Question on feeding style

Im getting ready to feed my ball for the first time tonight, shes my first ball so this is all new to me, but i had a question about feeding styles. Ive heard the argument of people feeding in seperate tubs and in the same enclosure....

My question is, what is everyones thought or opinions on taking the snake out of the enclosure, putting the mouse in (Im using F/T) then putting the snake back in, that way there wont be any disturbing or moving the snake shortly after eating, but there also wont be the food coming in from above so a hand coming in the cage wont be viewed as food?

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but there also wont be the food coming in from above so a hand coming in the cage wont be viewed as food?

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That's a myth, you can feed the animal in the enclosure without having them mistaken your hand for food.

The problem with moving the snake prior to feeding (especially with a BP) is that it can cause stress which could lead to a refusal.

Additionally moving a snake in feeding mode is not that great of an idea ;)

Ultimately if that makes you comfortable it's fine but really unnecessary.

The viewing hand as food argument is way old, just feed in enclosure. Your snake knows the difference unless you smell like it's prey.

Feeding in a different tub or box isn't bad. Don't expect them to not freak out or defend themselves after a meal though. I feed mine in there regular tubs.

We feed separate. I do not want her to get substrate in her mouth. It does not bother her at all to move her.

Ok thanks, I know im basically beating a dead horse but I just wanted to verify!

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Originally Posted by KingPythons

Feeding in a different tub or box isn't bad. Don't expect them to not freak out or defend themselves after a meal though. I feed mine in there regular tubs.

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Yea id rather not have her regurgitate and id rather not have her try to eat my hand either which was why i was trying to find a different way to do in cage feedings, because i wasnt aware the hand from above was basically a myth.

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Originally Posted by tsy72001

We feed separate. I do not want her to get substrate in her mouth. It does not bother her at all to move her.

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I have heard that being an issue before, and right now until her custom enclosure is built im using newspaper, so thankfully thats not an issue.

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Originally Posted by tsy72001

We feed separate. I do not want her to get substrate in her mouth. It does not bother her at all to move her.

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I have always fed in the enclosure with aspen or sani-chips. I use tongs so they don't normally ingest any wood chips. If they did I shouldn't be a problem considering they digest whole rodent bones and all, debris would be much easier than that. I don't like moving my snakes while eating, I feel it stresses them out far more than anything. Neither way is right or wrong, just personal preference.

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Originally Posted by eel588

I have always fed in the enclosure with aspen or sani-chips. I use tongs so they don't normally ingest any wood chips. If they did I shouldn't be a problem considering they digest whole rodent bones and all, debris would be much easier than that.

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Thats true, and you have to figure in the wild they must have atleast one occasion where either they ingest something on the ground or the rodent they eat has something stuck in their fur, so it must not be TO big of a deal.

Personally I like to feed my ball inside his cage. I know that him swallowing his substrate is always a risk, so right before I feed him, I lay town a few pieces of paper towel in his cage where I feed him. I feed him pre-killed mice, so I just take the mouse by the tail with my feeding tongs, and dangle him above the paper towel x ) That always works for me. Then I remove the paper towel the next day so I don't disturb him while he's still digesting his food. :)

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Originally Posted by PythonGirl420

Personally I like to feed my ball inside his cage. I know that him swallowing his substrate is always a risk, so right before I feed him, I lay town a few pieces of paper towel in his cage where I feed him. I feed him pre-killed mice, so I just take the mouse by the tail with my feeding tongs, and dangle him above the paper towel x ) That always works for me. Then I remove the paper towel the next day so I don't disturb him while he's still digesting his food. :)

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That sounds like a very good idea, i currently have a hair dryer blowing on a mouse but im about to put it in warm water for a little.

I feed all mine in their tubs. Usually I just put a piece of cardboard over the aspen and when they are done eating, I remove it. Works like a charm.

Once you handle your new bp a few times and get to know it, you will realize they have no intention of biting you, unless you smell like rodents. Just remember to always wash your hands before and after handling a snake.

Personally, Im new to BP's too, so I am still feeding in a seperate enclosure because of the "substrate in their mouth" reason, but eventually, I will start feeding in her enclosure. She has never refused food yet, so maybe I just got a really lucky BP, who doesnt mind being moved.

I also like to leave my snake alone for 2 hours in a dark room with no noise, so she isnt disturbed or stressed. These are all just precautions that I take, not saying they are necessary. Plenty of bp owners do it their own way, because you have to figure out what works for YOUR snake, and once theyre feeding, thats all that matters.

As a lot of othe people said, you do not have to move the snake before feeding. The whole idea is bunk and is a myth. With the logic of the idea, every time you pick the snake up to hold it or put it in a different enclosure while cleaning, it will think its going to a different enclosure for food and might possibly bite.

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Originally Posted by lasweetswan

I feed all mine in their tubs. Usually I just put a piece of cardboard over the aspen and when they are done eating, I remove it. Works like a charm.

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thats a good idea too, ill have to do that or newspaper or something when i change from newspaper to another substrate.

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Originally Posted by mattchibi

Once you handle your new bp a few times and get to know it, you will realize they have no intention of biting you, unless you smell like rodents. Just remember to always wash your hands before and after handling a snake.

Personally, Im new to BP's too, so I am still feeding in a seperate enclosure because of the "substrate in their mouth" reason, but eventually, I will start feeding in her enclosure. She has never refused food yet, so maybe I just got a really lucky BP, who doesnt mind being moved.

I also like to leave my snake alone for 2 hours in a dark room with no noise, so she isnt disturbed or stressed. These are all just precautions that I take, not saying they are necessary. Plenty of bp owners do it their own way, because you have to figure out what works for YOUR snake, and once theyre feeding, thats all that matters.

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Well, She took the mouse for me! total process took about 8 minutes, she came out of her hide rather quickly as soon as i put the mouse in. so thats a big relief, the only "issue" i had was she ended up swallowing tail first, is that a big big deal? because i didnt want to try to spin it and stress her into not eating

No big deal if he eats it backwards.

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Originally Posted by Toddnkaya

No big deal if he eats it backwards.

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thank you!