Would love your opinions

Ok so I know this has probably been brought up before, but being new to owning a BP I thought I would ask anyways. What is your guys opinion on feeding in the enclosure vs in a separate feeding box? I have spoke to a few people including the breeder and they all recommend feeding him in his enclosure. I have also spoken to some people that say no feed him in a separate box, so he does not relate your hand in his space as food. I would love your input and feed back on this. I got my BP (Monty) on Sat and on Sunday I thought I would try feeding him cause he seemed so relaxed and good with his new surroundings, I put him in a separate tote and he ate no problem. Either way works for me and I am sure right now it will work for him :) Thanks Brandi:)

I used to feed in a separate box when I had one or two snakes. With 31 now that's not feasible.

Also, I was tagged twice by my Mexican Black King because she was still in "food mode" when I tried to move her from the feeding box back into her enclosure. Fortunately she was still pretty little at the time, but she was bound and determined to swallow my finger until I waved a vinegar-soaked cotton ball under her nose.

I feed Steve in the same enclosure, but I do all the rat handling with tongs. The scent gets on them rather than my hands and I don't get my hands close enough for him to strike them.

Consistency seems to be key...actually, for awhile, Steve equated the microwave timer with food. I heated water, then set a timer for how long the food should thaw. He learned that on the day I'm out more than usual, 'ding' means food.

I feed in a separate box. Makes it easy for me to go ahead and clean out the tubs while they are eating.

Simple answer. I don't want to be grabbing and moving any of my snakes while they are in feeding mode.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I used to feed in a separate box when I had one or two snakes. With 31 now that's not feasible.

Also, I was tagged twice by my Mexican Black King because she was still in "food mode" when I tried to move her from the feeding box back into her enclosure. Fortunately she was still pretty little at the time, but she was bound and determined to swallow my finger until I waved a vinegar-soaked cotton ball under her nose.

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I also feed in the same enclosure I learned that lesson a while back when my first snake was still alive. When they are in feed mode and you end up grabbing them the they could lose the urge to eat.

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Originally Posted by 3skulls

Simple answer. I don't want to be grabbing and moving any of my snakes while they are in feeding mode.

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This. I have some fatty snakes and I know for a fact I would get bit by moving them to a separate enclosure. Feeding in their own enclosure is perfectly fine

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Originally Posted by bcr229

I used to feed in a separate box when I had one or two snakes. With 31 now that's not feasible.

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Exactly - I feed in the enclosure and never had a problem. Actually I rarely have off feeds either. Much less stress IMO.

I used to think that feeding the snakes in their living enclosures made them more aggressive for handling. As some of the others said, I used to feed my BP's in feed containers when I had 5 or 6 animals. Now with a collection consisting of nearly 80 snakes (with all the new hatchlings) it would be nearly impossible to do so. I feed everyone right where they live. I haven't seen any increase in aggression in doing so either. I think its much more efficient and less stressful on the animals all together. I don't have many refusals when it comes to eating. I fed my animals the other day and out of nearly 80+ BP's only 2 didn't eat. One of which was in shed.

I have always fed in my enclosure. Honestly there have been a few times I got worried I would be mistaken for food
when my snake is really hungry (after a long weekend or maybe right after the feeding schedule was messed up by a shed).
My solution has been to block my snake with something like a paper bag or the top to his cage or a pair of shorts. Anything to stop it from letting its excitement lead it to do something it will regret. I only ever started this after my snake went for the water dish one time as I was replacing it, and usually is is not necessary. It had just been washed with hot water so maybe that was why? There was no way my snake was going for my hand because the corner he struck at was the opposite one I was holding.

Almost always it waits patiently in strike position for me to remove the barrier I keep the rat behind (which I started doing when I switched from mice to rats because I wanted to make sure my snake was ready so it wouldn't get bit or scratched).

I have never been bitten.

I feed in enclosure as well.

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I've done both. If they're not aggressive I don't think it matters either way.

Right now, Stryker is in Hyper-Aggressive Mode, so he stays put and the rat never hits the ground.

Feeding in a separate enclosure is not necessary. It causes unnecessary stress on the snake and opens you up to get bit. You are WAY more likely to get bit messing around with a snake you just fed than you are putting your hand in the enclosure when you aren't feeding the snake.

I feed them in their enclosures also. It takes a few of my snakes hours to get out of "feeding-mode" and if I was to put them in another bin to feed I'm pretty sure that I would take several bites a week.

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Originally Posted by 3skulls

Simple answer. I don't want to be grabbing and moving any of my snakes while they are in feeding mode.

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What he said. I think the reason that people give as to why you should use a separate container is the exact reason not to use a separate container. Why would you want them to associate being taken out of their enclosure with eating?

I don't know if it's the same for ball pythons as other snakes... but I feed my other snake in a separate container. She was super defensive when I first got her, and was told she was fed inside her vive. She has settled CONSIDERABLY - to conclude that her positive change was because of that one factor might be inaccurate, however. It could have been a number of things.
I don't handle her after feeding, but instead place her container opening inside her vive until she climbs out. I don't know if that would be possible for some of the larger snakes though, or smaller-opening enclosures.

I do plan on using a separate container for my ball python when I get him (hopefully him), and see how that goes. Although I do agree that you don't want your snake to associate being taken out with feeding, I also do not want my snake to think that me opening the lid is associated with feeding. I think if you handle your snake consistantly and appropriately, they should not associate either with feeding - regardless of where you feed them.
I personally do not have a large collection, and prefer to clean, change water, etc. while my snake is out also.

As long as your snake is happy and eating (and not biting you constantly), I don't think it matters where you feed them.

If your snake associates your hand with food when it's in it's enclosure means you're not handeling it enough. :D

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Originally Posted by grits

If your snake associates your hand with food when it's in it's enclosure means you're not handeling it enough. :D

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Or maybe you need to wash your hands more often...:p

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Originally Posted by Jay Mechtly

What he said. I think the reason that people give as to why you should use a separate container is the exact reason not to use a separate container. Why would you want them to associate being taken out of their enclosure with eating?

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Personally I think feeding them in a separate container is a total waste of time. Not all my snakes are handled regularly and unless there is food in the room with me I haven't had any tag me as a feeding response when opening their tubs.

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That is great to get everyone's personal opinion on to feed in or out of the enclosure, I will try feeding him in his enclose ad see what he thinks :) Now I have another question, my boy is just a year old and is currently eating once a week and on that feeding eats FT hoppers. When I got him his feeding day was Friday but I had to change it to Sunday ( he ate for me the day after I got him ). How do you tell if he is eating enough? I was going to add in another feeding so it would be Sun and Thurs while still on the hoppers, then after my box is gone try switching him to adult mice. Any thoughts on how much he should be eating and how often, I would hate for him to be hungry :)

You can try feeding larger rodents once a week. I go by the thickest part of the snake's body and thats the size the rodents hips should be.