Do you feed in or out of the enclosure?

As the title states. What do you prefer? Do you notice a difference in behavior? Please let me know. I have always fed in the enclosure and have never had any issues(I know people who keep thousands of snakes who would never have the time to constantly remove them all to feed) but I know many people who swear by feeding strictly out of the enclosure

In. Always in.

*EDIT* I should clarify. They always start in their enclosure. Depending on how hungry they are, sometimes they come flying out at dinner time and I gently move them back in while doing my best Steve Irwin impression. :rolleye2:

I have a young Cal King and just getting her out of the enclosure alone would stress her out way more than simply dropping a mouse in for her (she doesnt seem like she enjoys striking at her food as ive seen mostly defensive strikes from her when offered a meal)

I feed outside although I would willingly feed inside. The only reason he is fed outside is because he feeds reliably outside the enclousure.

feed in the enclosure. always try offering the prey item within the enclosure. idk many people that "swear" by feeding outside, but many who swear by the opposite. it works for, like, literally almost every snake and does not come with the unnecessary stressors of removing the snake from their home.

now, with that said: right now i have a new hatchling beep that has eaten 2/3 times while i'm holding him up and out of his enclosure. IDK why this is happening but i hope it's something he'll outgrow real soon. i would rather he strike from inside his hide and in his enclosure.

In the enclosure, my Blood wouldn't eat if I tried to feed outside the enclosure. And I haven't noticed any behavior issues doing it.

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Originally Posted by BallPythonWannaBe

I feed outside although I would willingly feed inside. The only reason he is fed outside is because he feeds reliably outside the enclousure.

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Maybe something might be off with your setup? Might be worth checking temps and stuff.

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Originally Posted by MD_Pythons

Maybe something might be off with your setup? Might be worth checking temps and stuff.

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I didnt explain myself :oops: Sorry! My mother wanted me to try feeding outside the enclosure although if he wouldnt eat we had agreed to feed inside the enclosure. I do know that for most people it dosent make a diffrence feeding inside or outside.

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Originally Posted by KingNoFace

I know many people who swear by feeding strictly out of the enclosure

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These people are welcome to come feed my retics outside of their enclosures.

I feed in their enclosure. They are more comfortable and there's no risk of getting bit from a feeding response or regurgitation [emoji14]

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Originally Posted by bcr229

These people are welcome to come feed my retics outside of their enclosures.

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Then they can come around to us and feed my Kings in a separate container ... I'll video it :)


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in the enclosure. no need to add stress of switching containers. Different feeding tanks is an old wives tale.

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In the enclosure for all my snakes (BP, Corn, and BCI).

I feed all at night with the lights out - almost totally dark. I handle with lights on either in room and/or in enclosure.

When I go in with lights on they do not expect food. When I go with lights out the corn is in hunt mode immediately (even when I walk by the cage). The BCI is calmer, but eats like a champ every time. The BP is shy and likes the darkness.

I have never had any of my snakes strike at me with the lights on, or off for that matter, but they are definitely ready for food with lights out.

In this sense, they are conditioned somewhat.

I will say I handle all my snakes regularly, 3-5 times a week, and not every time I go in their enclosure are they getting fed. That helps too.

I don't think it's black and white. As mentioned above, there are other factors to snake behavior and how they react when you go in the enclosure. So, other people may have different experiences.

I also believe the less stress the better and that is another reason I feed in the enclosure.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

These people are welcome to come feed my retics outside of their enclosures.

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:rofl::rofl::rofl:

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I feed inside the enclosure regardless of size of the animal, substrate, species etc, there is no reasoning or logic for feeding outside the enclosure.

Depends on the animal. For a ball python I would never recommend feeding in a separate enclosure. They are just not the type of animal that should have that done. My Savannahs never would eat inside the enclosure once full grown. I had to let them out and feed them. It never caused stress to do so but then again monitor lizards and ball pythons are worlds apart.

In, always in. It seems natural as they are AMBUSH predators. So their prey comes to them.

Always in the enclosure.

There's really no reason to feed outside the enclosure, only risks.

I feed in their enclosures because I feel like I would get bit if I tried taking them out. They know when it’s feeding time so they strike as soon as they see the prey. I’ve never had a problem with doing it this way.


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I also feed in the enclosure. I think it's much easier, and less stressful for all involved, especially the snake. I've had absolutely no issues, and I think it is due in part, at least, to the fact that I make sure to do something in his cage each day (ie: replace water). I also make sure to hold him at least a few times a week for a short period of time. The only time he tends to sometimes get S-neck is the day after he's eaten if he happens to notice me near the cage. (Ghost's boop brain maybe??: "sooo... do you have rat?") Even then, it's not even aggressive; it almost seems like he's wondering if perhaps I do have more food. I know they probably don't have the propensity to beg for food in the traditional sense, but I almost get that impression.

He just usually puts his head back in his hide if I put my hand in the tank. If he doesn't, I take my hand out, and wait for him to go back to sleep. The next time I pick him up (48 + hours after feeding), he's doesn't get S-neck or strike or anything.

I have done both for my ball pythons and I have never had any issues. But I mainly feed out of the enclosure just because I don't want them to get used to thinking food when I open their cage for fear of getting bit.

I started feeding in a separate tub at the direction of the guy at the reptile shop I bought the snake at. it was my first snake, I had no experience, and doing as I was told- without any issues except it took forever (removing, letting her settle in, then feeding and waiting for her settle down again before putting her back). So naturally when I added the next 5 to my collection I fed all of them in separate tubs - again without any issues, except it took an hour or so.

I guess my biggest worry was impaction from ingesting bedding. I decided to feed in their enclosures 2 weeks ago after watching countless Brian Barczyk/Viperkeeper vlogs of their snakes eating, reading about everyone that feeds in enclosures without issue, and it seemed to go flawlessly for me as well. Not to mention cut the time it took immensely, which was very nice.

Now will I say it's mandatory, no. Maybe I was lucky....I don't know...I'm no expert. But I'm happy they are now eating in enclosures, if for nothing but the time it saves me with my ever expanding collection.

In enclosure for all of my snakes. I've tried feeding out several times, and none of the snakes I did it with seemed to mind, but there's no reason to keep doing it. The only time I've ever found it beneficial is occasionally feeding hatchling Western Hogs in a cup. Being in a small container sometimes seems to help them smell/find the prey better, but they've all gotten too big for that trick to work.

As far as training snakes not to expect food when you open the cage, just make sure you go in there for other reasons just as often as you go in to feed them. I've made it a habit to check on all my snakes either a few days before, or a few days after feeding. I hold them briefly, clean up any messes, and put them back. Haven't had a problem with them thinking I'm food, unless I handled rodents just before that and forgot to wash my hands.

Guessing it's common knowledge but when feeding in viv - any concerns about ingesting substrate can be allayed by simply placing a couple of pieces of card down and feeding over the card ..


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Originally Posted by redshepherd

Always in the enclosure.

There's really no reason to feed outside the enclosure, only risks.

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I have one sand boa who I feed outside of his tub because he won't eat in his tub. I've tried dozens of times to feed in his tub but he refuses. Put him in a small container and he immediately goes for the food. I have to disagree that there are only risks when feeding out of the tub. It also depends on the size of the snake.

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Then they can come around to us and feed my Kings in a separate container ... I'll video it :)


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Zincubus, let me preface this by saying I have gotten to "know" you pretty well through this forum and I have nothing but the utmost respect for you, so please don't take this in a negative way. I don't think you will, but wanted the disclaimer out there....
I always get a chuckle when you discuss your Kings' feeing responses. I can almost picture you (without having a clue what you look like) feeding your Kings and just love the image I have created in my head, Hahahaha!!! Anyway, hope you took that the way I meant it. You're one of the people on the forum I have 100% respect for and would never mean to give you anything but the compliments you deserve....

Like most Kings, my boy Django has that insane feeding response, so I completely get what you're saying. I just open his enclosure with his mouse close by and he's all kinds of fired up and there are times he comes flying out the top to get his prey. It's hilarious!!! So, I get it. I just dangle and let him do his thing. Sometimes he'll miss more than once, sometimes he'll strike at a shadow, sometimes he'll try to strike me through the glass.... it's hilarious to me. I love my crazy boy to death and his feeding response is part of what I love about him.

Now, to answer the OP question: Always INSIDE the enclosure. I have experience with both in and out, but it has been over 15 years since I fed outside the enclosure. I was young, new and still learning way back then (though still learning today too, there's ALWAYS more to learn ) and have since dispelled the "myths" about feeding outside the enclosure through my own experience as well as plenty of research.

So, in conclusion, through years of experience and research I see NO benefit to feeding outside the enclosure. Granted, there are exceptions to every rule, I personally haven't found the exception to this rule.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Now, to answer the OP question: Always INSIDE the enclosure. I have experience with both in and out, but it has been over 15 years since I fed outside the enclosure. I was young, new and still learning way back then (though still learning today too, there's ALWAYS more to learn ) and have since dispelled the "myths" about feeding outside the enclosure through my own experience as well as plenty of research.

So, in conclusion, through years of experience and research I see NO benefit to feeding outside the enclosure. Granted, there are exceptions to every rule, I personally haven't found the exception to this rule.

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I only have one girl that breaks the rule. I got her as an adult that only ate live. I tried every known method to get her to eat FT. Nothing worked. So, I decided to establish a pattern to get her to eat. I would throw her in another tub let her see a live rat and get her good and fired up. Then I would drop the rat in and boom. I then started doing the same thing with FT. Eventually I got her eating FT in her own tub, but every year, after she drops her eggs I have to go through the same thing to get her eating in her tub again.

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Originally Posted by JodanOrNoDan

I only have one girl that breaks the rule. I got her as an adult that only ate live. I tried every known method to get her to eat FT. Nothing worked. So, I decided to establish a pattern to get her to eat. I would throw her in another tub let her see a live rat and get her good and fired up. Then I would drop the rat in and boom. I then started doing the same thing with FT. Eventually I got her eating FT in her own tub, but every year, after she drops her eggs I have to go through the same thing to get her eating in her tub again.

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There's the exception to the rule. Thanks for sharing!!!

So how do all of you BP vets recommend feeding LIVE inside the enclosure? Just curious, as I am planning to feed live in the next couple weeks.

Don't stress the rat out. Drop it in. Cover the top of the enclosure. Watch to make sure nothing goes wrong. Have a set of tongs ready for if it does.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Zincubus, let me preface this by saying I have gotten to "know" you pretty well through this forum and I have nothing but the utmost respect for you, so please don't take this in a negative way. I don't think you will, but wanted the disclaimer out there....
I always get a chuckle when you discuss your Kings' feeing responses. I can almost picture you (without having a clue what you look like) feeding your Kings and just love the image I have created in my head, Hahahaha!!! Anyway, hope you took that the way I meant it. You're one of the people on the forum I have 100% respect for and would never mean to give you anything but the compliments you deserve....

Like most Kings, my boy Django has that insane feeding response, so I completely get what you're saying. I just open his enclosure with his mouse close by and he's all kinds of fired up and there are times he comes flying out the top to get his prey. It's hilarious!!! So, I get it. I just dangle and let him do his thing. Sometimes he'll miss more than once, sometimes he'll strike at a shadow, sometimes he'll try to strike me through the glass.... it's hilarious to me. I love my crazy boy to death and his feeding response is part of what I love about him.

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I daren't use tongs for my Kings [emoji4]

In the morning or afternoon I put a couple of pieces of card in their vivs and feed later in the evening .
I check where they are in the Viv then slide the door open and quickly drop the thawed mouse onto the card and quickly slide the door shut before they 'get me ' [emoji4]


One feeding time , my Black and White banded Cali launched himself at my hand but grabbed the stainless steel water dish and swung it around his head a few times !!



My Bamboo Ratsnake is the scariest feeder of all , launching himself into the air taking in mouthfuls of nothingness ... I've mentioned before that I have to wear a suit of chainmail reinforced armour to get him out when giving his Viv a deep clean ...... thank the Lord he's only 15" long !

:)


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

I daren't use tongs for my Kings [emoji4]

In the morning or afternoon I put a couple of pieces of card in their vivs and feed later in the evening .
I check where they are in the Viv then slide the door open and quickly drop the thawed mouse onto the card and quickly slide the door shut before they 'get me ' [emoji4]


One feeding time , my Black and White banded Cali launched himself at my hand but grabbed the stainless steel water dish and swung it around his head a few times !!



My Bamboo Ratsnake is the scariest feeder of all , launching himself into the air taking in mouthfuls of nothingness ... I've mentioned before that I have to wear a suit of chainmail reinforced armour to get him out when giving his Viv a deep clean ...... thank the Lord he's only 15" long !

:)


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Awesome stuff!!! :rofl:

I feed my corn snake in a separate container, cause that's how I was taught it was done via the corn snake forums. I think it's because corns tend to be kept on aspen, which is easier for them to accidentally swallow. At any rate, I have zero issues with it. She's associated "critter carrier = food", and she knows what to expect. The routine goes that I put the critter carrier on the scale, zero it, and put the snake in for pre-feed weigh-in. After that, I open the little hatch, put the mouse in via tongs, then she strikes and eats. I close the hatch while she eats so she can't escape, and just let her take her time. Once she's all done, I open the carrier over her tank, she slithers back in, and all is well. I know people say you can't train snakes, but she definitely knows the routine by this point (had her for two years now).

Now, I just got my BP, and I think I'll try and do that same routine with her. If she ends up being too shy for it though, I'll just switch over to feeding in tank. I'll just put a paper towel down for her or something.

I think the biggest plus to out-of-tank feeding for me (besides the not having to worry about eating substrate) has been that it doubles as a weigh-in day, since I keep records of weight to make sure they're eating properly. I need them in a container on the scale for that for that anyways, may as well feed them while I'm at it. It's not a big deal for me though, since I'm just now getting two snakes. Could see that not being an option for someone with a bigger collection though, and I don't blame people for feeding in-tank. As long as the snakes are okay, I suppose it really just comes down to personal preference.

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Originally Posted by Hikari

I feed my corn snake in a separate container, cause that's how I was taught it was done via the corn snake forums. I think it's because corns tend to be kept on aspen, which is easier for them to accidentally swallow. At any rate, I have zero issues with it. She's associated "critter carrier = food", and she knows what to expect. The routine goes that I put the critter carrier on the scale, zero it, and put the snake in for pre-feed weigh-in. After that, I open the little hatch, put the mouse in via tongs, then she strikes and eats. I close the hatch while she eats so she can't escape, and just let her take her time. Once she's all done, I open the carrier over her tank, she slithers back in, and all is well. I know people say you can't train snakes, but she definitely knows the routine by this point (had her for two years now).

Now, I just got my BP, and I think I'll try and do that same routine with her. If she ends up being too shy for it though, I'll just switch over to feeding in tank. I'll just put a paper towel down for her or something.

I think the biggest plus to out-of-tank feeding for me (besides the not having to worry about eating substrate) has been that it doubles as a weigh-in day, since I keep records of weight to make sure they're eating properly. I need them in a container on the scale for that for that anyways, may as well feed them while I'm at it. It's not a big deal for me though, since I'm just now getting two snakes. Could see that not being an option for someone with a bigger collection though, and I don't blame people for feeding in-tank. As long as the snakes are okay, I suppose it really just comes down to personal preference.

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it also comes down to the snake. with bps the stress and excitement of moving them out of the enclosure to a new tub back to the enclosure can cause regurges. That being said it's an old practice that works for the majority of people who do it but as the hobby grew most herpers moved past it.

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I feed inside the cage, always have, always will. I feed them on Rpetichips and aspen and havent had a problem. Had them swallow aspen here and there, Caesar somehow got a piece stuck in his throat i guess cause he coughed it up, looked at me and then got a big drink of water and was fine. I feed them on sheets of printer paper and sometimes they do good, sometimes they drag it all over. In the wild, they get their food dragged through all kinds of dirt, leaf litter, twigs and everything else and have done fine over the course of millions of years. I dont think they will have a problem all of a sudden. Babies worry me the worst and those are the ones i try and make sure they stay on the paper which is easy as their food is little.

Feeding a small snake in a separate tub might work but try that with a 6'+ boa, burm, retic or anaconda and let me know how it goes for you.....