Methods used in Feeding

I think he meant 30 seconds to 1 minute. :) Which probably means he didnt constrict. Or it was a real quick constriction, lol. Pelota constricts the rodent for 3 minutes...sometimes up to 5. Guess she wants to make sure it's not gonna come back to life and get her. :o

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Originally Posted by epilover

I find it very interesting that so many people have said they feed in the tank. I've read over, and over, and over again that feeding should take place outside the tank, so that your bp doesn't associate reaching into the tank with receiving food.

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It just goes to show you shouldn't believe everything you read :P

I went off on a rant on this a while back, but I'll do it again.

There is no evidence that ball pythons will associate the opening of enclosures with feeding if you feed inside the enclosure. And as it's been said, even if it were possible, opening the enclosure for other reasons would prevent such an association from developing.

The only other worry is the ingestion of substrate, which could cause impaction. If you're using an appropriate substrate though, this is not a problem.

In fact, I would argue against feeding outside an enclosure because a) you're handling the ball python right before feeding it and b) throwing it into an environment it's not accustomed to, hence causing unnecessary stress right before feeding. Besides, if there really was a case to be made of ball pythons developing associations, your handling of them before them would be more easily recognized than just the enclosure opening. Something to think about.

The ONLY possible advantage I could see is if the feeding enclosure you're using is heavily scented with prey, thus being a stronger trigger for feeding. However, in order for such a smell to be held (like in soiled shavings), there would be something in the enclosure that could be ingested and lead to impaction.

Also, every breeder I've ever talked to about this subject feeds inside the enclosure. Not to say that it must be true just because breeders say so, but I do believe that it requires more understanding of ball pythons to successfully hatch some of your own out (unless you're acquiring gravid females) than to just be able to keep one alive and healthy. If so many people are able to hatch out babies while feeding inside the enclosure and not getting bitten, I think there's sufficient empirical evidence to conclude that feeding inside enclosures is not a problem and if anything, is more likely to be advantageous.

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I think he meant 30 seconds to 1 minute.

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ohhhh ok,i guess i wasnt paying attention,lol i was real tired last night .

Recently Kitty has gone all wierd, no longer strikes and will only eat if left in an opaque box, with very warm rat, for a few hours. I have to put a heat pad under the side with the rat to keep it warm. At some point kitty gobbles him up. Then is is back to the enclosure

My little guy won't touch dead , not with mouse dance , left overnight , or anything . So it's live in a seperate tank .