Feed in or out of cage?

So I have read that feeding balls out of their enclosure makes them use to food not being in their tank... and therefor not seeing you as food. I have also read that this is pointless and just stresses the snake. I have a ball who just likes to eat, period. He eats f/t. Last week he ate in his tank, I needed to clean out some urates so I took him out for today's feeding and he ate no hesitation. He didn't even let me drop the rodent this week, ate it out of the tongs. So, if he's stressed it doesn't effect his eating habits. I have a deep and dark container that I put him in that has a top with a whole cut out (failed roach motel).

I do plan on handing him on occasion. I have a 4 year old who rather likes the snake. So, a even temperament is wanted. He so far has shown to be fairly okay, usual in his hiding, comes out occasionally late at night.

It is pointless. There is a huge majority of us on here that feed in the tub. The whole feed outside of tub to lower aggression is a HUGE myth.

I feed inside their tubs. The way you get them to know you are not food is by handling them between feed days. The snake will associate you with food if you only interact with it on days when you feed and days when you clean.

Feed him in his tub/enclosure. He will be fine. We feed in tubs, and my daughter has been handling the snakes since she was 6, when we first got into them. What's going to make more of a difference than where you feed him, is your snakes actual personality. Out of 7 balls, and 1 boa, there is just 2 bps that I won't let her handle on her own. The rest are trustworthy, and she knows her way around snakes.

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definitely feed in their enclosure. Handle them as well. With the 20 that I have, I can't handle them all as much as I should. Still, I rarely get bitten (always on feeding day, always my fault). Most of them are kittens, a couple are tigers.

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Originally Posted by reptiliachnids

It is pointless. There is a huge majority of us on here that feed in the tub. The whole feed outside of tub to lower aggression is a HUGE myth.

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X2 This :)

Thanks for the input, I'll just leave him in his cage the next time. He went for his hides pretty quick when I put him back in, so I'm sure he wasn't too impressed with his bin feeding.

This might be worth another thread.. but... do you worry about dead rodent germs breeding in your balls cage? Or am I just being a unrealistic germaphobe? Last week when I fed him in the cage I put the rat on a large shallow petri dish that I have (I occasionally order baby silk worms for my lizards and they are shipped in them) and put the rat on that. Of course he didn't leave the rat on it and dragged it across the tank a little. I then forgot to take out the dish (it's clear) and put his water dish on it. I noticed it when I cleaned his dish the next day, so the "germ dish" was in there for a day anyways.

Personally, I think it's a case of better safe than sorry. You'll hear evidence for both sides of the story. However, until I hear some evidence that suggests feeding them outside of their tub/cage has a negative impact, I'd rather feed outside, even if just for my own peace of mind as a placebo. I'd welcome someone that could tell me about some negative side-effects though, 'cause I'm not sure it's a real great idea to be handling a BP that's digesting food, putting it back into the enclosure. Just my .02, as they say.

I wouldn't worry aboiut germs if the rodent is consumed quickly, but if it is left overnight I might clean the cage.

These products are safe to use in your cage, and are very effective disinfectants

http://www.reptilebasics.com/chlorhexadine-gallon

http://www.reptilebasics.com/cleanin...fectant-200ml/

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Originally Posted by BWyant

Personally, I think it's a case of better safe than sorry. You'll hear evidence for both sides of the story. However, until I hear some evidence that suggests feeding them outside of their tub/cage has a negative impact, I'd rather feed outside, even if just for my own peace of mind as a placebo. I'd welcome someone that could tell me about some negative side-effects though, 'cause I'm not sure it's a real great idea to be handling a BP that's digesting food, putting it back into the enclosure. Just my .02, as they say.

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The only negative side effect you may experience would be a snake being too stressed out to eat once you get it out. I feed all mine in their tubs. No problems. :)


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Originally Posted by Desdemona

Of course he didn't leave the rat on it and dragged it across the tank a little.

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One decent reason to feed outside the tank.

If the BP is dragging the prey across the substrate (assuming it's a type of wood, not paper), then you run the risk (albeit slim) of substrate ingestion.

*Shrug* I'm new, so I'm really just a parrot, repeating what I've heard. There may be absolutely no adverse effects to in-cage feeding.

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Originally Posted by BWyant

Personally, I think it's a case of better safe than sorry. You'll hear evidence for both sides of the story. However, until I hear some evidence that suggests feeding them outside of their tub/cage has a negative impact, I'd rather feed outside, even if just for my own peace of mind as a placebo. I'd welcome someone that could tell me about some negative side-effects though, 'cause I'm not sure it's a real great idea to be handling a BP that's digesting food, putting it back into the enclosure. Just my .02, as they say.

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You are far more likely to get bitten moving a hungry snake into and from a feeding tub than you are by simply feeding in the snakes cage.

A BP isn't going to mistake you for food. I'm not saying that you will never get bit but if you do it won't be because your snake thinks that you are a rodent.

A BP uses multiple senses to ID potential prey, smell, sight, and heat signature. Unless you look, smell and give off the same thermal signature as a rat a BP simply isn't going to think that you are one.

Moving a BP before feeding increases the chances or him/her refusing a meal. This is especially the case when a BP is already not eating consistently.

Every major breeder and most of the vets here on BP.net feed in the snakes cage. It is a much better system.

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Originally Posted by Desdemona

Thanks for the input, I'll just leave him in his cage the next time. He went for his hides pretty quick when I put him back in, so I'm sure he wasn't too impressed with his bin feeding.

This might be worth another thread.. but... do you worry about dead rodent germs breeding in your balls cage? Or am I just being a unrealistic germaphobe? Last week when I fed him in the cage I put the rat on a large shallow petri dish that I have (I occasionally order baby silk worms for my lizards and they are shipped in them) and put the rat on that. Of course he didn't leave the rat on it and dragged it across the tank a little. I then forgot to take out the dish (it's clear) and put his water dish on it. I noticed it when I cleaned his dish the next day, so the "germ dish" was in there for a day anyways.

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I feed f/t. If they take the rat in their water dish, I wash then disinfect it. Other than that, I spot clean every day and do a full clean, disinfect once a month.

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Originally Posted by BWyant

One decent reason to feed outside the tank.

If the BP is dragging the prey across the substrate (assuming it's a type of wood, not paper), then you run the risk (albeit slim) of substrate ingestion.

*Shrug* I'm new, so I'm really just a parrot, repeating what I've heard. There may be absolutely no adverse effects to in-cage feeding.

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substrate ingestion usually isn't a problem, do you think that BP's in the wild never eat some dirt/whatever when they are eating?

there is a big difference between ingestion some substrate and ingesting an entire mouthful. yes it is something to watch out for... but it isn't enough to outweigh the benefits of feeding in the cage.

I feed live, and do it outside the enclosure. Don't want the rat leaving droppings inside.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

substrate ingestion usually isn't a problem, do you think that BP's in the wild never eat some dirt/whatever when they are eating?

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Nope, never! Which is why it's never killed 'em in the wild either. :P

Just razzing ya'. You've put some pretty good/helpful info up on this forum.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

there is a big difference between ingestion some substrate and ingesting an entire mouthful. yes it is something to watch out for... but it isn't enough to outweigh the benefits of feeding in the cage.

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I'd probably take your word for it. Like I said, it's my inexperience talking. I seem to remember the BHB guys saying in one of their Youtube videos that they'd prefer to feed out-of-tub if they could, but they just don't have the time. Hell, I've only ever fed 1 BP, 1 time, so all of my opinion is chalked up to what I've heard. Experience is the best teacher. If folks say it's fine to feed in-cage, then it more than likely is fine to do so. Me personally, I'd just try and keep the rodent clean if I could because that is one thing that could potentially go wrong. Of course, if you feed out of cage, you could stress the snake, so...

If one guy with all of one feeding under his belt says feed outside the tub versus 5 folks with countless feedings inside the enclosure feed in it, I'd probably go with the 5 over the 1.

We feed in the tubs with live rats. Any rat droppings are just spot cleaned away, no big deal.

We have had a few that got fed in a separate tubs for a while, but feeding n their own enclosure proved to increase feeding response.

When I first got into bps, my male was being fed in a separate container. Until I found this site, I continued to do so. Now he happily eats in his enclosure :) and I notice no difference in personality, etc.

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

When I first got into bps, my male was being fed in a separate container. Until I found this site, I continued to do so. Now he happily eats in his enclosure :) and I notice no difference in personality, etc.

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X2 Now that I have a lot more I can't even consider feeding in different enclosures

This is a tough topic for me even though I am also new to BP ownership. My little sister had a BP that was given away to a friend of hers after she passed away. I was upset with my parents as I would have loved to keep Charlotte for myself. Anyhow, my sister always fed Charlotte out of her tank because the person she got her from did the same and my sister was stubborn. My sister also only fed Charlotte hoppers every other month even she was large enough to take small to medium rats. Shortly before she was given away my dad measured her at 3.5ft. No idea on the weight as none of us knew weight was more significant than length lol.

I personally like feeding outside the tubs and so far it hasn't caused any feeding issues. They have not mistaken me for food. I take their feeding time as tub cleaning time.
Also, even with the majority of people favoring prekilled over live I also prefer live feeding. I watch my snake and make sure they eat it soon. If they show no interest in it within a short time I remove it right away.

There are no reasons NOT to feed the snakes in the tubs so thats what i do. Why spend extra time taking them out? Also i can gurantee you that getting my female cinny out of her tub and convincing her to eat in another tub is impossible... Youre welcome to try, ill have spongebob bandaids waiting for you...

I adopted my BP from a friend of a friend, who told me that she fed her BP in a separate container and that she was a bit of a picky eater (occasionally refused food). She was also only offering food to the snake once a month. I've had Onyx for about a month now, have fed her twice inside her tank and have had absolutely no problems getting her to eat. She has not shown one sign of aggression towards me, but I specifically do not handle her before feeding or for 48 hours after feeding. My experience is obviously limited, but my guess is being taken out of her tank to be fed stressed her out enough where she would occasionally refuse food. Each BP is different of course, just my thoughts on the subject.

I have had my BP girl for over about a month now and have fed her twice. Both times I have fed her in a separate tank and both times she has eaten a mouse and then moved on to even eating her first rat within 3 minutes of dropping the meal into the tub. So far this method seems to be working for me and I have not been bitten or struck at at all. Of course if I find that she starts to be finicky with her eating then I will start feeding her in her enclosure. I think it all depends on the snake. My snake seems to be doing fine with it so far, but the next person might have a snake with a different personality. Honestly the only real benefit is the convenience and ease so if she does start show signs of stress I will not hesitate to feed her in her enclosure. But so far I have seen no signs of stress, my biggest concern is my baby. I also only have one snake and not 30 so its not time consuming for me to use this method. This is just my personal opinion.