Feeding In Separate Tub

I'm a new snake owner, ready to pick up my 1.0 spinner bp tomorrow from the breeder, and I have a couple of questions regarding the feeding of snakes in a separate tub/enclosure.

I just switched the substrate in my 10 gallon tank from Forest Floor to a mix of Komodo Coconut Terrain and Exo Terra Jungle Earth after dealing with some humidity issues (which were resolved when I changed to dried bedding). There's a label on the Jungle Earth bag that warns against feeding your snake within it's own enclosure due to risk of swallowing the substrate while it's eating it's prey (I will be feeding f/t rat pinkys, because that's the food item the breeder has started out with, so he's going to be already used to f/t; I live in Northern Europe where live prey feeding is illegal due to animal welfare laws).

My worry here is impaction and digestive problems if he happens to swallow some of the substrate while eating, how common or likely is it if you're using substrates like Reptibark, Coconut Terrain, Jungle Bark, etc? I was thinking about just getting a couple of plastic tubs and put newspaper or paper towels in there for a clean feed with no risk of impaction. I believe the breeder has previously kept him in a rack and has not fed him in a separate tub, I didn't want to keep a single snake in a tub so I bought a glass/display tank for him instead. I've been told he's a good eater (the breeder has fed him successfully 5 times) and I don't want to change his feeding response by stressing him out.

Is it better to feed him in his own tank and just make sure the rat is dry and won't get big pieces of substrate stuck on it, or would it just add stress for the baby if I take him out and feed in another tub? I would imagine feeding in a different enclosure would get him more used to a feeding schedule and he would learn when food is being offered, by associating the separate tub with prey. Wouldn't this potentially strengthen his feeding response even more, or does it really make any difference? I intend to feed him during the evenings. I have no problems feeding him in his tank, other than being worried about impaction.

What substrates do you guys use and how many of you feed your bp's in a different tub/enclosure? How big of a risk is it for snakes to swallow their substrate or bedding while eating? In the wild they obviously do end up getting some dirt etc into their system so I don't see it being that big of a deal, I'm just concerned because of the texture of the substrate I'm using.

If I do get him a feeding tub, how long should I wait before moving him back to his own enclosure so he won't stress too much and end up regurgitating his meal?

A) don't get a feeding tub. It causes stress and increases risk of a bite. Its really not nexessary. They learn what's food and when it's coming fast. And we have yet to have one unable to differentiate between food and hand
B) small amounts if ingestion are fine. Snakes often get mouthfuls of dirt or grass or what not in the wild
C) I also live where live rats are illegal so what we used to do us the at room temp and then just wet the head. Dangle high. Snake strikes up and gets all the wet in its mouth right away.
D) we are in tubs now....we have 22 so its much more feasible for us. We kept on blank newspaper at the end of our tank days because it was easier...but its not pretty. Any dirt based substrate should be fine if ingested in small amounts so it will look nicer.

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Yep. No feeding tub. Just not worth the trouble as long as you intend to regularly interact with the animal outside of feedings.

I have mine on hemp, which is a cypress alternative. No issues so far and I've not seen any of it into his mouth since I make sure the rat's dry before offering it to him.

I have noticed that a tub ritual does make the snake realise what's happening as soon as I set them down. It also helps them get into the mindset of "oh hey I'm supposed to eat this and not laze about my tank".
Since I have them out and about in my house with other animals and children etc, I feel it is good to have the snake know this is the only place I eat.
If your snake has not previously been fed in a glass place and its a new home it might be perfectly fine with switching to a new way to eat since it's switching to a new home.
I suggest testing out trying a tub at least once to see if the change works, and if it doesn't, try something else.
If you feel like you'd like to keep feeding it in a tank it sleeps in I would still worry about substrate/ etc, and put down newspaper to be safe. Our babies might be wild animals, but we have to admit sometimes ball pythons don't know how to think straight when hungry and just strike until they hit something.

There is no one really right way to do things, as long as you find what works well with you and your snake. Just like humans they can have their strange habits that you have to learn to work with. :) I wish you luck with your journey!

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I respect people's opinions, but the thing is, I haven't really heard or read anything negative being said about feeding in a separate tub, I've mostly read positive things about it and that it has worked well for a lot of people in feeding their bp's, because of how the snake quickly adapts to a feeding schedule and recognizes the tub as a place where he receives food, as opposed to eating inside his tank. I've literally watched hundreds of videos of people successfully feeding snakes in a separate enclosure, as well as the snake having a better feeding response in general because feeding it in a different tub reinforces the snake's knowing where and when it will be receiving food.

The reason why I'm considering at least trying to feed in a tub is that he's been housed in a rack and the tub might feel more of a comfortable and familiar environment for him to feed in than the tank, which will be a completely different habitat for him, having previously been in the rack. I have the back and the sides of the tank covered with black paper (taped to the outside) to provide him more security in the tank so he doesn't feel too stressed out or like he's being watched, as well as him having two plastic hides in the cool and hot spots of the tank.

I just got the humidity in my tank where I want it to be (it's now stabilized in the 60% - 70% range, after being at 99% using cypress mulch) so I don't feel like changing the substrate to newspaper although I agree it's functional and cheap despite not looking visually pleasing. I'm happy with the Coconut Terrain/Jungle Earth mix, I really just don't want him to get any of it in his digestive system.

I should also mention that him being a spinner morph, the breeder has informed me he has a slight wobble, for this reason, I can't dangle the rat too high up for him or try to imitate live prey too much. To make sure he doesn't miss when striking, I'm going to have to offer it close and keep the rat relatively still (I'm going to give it a couple tugs though once he has it).

I think I'm gonna do what I did with the substrate, just try out different things until I get it right, and see what works. I'm gonna buy him a separate feeding tub and feed him in the evenings. If it works and he eats in the tub w/o problems or getting overly stressed out (to the point where would regurgitate), I'll continue feeding him in the tub so he learns to associate the tub with food. I will be handling him twice a week, to get him used to handling, this should also remove any bite response from him as he learns to trust me and that he is safe even in his separate tub during his feeds.

If the tub doesn't work, I'll just put some paper towels on top of his substrate to minimize the chances of bedding getting stuck to the rat, or him swallowing it and getting digestive issues or impaction.

I once had exactly the same post as you. Until....she stopped eating. I feed her in her enclosure now days she has never skipped a meal...ever.

When I purchased my ball python the reptile guy said to feed in a tub so I did - Then I hear from people not to do it, but I continued to do so because I didn't see any adverse effects. I now do it with my 3 boas as well. It works, I have a system set up and when they get in the tub - it's game time. At no other time are they in "feed mode" and that includes the seconds before putting them in their feeding tubs when I grab a quick weight on them. I'll probably continue this procedure until they are just too big to move to feed I guess, they have a lot of growing to do before I figure that out.

I'd guess if you did a poll in this forum then about 90% would be feeding IN the viv/rub not in a separate place tbh

I've fed my 20 snakes on their vivs for years ( substrate is orchid bark ) with no issues . However , before offering the thawed rodent I put a couple of little pieces of card down and feed OVER the card . Simple .

You can do whatever works for you and your animal.

However, there are people on here with years and years of experience with thousands of snakes who will 10000000% say that a feeding tub is counter productive, myself included.

There is absolutely nothing to gain by using a feeding tub, it just increases chance of regurgitation and increases the chances of you getting tagged. Snakes will often remain if feed mode for m ore than 24 hours after eating. You put your warm hand in the feeding tub to move the animal after eating and guess what your warm hand becomes? Yup, a prey item.

If your husbandry is proper and your snake is provided proper hides and security it will have no problem eating within it's enclosure.

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Originally Posted by donnadudette2003

Since I have them out and about in my house with other animals and children etc, I feel it is good to have the snake know this is the only place I eat.
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Ummmm...you have multiple animals out and about while your snakes are out and about??? And children in the room???
If this is the case, it's not IF but WHEN will something go wrong. Not worth the risk, in my opinion. Too dangerous for the animals and the children.

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

I'd guess if you did a poll in this forum then about 90% would be feeding IN the viv/rub not in a separate place tbh

I've fed my 20 snakes on their vivs for years ( substrate is orchid bark ) with no issues . However , before offering the thawed rodent I put a couple of little pieces of card down and feed OVER the card . Simple .

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Looks like mixed opinions, lol. A lot of people for and against, both online and in real life. I guess it does ultimately boil down to what works for me and my bp. Like I said, I'm not worried about anything else other than impaction, but I can always put paper towel or print paper on top of the substrate. I was also told since snakes are capable of digesting small bones there shouldn't be adverse effects even if he does swallow one or two pieces of substrate. I'm not ruling out the tub w/o trying it first, though.

Thanks to everyone for commenting so far.

It's a matter of personal preference. but if you have multiple snakes, a separate tub to feed would be a nightmare come feed day. And far as substrate goes, your prey would have to be soaking wet and have a lot of it adhere to it in order for the snake to swallow a significant amount. If it were an issue, just serve the prey on a paper plate and slide it under the snake once the prey have been taken.

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Originally Posted by iddah

Looks like mixed opinions, lol. A lot of people for and against, both online and in real life. I guess it does ultimately boil down to what works for me and my bp. Like I said, I'm not worried about anything else other than impaction, but I can always put paper towel or print paper on top of the substrate. I was also told since snakes are capable of digesting small bones there shouldn't be adverse effects even if he does swallow one or two pieces of substrate. I'm not ruling out the tub w/o trying it first, though.

Thanks to everyone for commenting so far.

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You're definitely going to get mixed opinions on this topic. Like Zincubus mentioned, probably about 90% feed in the enclosure, myself included.

Snakes have very impressive digestive systems which break down bone and fur. A little substrate will not hurt them. They would have to ingest and swallow a pretty large chunk for it to cause any health problems. And, as mentioned, laying a paper plate, paper towel, whatever, will help alleviate this concern, but isn't 100%. Sometimes they will drag the prey item off the plate or whatever and inevitably get a little substrate.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

You're definitely going to get mixed opinions on this topic. Like Zincubus mentioned, probably about 90% feed in the enclosure, myself included.

Snakes have very impressive digestive systems which break down bone and fur. A little substrate will not hurt them. They would have to ingest and swallow a pretty large chunk for it to cause any health problems. And, as mentioned, laying a paper plate, paper towel, whatever, will help alleviate this concern, but isn't 100%. Sometimes they will drag the prey item off the plate or whatever and inevitably get a little substrate.

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https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...%2FYYtldcT.png

Jungle Earth is a bit chunkier, smaller chips are Coconut Terrain, hopefully not too big to cause issues if he happens to swallow one or two of those along with his rat?

I'm still buying the plastic tub, if not for the feeds, then for substrate storage, I did have the intention to just feed him into his tank until I started hearing and reading about separate feeding tubs and watching videos and seeing how that worked for a lot of bp's. I'm not gonna thaw my rats directly in water, I'm putting it in a self seal plastic bag and then into a tupperware container and fill that with warm water so it won't be as soaked as it would be if defrosted into water, and I'll dry the rat off really well. I think it's probable he'll drag the prey item off into one of his hides or smth so in the end I guess there isn't much I can do.

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Originally Posted by iddah

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...%2FYYtldcT.png

Jungle Earth is a bit chunkier, smaller chips are Coconut Terrain, hopefully not too big to cause issues if he happens to swallow a one or two of those along with his rat?

I'm still buying the plastic tub, if not for the feeds, then for substrate storage, I did have the the intention to just feed him into his tank until I started reading about separate feeding tubs and watching videos and seeing how that worked for a lot of bp's. I'm not gonna thaw my rats directly in water, I'm putting it in a self seal plastic bag and then into a tupperware container and fill that with warm water so it won't be as soaked as it would be if defrosted into water, and I'll dry the rat off really well. I think it's probable he'll drag the prey item off into one of his hides or smth so in the end I guess there isn't much I can do.

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Good point about substrate with smaller bits !!

I use the orchid bark and choose the FINE option as they're very small pieces and should go through the system easily enough ..

While we're on that subject ... I'm sure I read somewhere that snakes can digest fur/ feathers and bone they can NOT digest WOOD ?!?

Anyone know the facts regarding snakes and digest wood ??


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Originally Posted by iddah

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...%2FYYtldcT.png

Jungle Earth is a bit chunkier, smaller chips are Coconut Terrain, hopefully not too big to cause issues if he happens to swallow one or two of those along with his rat?

I'm still buying the plastic tub, if not for the feeds, then for substrate storage, I did have the intention to just feed him into his tank until I started hearing and reading about separate feeding tubs and watching videos and seeing how that worked for a lot of bp's. I'm not gonna thaw my rats directly in water, I'm putting it in a self seal plastic bag and then into a tupperware container and fill that with warm water so it won't be as soaked as it would be if defrosted into water, and I'll dry the rat off really well. I think it's probable he'll drag the prey item off into one of his hides or smth so in the end I guess there isn't much I can do.

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I use the same mixture and haven't had any issues.

As for how to defrost and heat the prey item, try what works for you first. You may need to make adjustments for your animal though.

For example: My BP will only eat a wet rat, which was defrosted in warm water and served immediately. If I offer dry, he refuses. If I defrost in the fridge over night, he refuses. If I let defrost at room temp for a few hours, he refuses. Now that he's on small rats, I defrost for an hour or two in the fridge (sssshhhhh, don't tell Tyson) and switch to warm water after that.

Just an example of how finicky they can be at times. Sometimes what has proven successful for thousands of animals just won't work for another. So we, as responsible owners, need to make adjustments. I will always try to hear from several, experienced keepers before trying anything new with any of my animals. You'll learn pretty quickly who the experienced, knowledgeable people are.

Anyway, good luck :gj:

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Good point about substrate with smaller bits !!

I use the orchid bark and choose the FINE option as they're very small pieces and should go through the system easily enough ..

While we're on that subject ... I'm sure I read somewhere that snakes can digest fur/ feathers and bone they can NOT digest WOOD ?!?

Anyone know the facts regarding snakes and digest wood ??


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Quick Google search tells me they digest pretty much everything /except/ rodent's claws and fur, and feathers of birds.

"During digestion, the snake's intestines go into overdrive mode and expand when necessary. When the snake isn't eating, the intestines are usually dormant."

"Owing to their narrow structure, no chewing mechanism nor limbs, a snake has to swallow its prey as a whole. In fact, their success and diversity is partly due to their ability to swallow prey relatively larger than their own body size. So inevitably, they need to process the parts like teeth, bones, exoskeleton and things of such nature."

"Snake saliva not only eases swallowing by lubrication, but also contains powerful enzymes to break down tissues and even egg shells. But snakes generally cannot digest keratin (claws, hair) or chitin (arthropod exoskeleton)."

Didn't find anything about whether they're able to digest or process wood tho.

Going back to the f/t, I'm gonna thaw the prey for him the way his breeder has done it, he's supposedly a good eater and hasn't missed any of the 5 meals he's been given so far (he's been fed last this past Sunday).

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Originally Posted by iddah

Quick Google search tells me they digest pretty much everything /except/ rodent's claws and fur, and feathers of birds.

"During digestion, the snake's intestines go into overdrive mode and expand when necessary. When the snake isn't eating, the intestines are usually dormant."

"Owing to their narrow structure, no chewing mechanism nor limbs, a snake has to swallow its prey as a whole. In fact, their success and diversity is partly due to their ability to swallow prey relatively larger than their own body size. So inevitably, they need to process the parts like teeth, bones, exoskeleton and things of such nature."

"Snake saliva not only eases swallowing by lubrication, but also contains powerful enzymes to break down tissues and even egg shells. But snakes generally cannot digest keratin (claws, hair) or chitin (arthropod exoskeleton)."

Didn't find anything about whether they're able to digest or process wood tho.

Going back to the f/t, I'm gonna thaw the prey for him the way his breeder has done it, he's supposedly a good eater and hasn't missed any of the 5 meals he's been given so far (he's been fed last this past Sunday).

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Thanks for the info!!!

And yeah, I would do what the breeder was doing. If it works, stick to it. :gj:

Usually the people for it are people with limited experience, the people against it are the one with more experience.

Facts

With a species like BP moving to a secondary enclosure is brought to lead them to food refusal.

Moving a snake in feed mode which happen hours before and after feeding will get you tagged sooner or later.

If you have a strong routine they know when feeding day is even when fed in there enclosure.

They can digest fur, bone, teeth, nails so a little substrate is nothing.

They will not mistake you for food if you feed in the enclosure, holdest myth I out there.

Bottom line keep it simple there is absolutely no reasoning behind feeding in another enclosure for BP


I feed hundreds of them in their enclosure which has either aspen or coco coir.

Handling a snake right after they eat really isn't a good idea. They need about 48 hours to fully digest a meal. Moving the snake after eating can cause regurgitation and possibly a bite.

When I first got my snake, several people (ones who have never even owned a snake before) tried to insist that I feed her in a separate tub otherwise she will get aggressive and strike every time I put my hand in the tank. That's completely false. I feed in the enclosure every time. She knows that Tuesday is feeding day. I've had her since February and she has never even tried to bite me and hasn't skipped a single meal!

Definitely the less experienced people who recommend and encourage feeding in a different enclosure.

On a set and steady feeding schedule your snake will know when it is time to eat. It will not mistake you for food. My snake is always ready to eat feeding day, rat or no rat. He will strike and try to eat anything on feeding day, because he knows for a fact that he's going to eat that day. Only time he's ever bit me is when he's in shed, but a defensive strike and a food mistake bite are waaayyy two different things, shouldn't be mistaken either.

Moving a snake from and to feeding tub are probably #1 reason why new snake owners get bit.

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Originally Posted by PythonBabes

Definitely the less experienced people who recommend and encourage feeding in a different enclosure.

On a set and steady feeding schedule your snake will know when it is time to eat. It will not mistake you for food. My snake is always ready to eat feeding day, rat or no rat. He will strike and try to eat anything on feeding day, because he knows for a fact that he's going to eat that day. Only time he's ever bit me is when he's in shed, but a defensive strike and a food mistake bite are waaayyy two different things, shouldn't be mistaken either.

Moving a snake from and to feeding tub are probably #1 reason why new snake owners get bit.

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I was hesitant about feeding him in his tank because I'm worried about impaction/the substrate I'm using, not because I'm afraid of getting tagged, or think my snake would be mistaking my hand for a prey item. The risk of impaction was the only reason I considered feeding in separate tub as an alt option, but I'm going to trust ppl with more experience and knowledge than I currently have, and just feed him in his tank and not stress about the substrate. I'll just go get those plastic tubs for substrate storage purposes lol.

Thank you so much to everyone who provided answers and opinions.

I feed in separate tubs, but not in the traditional sense. Sometimes feeding day also turns into cleaning day between sheds and poops. If there's dirty substrate I don't like feeding my snakes in the tub they're in. I'm not worried about them swallowing a bit of substrate if it's clean, but I'm cautious when it comes to potential bacterial infections in the mouth and what-have-you. My older pythons have been on a set feeding schedule for the entirety of their lives and are ready to go on feeding day and I don't like disrupting that, so if there's a smelly, poopy mess I'll move the snake to another tub and offer food while I clean. My separate "tubs" are just another shelf in my rack, though, so they aren't plopped into a completely foreign setting and exposed to potential stress while they eat. I never move them with my hands, either. On feeding day my hook is my best friend. The new tub is always set up with fresh substrate and hides, so I clean and sterilize the old tub and shuffle the new one down so I don't have to pick up the snake after it eats.

I never do this with new additions either, because quarantine and stress and blah, blah, but once I'm familiar with the new animal and the fecals and quarantine are without issue, this is the system I use. It's a system I've had going for years and years, and I've never had an issue. But in the face of having grown my collection this year, it's becoming too much of a hassle. My empty space will be filling up and I won't really have the option of just moving the snake to a new, clean tub. I either have to switch up my routine or get more shelves for my rack systems.

If separate tub feeding is something you decide to do, invest in a proper snake hook to reduce your risk of bites. Honestly though, it's not something that's necessary. Feeding on substrate is fine, as long as it's not filthy. Just always keep an eye out for the large pieces, and if there happens to be one, gently pick it off with your hemostats.

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Originally Posted by iddah

I was hesitant about feeding him in his tank because I'm worried about impaction/the substrate I'm using, not because I'm afraid of getting tagged, or think my snake would be mistaking my hand for a prey item. The risk of impaction was the only reason I considered feeding in separate tub as an alt option, but I'm going to trust ppl with more experience and knowledge than I currently have, and just feed him in his tank and not stress about the substrate. I'll just go get those plastic tubs for substrate storage purposes lol.

Thank you so much to everyone who provided answers and opinions.

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As a few have already said .... You can simply feed in the Viv BUT over some card or printer paper ..


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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Ummmm...you have multiple animals out and about while your snakes are out and about??? And children in the room???
If this is the case, it's not IF but WHEN will something go wrong. Not worth the risk, in my opinion. Too dangerous for the animals and the children.

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They have co existed for years, and no one has ever gotten hurt. They only get in a defensive mode while in their feeding tub. They've been hand raised by these children.


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I know one reason (since it was said there is no reason) to feed in a tub. Multiple snakes inhabiting an enclosure. Can you imagine them all striking at the same time? Or striking while another is already holding it. Or striking their partner/sibling/etc because they're too durpy to aim?
Not smart sounding to me.

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Originally Posted by donnadudette2003

They have co existed for years, and no one has ever gotten hurt. They only get in a defensive mode while in their feeding tub. They've been hand raised by these children.


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Your animals, I'm assuming your kids, your choice. I just would hate to see that situation end up a story on the news. They happen all the time...
...and even worse, I'd hate to see a child or animal get hurt. There's a reason people advise people not to create these situations.

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Originally Posted by donnadudette2003

I know one reason (since it was said there is no reason) to feed in a tub. Multiple snakes inhabiting an enclosure. Can you imagine them all striking at the same time? Or striking while another is already holding it. Or striking their partner/sibling/etc because they're too durpy to aim?
Not smart sounding to me.

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One of the MANY reasons it is advised NOT to house animals in the same enclosure

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Your animals, I'm assuming your kids, your choice. I just would hate to see that situation end up a story on the news. They happen all the time...
...and even worse, I'd hate to see a child or animal get hurt. There's a reason people advise people not to create these situations.

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One of the MANY reasons it is advised NOT to house animals in the same enclosure

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Then just don't feed them in their tank. It's that simple.

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Originally Posted by donnadudette2003

Then just don't feed them in their tank. It's that simple.

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Then just don't house multiple animals in the same enclosure. It's that simple.

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Originally Posted by donnadudette2003

Then just don't feed them in their tank. It's that simple.

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Are you...insinuating that it's totally acceptable to cohab snakes? Please tell me that's not where you're going...

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

Are you...insinuating that it's totally acceptable to cohab snakes? Please tell me that's not where you're going...

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Look at this magical pixie world where animals get along!

https://youtu.be/20HFRaO5sBo

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Originally Posted by donnadudette2003

Look at this magical pixie world where animals get along!

https://youtu.be/20HFRaO5sBo

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I fail to see how providing me a video about LIZARDS cohabiting (and a single snake) has anything to do with snakes cohabiting. Please stay on topic. There is such a thing as cannibalism between snakes if they are kept in the same enclosure. Nothing magical about that.

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

I fail to see how providing me a video about LIZARDS cohabiting (and a single snake) has anything to do with snakes cohabiting. Please stay on topic. There is such a thing as cannibalism between snakes if they are kept in the same enclosure. Nothing magical about that.

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I know cannibalism is a thing.
I'm not saying you should throw any animal in with any animal and just hope it works. I know of many cohab situations when a breeding pair will live together 24/7.
I also have seen clutches that are born and grow up together.
As with any situation of introducing any animal to another animal it is a risky business and avoiding it all together can be easier.

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Originally Posted by donnadudette2003

Look at this magical pixie world where animals get along!

https://youtu.be/20HFRaO5sBo

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Unsure if sarcasm or totally serious about cohabbing snakes..


Please be sarcasm. More than one snake per tank/tub is not good for anyone except the inexperienced owner who thinks it's "cute" when the snakes "snuggle"

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Originally Posted by donnadudette2003

I know cannibalism is a thing.
I'm not saying you should throw any animal in with any animal and just hope it works. I know of many cohab situations when a breeding pair will live together 24/7.
I also have seen clutches that are born and grow up together.
As with any situation of introducing any animal to another animal it is a risky business and avoiding it all together can be easier.

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That's not the same song you were singing earlier with your "just don't feed them in their tank." comment. You even flavored it with "it's that simple" when in reality and you are even admitting, it's NOT that simple. Cohabiting in snakes especially, and especially ball pythons, carry lethal risks. Just because you've seen some done successfully doesn't mean it's a general safe practice. For all we know everyone else has been really lucky in their dice rolls, and it's a matter of "when" rather than "if". It's a dangerous game.

Please consider not presenting it so dismissively in the future as new keepers may take your word for it. Or if you're going to present a counter argument, try offering a more relevant video to support your facts better.

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

That's not the same song you were singing earlier with your "just don't feed them in their tank." comment. You even flavored it with "it's that simple" when in reality and you are even admitting, it's NOT that simple. Cohabiting in snakes especially, and especially ball pythons, carry lethal risks. Just because you've seen some done successfully doesn't mean it's a general safe practice. For all we know everyone else has been really lucky in their dice rolls, and it's a matter of "when" rather than "if". It's a dangerous game.

Please consider not presenting it so dismissively in the future as new keepers may take your word for it. Or if you're going to present a counter argument, try offering a more relevant video to support your facts better.

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I meant to avoid them striking one another while aiming for a mouse it was simple to just not feed them in the same tank.

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Originally Posted by donnadudette2003

I meant to avoid them striking one another while aiming for a mouse it was simple to just not feed them in the same tank.

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I'll give you the benefit of the doubt but I still sense some back pedaling. Makes me wonder why you showed me your magical pixie video if you weren't trying to prove cohabiting was acceptable? Your stance is very unclear.

Anyways, sorry op I think we've derailed this thread enough!

After doing more research and given the discussion here as well as the opinions of more knowledgeable ppl I've gotten on this thread, I won't be feeding my bp in a separate tub. Big thanks to everyone for sharing your insight and experience, it's much appreciated.

Thankfully, the OP had the sense to read multiple opinions and choose to follow the advice of experienced people who share because they care. This thread is a great example of somebody new to the world of snake keeping potentially being misled by somebody who has some far out thoughts. This is a public forum where many voices can be heard, and I always suggest to anybody, new or not, to get your advice from multiple sources before putting anything into action.

If people choose to listen to one random person online, we would be risking a situation where multiple animals of multiple species including snakes, cats, etc... roam free in the same rooms where children are. This is NOT a safe situation for the children or the animals. This is the type of situation that leads to injuries or worse to the children and the animals. Not to mention paint another ugly picture this hobby doesn't need. It's not a matter of IF, but a matter of WHEN. You hang around clowns long enough, you're going to get some paint on your face...

We would be risking new keepers thinking because they saw it online it's ok to cohabitate multiple reptiles in the same enclosure. Granted, this works for some species, but that's a horse of a different color. Again, NOT a safe situation for the animals. And NOT good advice to be sharing on a forum where new people come to learn.

OP, good on you for doing your research and weeding out the information that you decided wasn't best for you and your animal.

Still a little concerned (and it was my only concern lol) about the substrate, but like a lot of ppl pointed out, there are definitely more cons than pros in feeding in a separate tub, and further research rly consolidated the fact of how counter-productive it seems. My original intent was to feed him in his tank, anyway, but now I'm 100% sure, and am going to offer him his f/t into his tank.

Again, thank you so much, everyone who contributed to this topic. <3

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Originally Posted by donnadudette2003

I know cannibalism is a thing.
I'm not saying you should throw any animal in with any animal and just hope it works. I know of many cohab situations when a breeding pair will live together 24/7.
I also have seen clutches that are born and grow up together.

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Breeding pairs are separated for feeding and kept separate for a while afterward to give them time to settle and digest. For instance, with ball pythons over the course of a week I'll pair on day 1, separate on day 4, feed on day 5, then re-introduce the male to another female on day 1 of the next week. Adult boas go a month between feedings and digest more slowly, plus they have a longer courtship, so they may be paired for three weeks, separated to feed, give them a week to digest, then reintroduce the male to the female.

Clutches are only kept together in the incubator until all the babies shed, then they are separated into tubs in a hatchling rack and fed a week after that.

Also I dare anyone to come over and move my female 15 foot retic to and from a feeding tub.

Excellent iddah, you've made the right choice! Feed in the tub :gj:

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Originally Posted by iddah

Still a little concerned (and it was my only concern lol) about the substrate, but like a lot of ppl pointed out, there are definitely more cons than pros in feeding in a separate tub, and further research rly consolidated the fact of how counter-productive it seems. My original intent was to feed him in his tank, anyway, but now I'm 100% sure, and am going to offer him his f/t into his tank.

Again, thank you so much, everyone who contributed to this topic. <3

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Just bear in mind that the rodents you feed them often feed on similar materials, so the snake is disposed toward being able to digest plant material even if it doesn't gain much/any nutritional benefit from it (think of it like iceberg lettuce for humans).

If the substrate concerns you due to large/sharp pieces, giving your snake a dry prey item (thawed in water then heated with a blow dryer 'til the fur is fluffy) removes most of the risk, as does "plating" with cardboard. Seen someone on reddit with a cute plastic mat (it's pink with a mouse on it) for their BP.

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Originally Posted by hollowlaughter

Just bear in mind that the rodents you feed them often feed on similar materials, so the snake is disposed toward being able to digest plant material even if it doesn't gain much/any nutritional benefit from it (think of it like iceberg lettuce for humans).

If the substrate concerns you due to large/sharp pieces, giving your snake a dry prey item (thawed in water then heated with a blow dryer 'til the fur is fluffy) removes most of the risk, as does "plating" with cardboard. Seen someone on reddit with a cute plastic mat (it's pink with a mouse on it) for their BP.

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I have a combo substrate, Komodo Coconut Terrain and Exo Terra Jungle Earth, the Coco Terrain should be safe enough because the chips are much smaller, Jungle Earth is chunkier and sharper, in the end I decided I can only reduce the risk by drying off the rats -- I'm gonna thaw them by putting them inside a plastic bag and the bag into a tupperware container, and fill it with warm water to keep the prey item as dry as possible, then use pt's to dry off any excess water/moisture. I'm also looking into plating like many ppl have already suggested, or just lay some pt's on top of the substrate to help minimize the risks I was concerned about.

I'll do what I can, and hopefully his feeds will go well and he doesn't get much substrate stuck on his rats.

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions guys.