IN TANK OR IN TUB Feeding

I call shananagans and blanket statement on the OP. No one was rude. Robin's post was one of the most polite critisisms I've ever seen. Your response shows some of the thinnest skin I've ever seen.

haha, holy cow, what did i miss, this one is getting heated!

I just thought i'd say that are are pros and cons to EVERY feeding method, including frozen thawed..

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And you should always feed your BP Frozen thawed, not live. It is just safer for the snake.

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And I believe people should educate themselves about various feeding methods and feed what work for their BP and is convenient for them.

A BP can be fed live safely just like a BP can be fed F/T and die, it is all about being knowledgeable and feeding responsibly.

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But it is still safer to feed them F/T. That is my opinion not a blanket statement.

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How many live prey have you fed in the past couple of year? How many incidents have you experienced? Because after all your OPINION is based on experience with live feeding right?

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I am a little offended by your statement.
But saying that i am blanketing a statement instead of just placing my firm opinion, is rude and judgemental.

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And I think you are overly sensitive…….ouch was that rude and judgemental :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Slim

Why do you think this post would not have steered the other thread back on course? What makes you think readers were lost in the other thread?

Once a thread turns to debating instead of informing it can turn a lot of people off of it. There is even a post in there that mentioned he stopped reading after a bit.



And what do you base this on? How can it always be safer and healthier to feed in a tank?

I already explained why it is safer in the post.


Better for who's snake? What may be better for yours may not be better for mine.


Better for not all just the majority.

Where in name of Sweet Georgia Freakin' Brown did you hear this junk? Not true. Just the oposite actually.

I gather knowledge from many different experinced breeders. I don't listen to people that aren't experienced.

Actually, if you talk to professional breeders, they use rack and tub systems, not tanks...but I'm sure you knew that.

Of course they do, that's just common knowlege.

I use the term "tank" as it's normal home and "tub" as a seperate inclosure.



WTFO? Always again? What's up with you and the always?

I use it to emphasize my statement

Ween him off very easily? Tell us, oh wise one, how can we do this as easily as you have. Dazzle me with your acumen.

After feeding a live you feed them a frozen thawed. It gives them a taste for it. It's just what breeders do when they prefer F/T but have picky eaters. I know you are dazzeled now. I am surprised you didn't know that yourself. You seem to know your stuff.

There are some snakes that will only ever eat live. Make sure to stick with it if that's what they truly want.

Well, we're gonna' have to send this one to the judges......and after considerable deliberation, No! Not rude at all, just the truth!The statement was directed to me, I found it rude. It doesn't matter if you did or not.Sorry for the improper posting I am in a hurry.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

And I believe people should educate themselves about various feeding methods and feed what work for their BP and is convenient for them.

A BP can be fed live safely just like a BP can be fed F/T and die, it is all about being knowledgeable and feeding responsibly.

How many live prey have you fed in the past couple of year? How many incidents have you experienced? Because after all your OPINION is based on experience with live feeding right?

And I think you are overly sensitive…….ouch was that rude and judgemental :rolleyes:

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No I don't find that rude at all. Judgemental mabey, but that ok. I wasn't offended by it.

I really believe your first statement too. People need to educate themselves and do what is best for their BP, which I have done.
It is true I don't feed live, as you notice by my opinion in my first statement it is obvious that I feed F/T. I gain my knowlege from talking to many experienced breeders. I don't take information from new owners. I don't want you to think I am calling YOU a new owner by me saying that.

An updated version just to calm all your angry heads. Sorry for the heat I have caused between everyone. I am trying to help inform, not aggrivate. THis isn't spam. It's an updated version.

I know I put this in another post with pretty much the same topic, but that post kinda dribbled down to debating and fell off topic, and probably lost a lot of reader, so I just thought I would post it again here to help the people that were actually interested in what is the best way to feed their Ball. Sorry for the repeated posting. I am not tryin to spam, just tryin to inform.

SO trying to go back on to the topic of in tank vs tub feeding:

Some snakes can be aggressive so feeding in a tube is done to try to stop the agressiveness from just general handling. Although you do need to pick it up to put it in the tub, from repitition, it is the tub that lets them know they are going to feed not the hand. But having the sent of food on the hand can make them want to strike it. A downside to tub feeding is handling the snake even just to put it in the tub does have the potential to stess them and put them off food. Also moving them back to the tank after(even with waiting a period of time) can lead them to regurgitate their food. ALso BP's have a natural instinct to feed from their hide. This ability is taken away from them in the tub. You could put a hide in the tub with them but putting a hide in the tub defeats the purpose of moving them to a tub because the hide will still give them the home feeling a little.

Although you can feed a BP in a tub it is always safer and healthier to feed him in his tank. You can easily let him sit for a day in the tank before feeding so he can be relaxed, and you don't have to disturb him after feeding so there is no chance for him to regurgitate his food. Also he will already be in a comfortable temperature in his tank. It is also more natural and instinctual for the snake to feed in his tank.

Like I said before feedin in a tub is to try to stop aggression in snakes during just general handling. But BP's are not aggrassive snakes. There is a very minimal chance a BP will actually bite you (although there is never a zero chance no matter what technique you use). So to worry a BP will have a better chance to bite you because you feed it in the tank is silly. Also it is even easyer for you to feed in his tank because then you don't have to deal with moving him to a tub and putting him back. So it is bennificial for the snake AND you. There is a better chance BP will feed in tank because it is less stressful and more natural for them.

Another way to deal with biting is to develop the Hooking technique. All you do is when you want to handle the snake you give it a little poke with a hook. When you are feeding there is no poke. After time and repitition the snake will learn that poking means NO food is coming and he is just going to be held. THe poking will also give then snake a chance to wake up if he is sleeping. At first the hooking will scare the snake but after time he will learn that it isn't a threat, and it will no longer bother him.


If you want to feed in a tub that, can and generally will, work just fine. It is just safer and better for the snake to be fed in his tank. Both techniques are good and work, but the in tank feeding is just better for the snake. It is your choice which you would prefer to do.

I reccommend in tank feeding with developing the hooking technique. It is just better for you snakes well being. But if you really want to feed in tub, when you first get your snake you should still feed it for a while in the tank. A snake new to a home is under enough stress already. Once he is more used to his home and eatting regularly, then start moving him to a tub if you prefer that way.

If you talk to a lot of snake owner they will most likely use the tub method, because that is what they were told or read to do. If you talk to professinal snake breeders they will most likely use the in tank method, because they know what is better for a snake.

Also your snake is having troubles eating in the tub method, then just try feeding him in tank and that could help. Dangling the mouse in front of the hide with tongs helps too.

Also about substrate:
Having to worry about a snake eatting his substrate is very over exaggerated. As long as you substrate doesn't have too large or sharp peices ingesting a few bits now and then won't be a problem. They will still just pass through their system like everything else. Just think about it, does a snake in the wild have someone to brush off any twigs or rock or dust from their prey? No, they just eat it and poop it all out because the digestive system can do that. Also what is gonna be sharper a small peice of substrate shaving? Or a bone, tooth, or claw?
And if you really are worried about the substrate just put a little piece of newspaper down before feeding. BUt really that isn't needed, it would jsut be more to give you a clear head.

And you should feed your BP Frozen thawed, not live. It is just safer for the snake. It gives zero chance for the prey to harm the snake. Feed live and you could go years without it harming your snake but there is going to be a chance EVERYTIME you feed him that he could get hurt or bit. Body injuries could heal after shedding(but not always), and eye injuries could be very harmful and never heal. A dead prey can never scratch or bite you snake. Why take that chance if you don't have too? Sometimes a snake could refuse to eat unless its live prey but you could and also should ween him off that very easily. Sometimes though a snake will only eat live. Remeber in the end it is really up to them not you.


PS This whole statement is my opinion based on the information I have gained from talking to experinced breeders. Always gather all your information before you make your own decison. When it comes to caring for a snake, for any opinion one person has there is always going to be someone who thinks the opposite. One could be right, one could be wrong, both could be right, both could be wrong. So know every angle then with that decide what is best for your snake.

If this still angers some I am sorry. If you want I can just delete the part about thaw VS live.

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I gather knowledge from many different experinced breeders. I don't listen to people that aren't experienced.

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Just curious, how do you personally determine what makes someone experienced vs not experienced on a forum that you recently joined? What is your personal definition of experienced? In your opinion?

And playing devil's advocate, how does anyone here know whether you, yourself are experienced or inexperienced to determine if they should "listen to" your advice and experiences?

I just dont understand why your so hung up on convinsing people they are wrong with there feeding methods.

Natures way or mans way both ways work fine if done corrrectly. and you can argue untill your blue in the face but that doesnt change the truth.