Fed my first BP for the first time today

I feed separate and so far don't see any issues. I think it's one of those personal preference things, an not one side is right and the other is wrong...

Every snake has a different personality.


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I am new to the site and to owning a snake. Ran across this post and am curious about where to feed also. We were told by the store we got it from (the most reputable in the Stl. area) to feed in a separate container so that the BP doesn't think every time your reaching in you have food and can lead to more instance of getting bit. I have to boys ages 7 and 9 maybe this was for their safety. Anyway I am wondering too do most people feed in primary cage or move to a feeding container?

Thanks, I think I will feed my new ball python in his tank and not move him. Unless later I decide it's better to do it the other way.

I feed all mine in their tubs with zero problems. Some of mine get very "excited" for their food, you'd be a fool to reach your hand in there and try and move them when they're like that. It has nothing to do with the snakes preference or personality, its solely the keepers choice. Ball pythons don't have the mental capacity to understand that you're moving them to feed them. Its not like other species which you can train with hooks or with tapping or something.

I snakes have the mental capacity to know that their hide has been moved, how can they not understand a feeding container? Mine does.?.


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You keep saying "snake", just to be clear i'm only talking about ball pythons...

What do you mean? When you take their hide off them? Yea, i'd hope they'd realize that lol. Moving them to a separate container to feed benefits the snake in no way.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

You keep saying "snake", just to be clear i'm only talking about ball pythons...

What do you mean? When you take their hide off them? Yea, i'd hope they'd realize that lol. Moving them to a separate container to feed benefits the snake in no way.

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No I meant like if you take them out, rearrange their tank, then put them back, they can stress...

When I put my girl in her feeding box, she almost instantly coils up to strike. Drop the mouse in then pow! Hits it almost immediately.

I'm no BP whisperer, but I'm pretty sure my girl knows what that box is for.

But then again, every animal, every person, can be different. Some have different temperaments, different feeding habits, different sleeping habits etc.

Just my observations. I could be completely wrong.


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Im far from being an expert in this field but I started out with my first ball a Spider thinking it was important to remove him from his enclosure to avoid striking when we get him out and to this day I still put him in his tub because he seems to know its feeding time and we like to get him out a know he has no problems eating this way. On the other hand I've learned that my yearling pastels don't seems to like this transition and will rarely eat.

The truth of the matter that I've learned is that if you move them from there enclosure your not doing at all to benefit the snake and they are A) Already a good eater with small problems and don't mind the tub B) Stressing the snake out and causing interruptions in the eating habits.

And no matter which one of these they are you're still handling and moving the snake again after there done eating which is in no way a benefit.

Ball pythons are shy creature that don't want to bite you. If you're not poking and prodding or doing three blind mice finger puppets you're unlikely to get bit. But the pain comes with the pleasure of connecting with such a delicate defenseless creature against us. all it has is its mouth to defend - If its biting you, you must be doing something they dont like, Or you still smell like food.

So do what you want because this is your adventure. But know you're not doing it for them.

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Originally Posted by DreamingofDragons

Im far from being an expert in this field but I started out with my first ball a Spider thinking it was important to remove him from his enclosure to avoid striking when we get him out and to this day I still put him in his tub because he seems to know its feeding time and we like to get him out a know he has no problems eating this way. On the other hand I've learned that my yearling pastels don't seems to like this transition and will rarely eat.

The truth of the matter that I've learned is that if you move them from there enclosure your not doing at all to benefit the snake and they are A) Already a good eater with small problems and don't mind the tub B) Stressing the snake out and causing interruptions in the eating habits.

And no matter which one of these they are you're still handling and moving the snake again after there done eating which is in no way a benefit.

Ball pythons are shy creature that don't want to bite you. If you're not poking and prodding or doing three blind mice finger puppets you're unlikely to get bit. But the pain comes with the pleasure of connecting with such a delicate defenseless creature against us. all it has is its mouth to defend - If its biting you, you must be doing something they dont like, Or you still smell like food.

So do what you want because this is your adventure. But know you're not doing it for them.

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To a point it can benefit the snake really. I like to watch to make sure the prey item doesn't bite or scratch the snake and also make sure she is downing it head first.

An open feeding box is much easier than my enclosure but that will vary with different enclosure types as well...

Obviously tubs are the easiest way, all around, but I like to see my beautiful pets, even when I'm not holding them in my hands...


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I've never understood the logic of the feeding tub. If anything is going to get you bit it is getting a snake used to biting whatever shows up every time that they are in this tube and then reaching in that tub and picking them up after they eat. Lucky most ball pythons won't bite even in that situation. Also despite their reputation as picky eaters most will eat in a separate tub even though they are more stressed now then they were sitting happy in their home. For those two reasons people are able to get away with a separate tub.