Feed Snake & Return to Primary Tank or ...

To the OP: I agree with what 200xth just posted above... If you kept a snake for a long time before and fed in the enclosure you housed him in, then do what you did then. I have used both methods (I fed my juvie sand boas outside their tubs to avoid ingesting substrate, but currently feed all of my snakes inside their tubs).

If you are concerned about cage aggression, look into hook training. Purchase an appropriately sized hook and before you handle the snake, use the hook to stroke / wake the snake up. Never use the hook at feeding times (only when handling) and the snake will become conditioned that the hook= handling and no food, therefore, the snake will snap out of "food mode" and be easily handled. I have never had a food-aggressive response from any of mine except when mice / rats are in the room or they've just fed... So this may not be an issue for you. Most BP owners that I know don't have to use hooks.

The decision to feed inside or outside your primary enclosure is up to you. Both methods have proponents and credibility in different circumstances. As I said earlier in the post, I've done both. Now I prefer to feed in primary enclosures as it is helping my more finicky sand boa feed (moving her to a feeding tub was apparently stressing her and making it harder to get her to eat) and it also makes things easier with my boas, which are much more aggressive at feeding time.

If you do choose to feed in another container, move the snake back within about 30 mins of eating so that they can get on their hot spot and start digesting. Without proper heat, they will not be able to digest properly.

Thank you all so much for your replies. I greatly appreciate all the info. I do agree with most and I'd like to feed our babies like previously (within their own home/tank instead of a secondary "feeding" container). So, for those that have more than 1 snake in the same terrarium, how do you separate the snakes when you feed them in their main tank? I'm thinking that the best way would be to put a cardboard divider in the tank at feeding time, but positioned so that both snakes can feel the UTH afterwards for digestion. That way, their in their "home" tank, less stressed, eating, and digesting for 48hrs. Afterwards, remove the divider and enjoy them as usual. Is that what most of u do (that feed more than 1 snake at the same time in the same tank)? Thanks again for your help. Just want our babies to enjoy their new home as much as my wife & I are enjoying them.

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Originally Posted by VictoryWon4Him

So, for those that have more than 1 snake in the same terrarium, how do you separate the snakes when you feed them in their main tank?

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Simple answer: It is not recommended to have more than one snake in the same enclosure. :)

Well there is just one of the reason it is not usually suggested to house them together. All my snakes live in their own enclosure.

Why you want to house them together?

Have you sexed them?

Is breeding part of your plan?

I'm currently only an admirer and have yet to actually get my own snakes, so feel free to disregard. But I fail to see any pros in housing multiples together for non-breeding purposes, aside from saving a small amount of time and money. It only creates issues for the snakes themselves (stress, transfer of sickness, fighting, etc) and owner convenience really shouldn't come at the cost of the animal's comfort.

If you're planning on housing them together, you might want to do some research on that and decide if that's really the best way to go if you want the maximum amount of comfort for them.

I'm new to snakes and initially tried to feed our hatchling BP in a feeding tank f/t. She was not happy and refused to eat. Then we tried live in separate tank...too complicated and you could tell she wasn't really comfortable in feeding tank. So then tried live in her normal enclosure. Touch wood, never had a problem since. She knows the difference when we are going to feed her. I "warn" her by stroking her mid section if I'm just handling her and she happily crawls up my arm. We let her tell us when she's hungry...she literally starts hunting. Goes to all the places she has caught mice before looking. She is only 5 months but we spend a lot of time with her and know her 'signs' and she ours. Works for us.


Molly & Precioucess

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Originally Posted by KMG

Well there is just one of the reason it is not usually suggested to house them together. All my snakes live in their own enclosure.

Why you want to house them together?

Have you sexed them?

Is breeding part of your plan?

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Thanks for your reply. They were actually together with other snakes when we bought them. They are male & female in hopes of breeding (once they're of age). We were told that housing together wouldn't be a problem since they're used to it and are the same type (BPs). Is that not correct? Does anyone house them together or does everyone use a divider or separate tanks? Thanks again for all of your awesome replies!

Never follow the example of a pet store. Their focus is presentation so people can see the snakes and want to buy them. They also house them together because they simply can not house them all separate in most cases.

While it can be done it makes things very difficult especially when they are not of the same sex.

Some issues can be if one gets sick it can get the other sick.
Its hard to tell which did what as in loose feces, regurgitating, refused feeder.
You need a large cage with several hides and several heat sources so they are not competing over one.

Then the main issue is they are not going to wait on when your ready for them to breed. When they think their ready they are gonna start without you. This is especially hard on the male as they will exhaust themselves even to death performing the mating process. Breeding takes a toll on both sides and if you are not prepared to breed they should really be separated, IMHO.

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Originally Posted by VictoryWon4Him

Thanks for your reply. They were actually together with other snakes when we bought them. They are male & female in hopes of breeding (once they're of age). We were told that housing together wouldn't be a problem since they're used to it and are the same type (BPs). Is that not correct? Does anyone house them together or does everyone use a divider or separate tanks? Thanks again for all of your awesome replies!

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They were together because it doesn't make financial sense for pet stores to house every one of their small animals separately. It works (sort of) during the short time while they're in the store, but not as a long term solution. The employee was incorrect in the advice they gave you about keeping them together. I'm sure they told you that because they weren't as educated as they could have been. Even in the big box's own care guides it states that solitary housing is best, despite what you see in their displays.

Can it be done? Yes. However, doing so requires specialized care and more advanced husbandry techniques. Most people (myself absolutely included) are not able to provide such care because they lack the hands-on experience necessary to do so. Simplify both your life and theirs by keeping your animals in separate enclosures.

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Originally Posted by Sonny1318

Never been stuck like a pig during feeding. Have to practice better husbandry if your getting bit during feeding. Boa or other. :D

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Husbandry has diddly over squat to do with it.