by feeding his giants in a seperate container, that it works for him(and for all the other respected keepers who do so). He's not telling you that YOU have to feed in another container, so why do you feel you can say he CAN'T?

I've done both, and I can see the merit in both.

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

There's a LOT of very experianced keepers out there who DO advocate feeding in a seperate enclosure. Just because YOU don't(and I don't either) doesn't make it wrong. It makes it "not your opinion".

Your way is no more right, just because you state it a few times. If he gets good results by feeding his monitors in a seperate container, or by feeding his giants in a seperate container, that it works for him(and for all the other respected keepers who do so). He's not telling you that YOU have to feed in another container, so why do you feel you can say he CAN'T?

I've done both, and I can see the merit in both.

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I feed some animals in the enclosure, and others out. I take my tegus out because the male is really old and the female would just rob the food out of his mouth.
I feed my yellow anaconda out because I like the interaction, and she knows when there's no more food coming.
I feed my ornate monitor in because I'm still in the taming process and he DOES NOT like being picked up yet.

Either method can work, it's up to the individual keeper and being able to read one's animals.

Chris

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

There's a LOT of very experianced keepers out there who DO advocate feeding in a seperate enclosure. Just because YOU don't(and I don't either) doesn't make it wrong. It makes it "not your opinion".

Your way is no more right, just because you state it a few times. If he gets good results by feeding his monitors in a seperate container, or by feeding his giants in a seperate container, that it works for him(and for all the other respected keepers who do so). He's not telling you that YOU have to feed in another container, so why do you feel you can say he CAN'T?

I've done both, and I can see the merit in both.

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Of all the care sheets and posts I have seen from various forums while I use to read up on monitors, I can honestly say I have never seen one single person suggest moving a dangerous 6' Nile to a different enclosure for feeding.

May I ask who these experienced keepers are?

I think he was referring to snake keepers. But I am with you. You could go to ANY varanid forum out there and any experienced keepers on there that have had monitors will tell you its crazy to move one. Monitors stress alot easier then snakes do. We kept a salvator here about 2 years ago and if you walked by its cage it would regurge its food. You wouldnt have to touch it or look at it or anything just your presence stressed it out.

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Originally Posted by AjBalls

Of all the care sheets and posts I have seen from various forums while I use to read up on monitors, I can honestly say I have never seen one single person suggest moving a dangerous 6' Nile to a different enclosure for feeding.

May I ask who these experienced keepers are?

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BHB

But what the hell do they know. :rolleyes:

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...dead-horse.jpg

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Originally Posted by Nate

BHB

But what the hell do they know. :rolleyes:

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When did he state this? I would like to know.