thoughts on feeding in there enclosure?

Hey everybody I was just wondering what everyones thoughts where on feeding your ball pythons in there enclosure if your using aspen shavings for the substrate.

Thanks
Alex

I feed eery one of my snakes in there enclosures.:D

I am unable to to get my snakes in my hand, they would have me for lunch!

I've always fed in the enclosure - including when I used aspen. ;)

I also feed in the enclosure and use Aspen, I have never had a problem.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rabernet

I've always fed in the enclosure - including when I used aspen. ;)

---

Ditto

Everything gets fed live here... My boa is the only one on aspen and we havnt had an issue with it. Its the softer aspen made for small animals instead of the more woody/toothpick aspen. We use the aspen for my bunny so the extra stuff goes to the Boa who likes to burrow. I too would likely be lunch (or at least tasted strongly) my snakes have amazing feeding responses, I certainly am not moving them so they can eat ;) more stress to them and me then what its worth IMO.

I feed all my snakes - whether live or dead - in their enclosures without issues.

Heh, I think you mean whether live or dead PREY. :)

And I, too, feed inside enclosures now. Everyone. I used to do separate enclosures, back when I was paranoid after owning a gecko for years and I thought it would be great to be able to clean their cage while they ate. It's MUCH easier, on them and on you, to just feed them in their homes. You just have to set up a clean date later in the week.

And there is nothing to the myth that the snake will 'mistake your hand for food' if you feed in home. All you have to do is establish a routine (same day/interval for feeding), and pre-scent the room on that day and the snakes will always know when feeding time is. :)

Besides everything else metioned, when you eventually aquire a good-sized collection (you WILL, don't even question it lol) - you'll find the idea of taking every one of your ("I know darn well it's feeding night and I want it NOW") snakes out to feed them in a seperate enclosure ...... well, terrifying lol.

Seriously, when they get on a schedule, your little sweatheart becomes a blinded-by-hunger striking machine one night a week. :rolleyes: This is my experience. But, the rest of the week, back to cutie patutie! So I feel that feeding them in their enclosure is beneficial to their eating habits, and with proper handling, are still well-behaved 6 days out of the week ;)

Aspen shouldn't severely harm a bp if it's not ingested in large amounts. Because ball pythons are so shy, it is best to feed them inside their enclosure where they feel safe and undisturbed.