Feeding my ball python

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Originally Posted by BigTim55

I just got him and the people who I got him from fed him live food. Should I line the tub I feed him in with something?

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I line the tub with paper towel.

Cheers!
fatal

Ok thanks!

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Another thing, you have awhile until they're going to be eating anything that can fight back (assuming its a baby) so you wanna get consistent feeding before considering switching to f/t. I wouldn't say feeding live causes stress, that's how things work outside of captivity so its not unnatural or anything. Mostly its out of convenience to the owner, being able to stock the freezer with food and not having to pick up live food for every feeding. Also, the issue with possible harm to your snake during feeding...I personally hold adult prey (mice or rats) by the tail and dangle it and let the snake take it from my hand. Then if the prey tries to bite while the snake is coiled, I just use a chopstick to stick in its mouth, chew on that instead of my snake. As long as you take necessary precautions and aren't just dumping an adult prey item in with your snake without supervising there should be nothing to worry about.

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Originally Posted by Fataltix

Another thing to take into consideration is that by feeding your snake in a separate viv, they will associate that alternate location with food, not the enclosure you will be reaching your hand into all the time

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That's not necessarily true. I feed mine in her tank and I've never had any problems with her thinking my hand is food. They know what their prey smells like and what humans smell like and they usually don't confuse the two. The only time they might strike at you is if they're starved and looking for any kind of heat signature (or if they're scared and defensive of course).

So you can feed in the snake's enclosure or in a separate one, it's really up to you, but a lot of times the snake will be more likely to eat in their enclosure since they feel more secure.

Also, I really like feeding F/T, but feeding live isn't bad. It does increase the risk of injury to the snake, and it's more of a pain to go out and buy a live rodent every week, but as long as you supervise the feeding it should be fine :)

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Originally Posted by BigTim55

Im using aspen as a substrate, I was wondering because I have a group of vines in there that the mouse might hide in. Do you think it will get in the way of him finding his prey?

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If the vines are easy to remove, I would take them out of the enclosure before you put the mouse in there. Even though the snake shouldn't have any trouble finding the mouse if he's hungry, you just wouldn't want him to get tangled up in them when he strikes and coils.

But if you're going to feed in a separate tub then I guess you don't have to worry about that ;)

if you MUST feed in the living enclosure, use long tongs to offer the food so that they don't associate you reaching into the tank with food. it's not that they can or can't sense a human hand vs. a mouse or rat, but it's a conditioning trait. not all snakes will develop it, but some will. it's just something to consider, and if you notice any strange behavior when you open the living enclosure (assuming you're feeding in that tank) it's never too late to change it up.