Feeding Ball Pythons

I want to know which is the safest way for the owner and the animal!

Feeding your snakes inside their enclosures or taking them out and feeding them.

Any opinions is very appreciated!

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=84374

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=81095

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=102141

Well, I started off feeding my very young BP in his tank, because that was how he would eat. He didn't eat for about a month or so when I got him, because I couldn't find live and he wouldn't eat f/t with any method. I put a live mouse in and supervised the entire time. The first time I watched for a little over an hour and he came out and ate. The second time he ate it in about 5 minutes, the third about 20 minutes, the 4th, like 5 second!

Then, I started to feed in a tub, because I want to switch over to f/t if it is possible because we don't get very many live mice here in Fairbanks at our Petco.

So now I am feeding in a small showbox type rubber tub.

As for which is the safest. Both are safe as long as you SUPERVISE!!

Never ever ever leave a mouse in over night when you are not watching, some mice who are not healthy WILL eat your snakes back.

A snake can get bitten by live in general, but doesn't happen very often, so you want to watch, and be ready with some tongs just in case. This way you can get the mouth of the mouse/rat off your snake if it decides to bite, and rats can produce some nasty bites!

I prefer feeding in enclosure whether it be a tank or tub because the snake is more likely to eat because it wont stress from the environmental change and eont shake the snake up after a meal possibly causing regurgitation

I feed Furio and Lily in separate tubs as opposed to their tanks. I also feed live now and since switching from f/t to live I've not had one problem. I think either way is fine though. Just what works best for you.

I love my tubs. My snakes live in their appropriately-sized tubs and they feed in them, too. No problems whatsoever.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by V1L3 DiaL3cT

I think either way is fine though. Just what works best for you.

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Exactly! :gj:

With my aggressive feeders, it doesn't matter where I feed them, they are always going to be cage aggressive. Even if they aren't used to being fed in the cage, if they see a warm, moving, pulsing thing (my hand), they're going to try to eat it. Then of course picky eaters are less likely to eat in a separate container. And why even try? Picky eaters aren't going to be cage aggressive.

In short? Feeding in a separate container is pointless. But if you want to, go ahead.

I feed all mine in their tubs, I don't want to give them any distractions and possibly get bit. After all I am a heat source.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DJ_Bizarre

I prefer feeding in enclosure whether it be a tank or tub because the snake is more likely to eat because it wont stress from the environmental change and eont shake the snake up after a meal possibly causing regurgitation

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same reason.

I like feeding in the enclosure, because not only is it a bit less of a hassle, but it also means that the snake doesn't associate your hand and your scent with food, so you're more likely to have a snake that's easier to handle and less nippy when handling around feeding days.

I feed in a seperate tub....But Not because I'm afraid she'll become aggressive....My adult female is a big girl and honestly, there's just not much room in her tank with all her husbandry. Not only that, but I don't want her swallowing the substrate, and I feed live Med rats. While feeding in a seperate tub it'll be easier to interveen if I have to in case the rodent trys to bite my girl lol. She always takes her food with no hesitation what so ever...After eating I let her sit for awhile then I put her back in her tank. She's never regurged and hasn't striked at me when I go to get her out of her feed tub...Works for me, but not everyone is the same....&& if you own alot of snakes this would def be too time consuming....

It really depends on preference and what your snake wants. I prefer feeding outside their enclosure because sometimes my snake will get aspen in its mouth and I have to play dentist. But sometimes, your snake doesn't want to eat in a separate enclosure.

I have multiple snakes and sometimes in the enclosure is the only way.

I use newspaper for substrat and I feed almost all of my snakes in their tubs. I have one corn snake that just plain won't eat if you drop a F/T mouse in his tub, but put him in a little bit smaller box and presto he eats. :D

MY snakes all live in 42qt sweater boxes... I feed that one snake in this size container:

http://www.wax32.com/gear/containers2.jpg

I used to keep yearling corns in them, now they are empty and are "holding bins" for when I feed that one snake, plus when I am cleaning all of my snakes' tubs they go in these for a few minutes.

I feed in there enclosure. Its where its most comfortable at.

Depends for me. It depends on your animal and your preference. Some animals do not like to be fed outside their enclosure. I like to sometimes because I sometimes have to catch some aspen from going in their mouths. Its not all the time but it happens.