Feeding Locations

So I'm sure there is probably a thread on this somewhere else, but I was reading a response to a question elsewhere and came across an interesting statement.

It was asserted that feeding the python in a separate container will increase your likelihood of getting bit.

I would like to hear some of the rational behind this, as well as the argument for feeding in a separate container. As I have heard it, they don't associate "Here comes a hand into my tank" with "Here comes food" if you feed in a separate container.

Thanks for the input/response. I'm sure this is a polarizing topic...please don't fight :)

It IS most likely you will get bit when feeding in a separate enclosure because you have to move your snake while it's in feeding mode. After feeding a rat, I really wouldn't want to stick my hand in that separate box and pick them up!

I feed all of my snakes in their tubs/cages and haven't had any issues.

Here is the reason why feeding a snake in a separate container increases your chances of getting bit...

You have to handle/move a hungry/just fed snake into/from said separate container. This is just asking to get bit, plus chances are you have been handling rodents so your hands probably smell like a rodent to the snake.

Moving a snake to a separate container also has the potential to stress the snake which can lead to the snake refusing to eat (not that BP's really need an excuse not to eat lol)

There are only 2 reasons to feed a snake in a separate container and both can be dismissed.

1. People think that feeding a snake in its cage will make it aggressive. Simply put this is a myth with no merit what so ever most if not all big breeders feed their snake in their cages as do most of the vets here on this site. If there was an issue with doing so all of these people would stop.

A BP isn't going to associate your hand with food, especially if you use tongs to feed your snake(s). A BP uses multiple sense to determine what is and isn't food. Your hand on their own aren't going to trigger a feeding response. Most of the time when people are bit by a BP it is a defensive strike, and not a feeding strike. The difference is a defensive strike is just a bite without any coiling (constriction) where as a feeding strike involves constriction as the snake is trying to eat what it just struck at.

2. People are afraid of substrate ingestion. While this point does have some merit it too can be dismissed. A Bp can ingest some substrate without having any issues. Impaction due to substrate ingestion is extremely rare. Simply keeping an eye on the snake during feeding will keep this from becoming an issue.

I will just copy what I have just posted in another thread about this topic. The reasoning behind there being a greater chance of being bitten is simply because before moving your snake to a separate enclosure for feeding, you probably were handling the food in order to prepare it for feeding. You now not only have the scent of food in the air around your snake but also on your hands. Your hand is naturally a warm signature to a snake because of your body temperature and a warm heat signature + rodent scent = bite waiting to happen.

I fed my ball in a separate container today just because I didn't want to put the live mouse in her enclosure. she didn't bite and once she was in there, she ate it in a heart beat and I let her digest a bit before picking up the separate container and gently put it by her enclosure letting her find her way out of it and into her hide. it honestly depends on the snakes personality I think and anyone who says this or that is purely just speaking their opinion. I personally want to feed her live separately because I want to be able to see what's going on but I plan on giving her frozen/thawed in her regular enclosure in the future.

It was stated that it INCREASES your chances, not that it GUARANTEES it.

While most of our snakes tolerate us well they all have the potential to bite us. Doing certain things like handling prey then handling them increases these odds.

Own them long enough and it will happen.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Here is the reason why feeding a snake in a separate container increases your chances of getting bit...

You have to handle/move a hungry/just fed snake into/from said separate container. This is just asking to get bit, plus chances are you have been handling rodents so your hands probably smell like a rodent to the snake.

Moving a snake to a separate container also has the potential to stress the snake which can lead to the snake refusing to eat (not that BP's really need an excuse not to eat lol)

There are only 2 reasons to feed a snake in a separate container and both can be dismissed.

1. People think that feeding a snake in its cage will make it aggressive. Simply put this is a myth with no merit what so ever most if not all big breeders feed their snake in their cages as do most of the vets here on this site. If there was an issue with doing so all of these people would stop.

A BP isn't going to associate your hand with food, especially if you use tongs to feed your snake(s). A BP uses multiple sense to determine what is and isn't food. Your hand on their own aren't going to trigger a feeding response. Most of the time when people are bit by a BP it is a defensive strike, and not a feeding strike. The difference is a defensive strike is just a bite without any coiling (constriction) where as a feeding strike involves constriction as the snake is trying to eat what it just struck at.

2. People are afraid of substrate ingestion. While this point does have some merit it too can be dismissed. A Bp can ingest some substrate without having any issues. Impaction due to substrate ingestion is extremely rare. Simply keeping an eye on the snake during feeding will keep this from becoming an issue.

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I agree with everything here and I would have typed the same thing but you beat me to it.:P

The only time I ever feed in a separate enclosure is when I have two snakes housed together for some reason.(which I realize is a whole other can of worms!) The prospect of getting bitten really isn't a big deal with a snake like a Ball, but it can be downright scary to have to deal with a large Boa, Burm, or Retic that's still in feeding mode! I think the main point is that it's just a myth that feeding in it's regular enclosure makes it more cage aggressive. To each their own, though!:)

Just wondering; how does this apply with other snake species??
A friend of mine had a corn snake that they had fed in a separate container for many moons; the husband was a little lazy one day and fed it in its cage, and from that point on it always would strike at them when they put their hands in the cage to grab it out...

Is that due to the snake being afraid, or do different snakes act different??


and since I feed live, should I be using tongs??

Other snake species warrant the same explanations previously given. I have 5 colubrids and 1 bp, all of which are fed in their cages and do not associate my hand going into their enclosures as something to eat.

In your friend's case, the snake may have gained an association between the cage opening and being given food or some other anomaly and now gets defensive from something entering its enclosure.

If my friends experience is not normal, I guess I can just start feedin in the main cage then...

Should I be using tongs though?? And if so are there "good tongs" and "bad tongs"??

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Originally Posted by Mephibosheth1

Just wondering; how does this apply with other snake species??
A friend of mine had a corn snake that they had fed in a separate container for many moons; the husband was a little lazy one day and fed it in its cage, and from that point on it always would strike at them when they put their hands in the cage to grab it out...

Is that due to the snake being afraid, or do different snakes act different??

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It could just be a strong prey drive, my female MBK is the same way. If we need to take her out of the enclosure we hook her first. Over time she's learned that hook = no food.

We don't use tongs for the live feeders, they move just fine all on their own.

I don't use tongs even on F/t...all my snakes happily eat without needing to see a zombie dance. And in the past when they have, I just use my hand. Hey, I like the rush of danger....:D:D

I feed with tongs because many of my collection strike hard and fast while I'm lowering the prey in.

I think for most prey items almost any tongs will work. Where I have an issue is trying to handle XL rats. I usually just set the XL ones down and then slide them with the tongs where I want it.

I started out feeding Magnus in a separate container, and the only time I've ever gotten tagged was because of that. He was still in feed-mode when I went to pull him out. I kept with the Rubbermaid for awhile after that, although I was always more careful. Since I started feeding in-tank, I've had absolutely zero warning signs of strike when I reach in, whether it's to handle him or feed him. I also use tongs when I feed, because Magnus likes the zombie dance, although he doesn't need it; his feeding response is good either way. It eases my mind to keep the rat up out of the substrate until he strikes, to minimize ingestion.

Man, Anya, I'm surprised you haven't lost an arm yet. :P

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Originally Posted by Archimedes

Man, Anya, I'm surprised you haven't lost an arm yet. :P

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I know, right? What am I thinking hand-feeding these killer pythons?

:P

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Originally Posted by Anya

I know, right? What am I thinking hand-feeding these killer pythons?

:P

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You can feed my gtp and bloods that way if you would like. ;)

I do occasionally feed my ball by hand but she is very predictable and having already been tagged by my bloods and gtp I'm not real worried about a ball. I Bet I will survive.:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mephibosheth1

Just wondering; how does this apply with other snake species??
A friend of mine had a corn snake that they had fed in a separate container for many moons; the husband was a little lazy one day and fed it in its cage, and from that point on it always would strike at them when they put their hands in the cage to grab it out...

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I don't think it's very efficient or safe to move a large species (i.e. burm, retic, larger boas, etc) when food is around.
Gosh... can you imagine trying to move a retic back and forth to a feeding container and back while still in feeding mode? Yikes.....

I feed all mine in their enclosures. Gtp and boas get p/k off tongs, balls get live. Yeah, who wants to move a hungry snake to feed, thats a great way to get bit. My boas and gtp KNOW when feed day is. I would never feed without tongs. Ha, couldn't even imagine it with the boas and gtp. With the gtp and one boa, you better know where they are before you even open the enclosure/tub on feed day, cuz they're coming out for their food. Let alone try to take them out and move them for feeding...:p. Not a single ball of mine is tub aggressive. Moving them just stresses them out unnecessarily.

I feed all my F/T eaters in their tubs, and two of the picky live feeders who only take small mice, but all my live rat feeders get fed in separate bins because I've seen one too many pictures of rats going after snakes, and its easier to watch them and make sure everything is okay. The only other bonus of feeding out of their normal cage or tub would be that its easier to do poop patrol and fill water and whatnot while they are eating.
I used to feed all of them in separate bins and it really just wasn't worth it. It was a pain to move them all the time and making space to put the bins and yeah.. not worth it if you have a larger collection..

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Originally Posted by PiercingPrincess

I've seen one too many pictures of rats going after snakes,..

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All of those pictures are from irresponsible keepers who left their live rats in with their snakes for hours-days. The feeder got hungry and went for the only other edible thing in the enclosure.

A well fed and watered feeder will most likely spend its time grooming or exploring the enclosure. And a responsible feeding would be to take out the feeder if the snake does not eat within 10-30 minutes of putting in the rat.

In conclusion, it is unlikely for a rat to attack your snake unless you just neglect and leave it for extended periods of time.


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