Separate feeding tank?

I’ve heard conflicting things regarding feeding in the snakes enclosure vs having a separate feeding tank. We have been feeding our beep in a separate tank since she was a baby! Recently, a friend HIGHLY advised against it because it may stress snake out. I very much disagreed with them. The breeder suggested feeding outside tank as well.


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I’m not arguing but I’m just wondering why would you need too? I’ve had different kinds of snakes throughout my life and I’ve never done that. Now I have a Retic and a Blood and I feed in their enclosure. Are you thinking of getting bit if it’s the same enclosure? Neither of mine have shown any indication of biting me when I take them out and they are both very food aggressive now.

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Originally Posted by Stout76

I’m not arguing but I’m just wondering why would you need too? I’ve had different kinds of snakes throughout my life and I’ve never done that. Now I have a Retic and a Blood and I feed in their enclosure. Are you thinking of getting bit if it’s the same enclosure? Neither of mine have shown any indication of biting me when I take them out and they are both very food aggressive now.

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Well my initial reasoning for it was

1. Associating feeding time with feeding time and handling time with handling time - which is a highly debated topic

2. Accidentally digesting substrate and potentially becoming impacted

3. Sometimes she can make a bloody mess!




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I’m no expert so I won’t comment on pros and cons. As for.....

1. I’ve never really had that problem but I’ve been bit more times than I can count and just consider the price to be paid. But I am hook training the Retic, he’s going be big.

2. I have heard of that. Never have I experienced it but the Retic is on blank newspaper, didn’t seem to care for substrate. The Blood is on substrate now because he likes to burrow and I felt bad about just having paper to crawl under.

3. Tell me about it! Last time Retic ate he hit it so hard and just right he split it open. Jesus what a mess and just disgusting.

Feeding in a separate feeding tub is old school and has been proven counter productive over time.

A) associating food with the enclosure being opened has been proven to be false. I have never been bitten or even struck at within the enclosure. All my bites and strikes have come OUTSIDE the enclosure.

B) Nobody cleans their food in the wild. Plain and simple. They digest whole prey. A little dirt won't hurt them.
If you're worried about impaction, you can lay a paper plate or something similar down, but they often just take the prey wherever they want anyway.
Unless you've got huge chunks of bark or wood shavings, impaction shouldn't even be a concern. None of my snakes have EVER had an issue with impaction.

C) spot cleaning should be a regular practice anyhow.
If you're feeding F/T prey and they're making a bloody mess it's probably because you're heating too fast and too hot.


-You're more likely to get tagged moving a snake from a feeding tub while still in feed mode.

-Moving a snake that has recently eaten can also lead to regurgitation of the prey item.

-Moving the snake prior to feeding can stress the animal and lead to refusals.

The vast majority of experienced keepers feed within the enclosure.

All that being said, you do what works for you and your snake. There's no one "right way". But, I see seperate feeding tubs as a colossal waste of time and effort while adding extra stress to the snake. And for me, the snake's best interest is what comes first.

In all honesty the only time you need to feed in a separate enclosure is if you house two snakes together. Otherwise it's not needed, some people do this but it's unnecessary.

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Originally Posted by Neal

In all honesty the only time you need to feed in a separate enclosure is if you house two snakes together. Otherwise it's not needed, some people do this but it's unnecessary.

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Very good point. But for the sake of newbies reading this I felt it was a good idea to add that there are very few species who should be housed together.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Very good point. But for the sake of newbies reading this I felt it was a good idea to add that there are very few species who should be housed together.

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I wouldn't say very few, but new keepers shouldn't do this without knowing if the species they have can be housed together without issues, and the proper way to keep and maintain them.

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Originally Posted by Neal

I wouldn't say very few, but new keepers shouldn't do this without knowing if the species they have can be housed together without issues, and the proper way to keep and maintain them.

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True, I just didn't want somebody to get the idea that they could throw multiple Kings or BPs (or most snakes common in the pet trade) in a tank because A) they do it at Petco and B) they read it on BP.net.

P.S. Neal, I always love when you are active on the forum...and I'd love to see some photos of your collection! :D

I'm just going to pop in here really quick. I used to feed my Ball Python in a separate tub but decided not to move him the next time he ate. I just put down a paper towel before offering the mouse so he didn't eat substrate also. He has never bitten me and realizes my hand is not food. This might not work with every snake but mine is a more consistent eater inside the tank, and has never missed a meal when I leave him in the tank to eat.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

True, I just didn't want somebody to get the idea that they could throw multiple Kings or BPs (or most snakes common in the pet trade) in a tank because A) they do it at Petco and B) they read it on BP.net.

P.S. Neal, I always love when you are active on the forum...and I'd love to see some photos of your collection! :D

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I agree, especially when they're known for cannabalism.

Thanks. I try to be active when I can be, but work has been hectic lately and a lot of other stuff going on I haven't had much free time lately. That should change soon though.

Feed all mine on their vivs .

Just partly cover the floor with some card to avoid any substrate being swallowed.

There is no way on gawd' earth you'd get me feeding any of my Kings and Retics in a separate tub then MOVE them back !!!!

Plus we're told to avoid handling after a feed for 24-48 hours so moving them makes no sense really ..


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I also feed all my snakes in their tanks/tubs. I've never been bit by them.

As far as the first point, the associating you putting your hand in meaning it's food and that contributing to aggression thing, I've honestly never understood that argument. I mean, by that logic, wouldn't the snake assume that every time you take it out it's food time and have the exact same risk of aggression? (Not directed specifically at you OP, just a thought I've always had re this topic)

I personally don't want to handle a snake that's 1. Just eaten and 2. Still in feeding mode.

Another reason I don't buy into it increasing risk of aggression is that my corn in particular has a SUPER aggressive feeding response. To the point where depending on where he is at feeding time, I may not tong feed him at all, and just drop it in.

So anyway I feed him in his tank and I've never had issues taking him out or reaching in and touching him on non feeding days.


Again as posted above though - do what works for you. I can't see any real harm against it unless you're having a lot of refusals or regurges. If you were i would suggest giving not moving a try. My ball has never missed a meal, he acts more lije a boa or a corn with food lol

It's not a wise idea to feed ball pythons separate form their enclosure. BPs tend to be less aggressive with feeding and as such removing them from the enclosure then putting them back can be stressful so for first time owners it is recommended to just feed in the enclosure.

If your BP is biting it is defensive/stressed not equating you with food. Also, a BP bite is trivial so nothing to worry about if you get bit. Feed using tongs/tweezers and you won't have to ever worry.