feeding techniques

Wait a minute. You're not supposed to move them from their tank for feeding? Everything I've ever read said to do so so they don't associate you going into their tank as feeding time.

Hi,

It generally isn't a problem with ball pythons - but stress stopping them eating is.

So generally we would say in-tank feeding is less likely to have problems.


dr del

always let them know ye'r thar and so u dont startle them and never put your hand in front of thar face as for not feeding them in thair cage, i always have, ive never done it any other way. if u have a rack with lots of snakes it's probably way to mutch trouble but if u have 1 or 2 it's prety good idea if u dont want to get bit

There is no reason to feed a ball python in any other enclosure than its own (barring the reason if you have a piece substrate that you don't want the snake to eat accidentally).

The myth of cage aggression is just that, a MYTH. Snakes need to smell food to get into feeding mode. This is why pre-scenting is so highly recommended. If a snake is biting you and letting go quickly and not coiling, this is a defensive strike, not a mistaken feeding response. Its defensive because it is scared or stressed.

If a snake mistakes you for a food item (or is striking at the food item and misses and gets your fingers or hand) then it will fully coil and constrict.

To avoid being bit, feed with tongs. I thought it was cool to hand feed, till I got bit twice - once by a ball python and once by a corn.

When I first started caring for my daughter's snake, I fed it in a box because that's how she did it. He would know food was coming cause he could smell previous prey in the box; it was neat seeing him ramp up his feeding response. However, I didn't like handling him after he fed to put him back, so now I feed him in his cage. He can still smell the prey and still gets all excited about getting fed when I bring the mice in the room.

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Originally Posted by bman123

they should be fed tomorrow so maybe they were hungry IDK. I liked the small one it was friendly. The way the tank is you almost always grab them from the front. I think it was like this 20h x 16w x 20d close to that size with three of them in there

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The small one has probably just spent less time in that environment. If you plan on interacting with it a lot, it will probably be best for you. The larger ones would be better as display pets for people who want a snake, but not really as a pet. Of course the right care can change all of that.