Inside or out?

So as I go through the many pages of threads I am noticing various opinion on the matter of feeding inside the enclosure vs. outside in a separate container. What are the overall pros and cons of inside and outside the enclosure?

If inside the enclosure on substrate? I plan on using reptibark in the new enclosures

Interested to see what others say.. But I plan on feeding inside

Inside. Theres many threads on this forum discussing this topic

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I feed inside for all my snakes...inside for the colubrids, the boas, the bloods, the balls, the angolans, bull, retic, carpet, etc I use aspen and paper towel substrate and don't have any issues either.

Inside, I don't have a boa but have a seven foot carpet and I have no desire to move her when its feeding time or right after feeding she's can be cranky and I enjoy my skin unbroken :)

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Originally Posted by Dark Lady Kat

So as I go through the many pages of threads I am noticing various opinion on the matter of feeding inside the enclosure vs. outside in a separate container. What are the overall pros and cons of inside and outside the enclosure?

If inside the enclosure on substrate? I plan on using reptibark in the new enclosures

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I will always feed inside the enclosure. I have never been mistaken for food and my snakes (I don't own a boa) are not cage aggressive.

Two of my enclosures have reptibark as substrate and I've yet to had any issues.

While I've also had success with feeding outside the enclosure, I've also only had a few snakes. A lot of times you can stress the snake by moving it place to place.

With a boas size, I definitely wouldn't want to be using a separate feeding container. I would not want to be mistaken for food while trying to put it back in its home.

I have read many thread on the issue and many say that it is ok but there are those that say separate container and that is why I posted the thread. Also do you dangle the rat or mouse in or do you have one place you put it in the cage that the snake becomes accustomed to retrieving its meal from. F/t only not live although I breed my own rats I still euthanize them and freeze them before I offer them, I like f/t better because of safety I know snakes where made to catch and kill their prey by nature but I would rather be safe than sorry.

I present the prey 4-5 inches from the end of 18 inch hemos.

All my snakes are on reptibark, I feed everyone in their enclosure. (beside my sand boas)
Never had a snake look at me as I was food unless I have a rat in my hand.

I thaw my rodents in baggies. If a toenail makes a hole in the bag and the rodent becomes wet, I will feed them off a plate. I will also keep an eye on that snake as it feeds.

Some snakes I'll dangle, some from hemos, some ill hold by the tail, one I have to pinch behind the neck and do the zombie rat dance, a couple I have to place on top of the hide and a couple that I have to leave the room so they will eat.

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Originally Posted by 3skulls

All my snakes are on reptibark, I feed everyone in their enclosure. (beside my sand boas)
Never had a snake look at me as I was food unless I have a rat in my hand.

I thaw my rodents in baggies. If a toenail makes a hole in the bag and the rodent becomes wet, I will feed them off a plate. I will also keep an eye on that snake as it feeds.

Some snakes I'll dangle, some from hemos, some ill hold by the tail, one I have to pinch behind the neck and do the zombie rat dance, a couple I have to place on top of the hide and a couple that I have to leave the room so they will eat.

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The ones you leave on top of hides do you leave it on top of the side on the warm side so that it maintains its temp? I have had success with my balls dangling if I place it down they will sniff and ignore it but I would love to get to the point that I can just place the rat in the enclosure and move to the next I suspect the boas will be much easier on this method they are still in qt and their new cages will be built 1 month before they come out of qt. I hope to never have to do the zombie rat lol

I leave it on the cool side. I have a Carpet and a King that won't take it from me, they eat off hides.
A couple of BP that need me to leave the room, a BP that needs the dance.
My BRB only eats off a plate now (used to snatch it right up)

None of them seem picky about the temp of the rodent so I always leave it on the cool side. So just in case I forget to do my 2nd or 3rd round check on who has ate, the rat won't be sitting on heat all night. Waking up to that is really nasty :p

My BCIs always pounce on the rat, never had a problem with them eating.

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Originally Posted by 3skulls

I leave it on the cool side. I have a Carpet and a King that won't take it from me, they eat off hides.
A couple of BP that need me to leave the room, a BP that needs the dance.
My BRB only eats off a plate now (used to snatch it right up)

None of them seem picky about the temp of the rodent so I always leave it on the cool side. So just in case I forget to do my 2nd or 3rd round check on who has ate, the rat won't be sitting on heat all night. Waking up to that is really nasty :p

My BCIs always pounce on the rat, never had a problem with them eating.

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How did you figure out that they would take it that way or did you just one day place it there and it worked? Is it possible to get the snakes use to just finding their food on feeding day and if so what process would you use

I just kinda did it.
I'm not sure why my BRB changed his habits. He used to be so quick and would snatch it right up.

I don't know if I would try to change anyone. I'm just happy that they eat the way they do :p

Honestly I tell people that if they're that worried about feeding inside the enclosure (the main fear I seem to see is "what if they eat substrate?") is to just cover a portion of the enclosure with paper towels and feed your snake on them. But as long as it's not a huge piece of substrate they should have no problem even if they do swallow it.

And there is no way in hell I'd try to move my 6.5ft, 25+lb. BCI after feeding her. She's always hungry for more and I like my blood inside my body.

I have read, just read, more horror stories about snakes eating paper towels an having issues than substrate. But they could just be stories. I think I would much rather deal with a piece of substrate or two over a paper towel or two.

I think the "eating paper towels" problem occurs when they just leave the prey ON the paper towels. Then I could see how the paper towels might get stuck to the rat/mouse and the snake ingests it that way. But I used to feed my BP on paper towels all the time, never had a problem.

I tried to feed my boa on them for a little while, but it a) didn't even matter because she usually ended up dragging it somewhere else and b) I didn't like trying to get them OUT of the tank after she was done. :P

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Originally Posted by xFenrir

I think the "eating paper towels" problem occurs when they just leave the prey ON the paper towels. Then I could see how the paper towels might get stuck to the rat/mouse and the snake ingests it that way. But I used to feed my BP on paper towels all the time, never had a problem.

I tried to feed my boa on them for a little while, but it a) didn't even matter because she usually ended up dragging it somewhere else and b) I didn't like trying to get them OUT of the tank after she was done. :P

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Yea, we use paper towels here as well with no issues. If the rat was wet and placed on a paper towel I can see it being an issue. Or maybe if the rat was alive and grabbed the paper after being struck or something. Watching your animals eat saves a lot of headaches :)

I feed in their enclosures and have never had issues. I use newspaper substrate. No behavior changes either.

The cons of a separate feeding tub are:
1) stressful for the snake
2) you are more prone to get bitten because the snake is conditioned to expect food when you handle it when transferring it to the feeding tub. The snake may or may not still be in feeding mode after it's swallowed its prey and can lead to a bite.
3) This isn't that big of a deal, but you have to handle a snake will a full belly. Extremely rare, but can cause a regurg.
4) Because BPs are known to be shy or picky, the snake may not even bother to eat in a new environment.

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I feel all of my snakes in their enclosures. With my two older boas, I don't dangle the rat for them. I just drop it in, usually in different spots and they get to go find it.

My balls I feed inside the enclosure, one of my balls eats frozen, I usually thaw out just in time for his/her florescent light to shut off. I place the rat on top of the hide, it is usually gone within 20 mins or so. My other ball is still on live, I feed him inside the enclosure as well. But since this one is on live prey I remove the hides first. I do this just because I'm worried that if I leave the hides in, the rat goes inside the hide with the snake and I can't see what is happening.

My recent addition, my Boa, I have only fed once, (f/t) just placed it inside and about 25 mins later it was gone. I have all my snakes on eco earth.

Just to add, I thaw everything in the snake room then take them out to heat them up in water. I feed a couple of hours after lights out.

Every one of my snakes are fed inside their enclosures. As Daybreaker said, there's no way in hell I'd try to move either of my Argentines after they've eaten. I like my blood inside my body too...........

I do use paper substrate, but have used aspen and have never had a problem either way - even if the rat is wet.

The boas are fed off 18-24" hemostats, but the balls won't eat unless I leave the room. So I just drop a rat in with them somewhere near the entrance to the hide they are currently in, and it's usually gone in a couple of hours. But the boas, well, crack open the tub, stick the rat in, and WHAMMO. Done. Love that feed response!

I've never been bitten by any of the boas - even the Argentines who can both do outstanding impressions of king cobras if they want. When there's no rat involved, I can just open a tub and pull out whomever I want. There's no food aggression at all. :gj:

I feed all of mine in their enclosures. Like everyone else, I'm not going to try and move them in feed mode, unless it's absolutely critical...

We feed in the enclosure and dangle/wiggle from Feeding tongs. We use aspen bedding so we don't lay it down unless we have to.

Inside outside club!

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

Every one of my snakes are fed inside their enclosures. As Daybreaker said, there's no way in hell I'd try to move either of my Argentines after they've eaten. I like my blood inside my body too...........

I do use paper substrate, but have used aspen and have never had a problem either way - even if the rat is wet.

The boas are fed off 18-24" hemostats, but the balls won't eat unless I leave the room. So I just drop a rat in with them somewhere near the entrance to the hide they are currently in, and it's usually gone in a couple of hours. But the boas, well, crack open the tub, stick the rat in, and WHAMMO. Done. Love that feed response!

I've never been bitten by any of the boas - even the Argentines who can both do outstanding impressions of king cobras if they want. When there's no rat involved, I can just open a tub and pull out whomever I want. There's no food aggression at all. :gj:

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Awesome to hear would you consider reptibark a safe substrate for boas and balls I know its harder to change and clean but I want the aesthetic as well as functional for the new builds and am finding the aspen on my floor every day when I pull a snake out to be getting on my nerves as the only room in my hose with carpet has to be the room they are in lol I have never tried leaving a rat in the ball cage I will have to try that they tend to only eat half the time and I usually have to put every one to bed first and shut t he lights off and work in the dark to get them to eat.

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Originally Posted by Dark Lady Kat

Awesome to hear would you consider reptibark a safe substrate for boas and balls I know its harder to change and clean but I want the aesthetic as well as functional for the new builds and am finding the aspen on my floor every day when I pull a snake out to be getting on my nerves as the only room in my hose with carpet has to be the room they are in lol I have never tried leaving a rat in the ball cage I will have to try that they tend to only eat half the time and I usually have to put every one to bed first and shut t he lights off and work in the dark to get them to eat.

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Uh, actually, I don't think I did say that. Perhaps someone else mentioned it and you thought it was me? Now, I don't think there's any problem really with Reptibark, but I would recommend some other choices before that. If you're concerned about asthetics, I would suggest cypress shavings. This is softer than reptibark and holds humidity really well. I've used it with my BPs for years.

Also, just don't leave a LIVE rat in overnight with your snakes (or for any length of time unattended). I only leave f/t rodents in the tubs. Just wanted that to be clear. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

Uh, actually, I don't think I did say that. Perhaps someone else mentioned it and you thought it was me? Now, I don't think there's any problem really with Reptibark, but I would recommend some other choices before that. If you're concerned about asthetics, I would suggest cypress shavings. This is softer than reptibark and holds humidity really well. I've used it with my BPs for years.

Also, just don't leave a LIVE rat in overnight with your snakes (or for any length of time unattended). I only leave f/t rodents in the tubs. Just wanted that to be clear. :gj:

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I think that was supposed to be more "Awesome to hear! Would you consider reptibark to be a safe substrate?" as in they were asking your opinion on the substrate. The sentence was just a run on sentence. :P

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Originally Posted by xFenrir

I think that was supposed to be more "Awesome to hear! Would you consider reptibark to be a safe substrate?" as in they were asking your opinion on the substrate. The sentence was just a run on sentence. :P

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LoL!! After re-reading that, yes, I think you're right! Well, I guess I answered the question anyhow. Thanks! :P

I feed in a separate container since that how she was used to feeding when I first got my BP. I tired feeding her inside, but she wasn't having it. Very picky eater! She usually goes right after the rat when I throw her in, so after the fact I usually wait an hour after that to move her.

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Originally Posted by [COLOR=#3E3E3E

Originally Posted by [/COLOR]Dark Lady Kat
Awesome to hear would you consider reptibark a safe substrate for boas and balls I know its harder to change and clean but I want the aesthetic as well as functional for the new builds and am finding the aspen on my floor every day when I pull a snake out to be getting on my nerves as the only room in my hose with carpet has to be the room they are in lol I have never tried leaving a rat in the ball cage I will have to try that they tend to only eat half the time and I usually have to put every one to bed first and shut t he lights off and work in the dark to get them to eat.

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

Uh, actually, I don't think I did say that. Perhaps someone else mentioned it and you thought it was me? Now, I don't think there's any problem really with Reptibark, but I would recommend some other choices before that. If you're concerned about asthetics, I would suggest cypress shavings. This is softer than reptibark and holds humidity really well. I've used it with my BPs for years.

Also, just don't leave a LIVE rat in overnight with your snakes (or for any length of time unattended). I only leave f/t rodents in the tubs. Just wanted that to be clear. :gj:

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Awesome to hear. Would you consider reptibark a safe subatrate?
It was a question sorry for the confusion I havent thought about cypress is that the stuff called forest floor? It looks good if that is the right stuff I am thinking of the pieces always seem a bit large to me.

And just to clarify because I think one of the two of us missed something somewhere I only feed my BP f/t and have switched the boas to f/t even though I breed my own rats I also euthanize and vacuum seal and freeze them as well.

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Originally Posted by Dark Lady Kat

Awesome to hear. Would you consider reptibark a safe subatrate?
It was a question sorry for the confusion I havent thought about cypress is that the stuff called forest floor? It looks good if that is the right stuff I am thinking of the pieces always seem a bit large to me.

And just to clarify because I think one of the two of us missed something somewhere I only feed my BP f/t and have switched the boas to f/t even though I breed my own rats I also euthanize and vacuum seal and freeze them as well.

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Haahahha! Yea, sorry for the confusion - I misread that! I think cypress mulch is not that forest floor stuff. The forest floor is finer and if I remember correctly, I tried it once and hated it - seemed very dirty. The cypress mulch is just like garden mulch (don't use garden mulch - it only looks the same, but its not really the same stuff). Some of the pieces seem big, but it really is softer than it looks. My balls did great on it for a long time and it was easy to clean. A lot of people use cypress mulch - it is a very good substrate.

Just wanted to be clear about the rats - not just with you, but for anyone else who might read the thread. :gj:

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Originally Posted by Evenstar

Haahahha! Yea, sorry for the confusion - I misread that! I think cypress mulch is not that forest floor stuff. The forest floor is finer and if I remember correctly, I tried it once and hated it - seemed very dirty. The cypress mulch is just like garden mulch (don't use garden mulch - it only looks the same, but its not really the same stuff). Some of the pieces seem big, but it really is softer than it looks. My balls did great on it for a long time and it was easy to clean. A lot of people use cypress mulch - it is a very good substrate.

Just wanted to be clear about the rats - not just with you, but for anyone else who might read the thread. :gj:

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Its all good I will look into cypress and see what it will run me for the cages and I agree to never leave a snake unattended with a live prey I hated that the boas where on live when I got them but I offered their first meal with me live since its what they where use to and then made the switch to f/t by the third meal now they take f/t like a champ and nothing much over room temp is needed I thaw room temp then put in a sealed Tupperware container near the light on top of the cage for 20-30 mins and then offer it being in oil country anything that doesn't have to go into the city water that smells of bleach on its best day and pure rotten eggs on its worst is best for me