feeding in same tank or different

i have been getting in mixed info on if it is better to feed in a different tank. i would think that they would rather eat in there enviroment vs. something else.

I feed all of my snake's in their enclosure's and I've never had a problem.Some people believe that if you feed in their enclosure , your snake will connect the opening of his her enclosure to being feed. If you handle enough and you make sure your hand's do not smell like their meal you should never have a problem. I've never been bitten..

I also feed in the enclosure. Someone here, I forget who, made the point that if the argument can be made that the snake may think that the opening of the enclosure means they are going to feed (and thus more likely to mistake you for food), the same argument can be made that every time you move your snake to a new enclosure, they will associate that with feed and be more likely to mistake you for food in those situations as well.


Do what works best for you. For me, it's feeding in the enclosure.

I also feed mine in their enclosures....no problems so far! ;)

do you guys feed live??

Yes, I do.

kool thanks guys;)

well lucy did it. i tried to feed her in the same tank. she hasn't eaten for 3 weeks. droped in the mouse, mouse goes in lucy's hide not even a 1/2 a second. DEAD thanks for the help guys!!!!:D

Congrats on the successful feeding. We also feed all our BP's in their home enclosures. We feed live rats of appropriate sizes.

Either way that works for you is great! I feed all my snakes in a feeding bin, but when they are taken out for cleaning and such, they go into a snake bag, so they dont think that another enclosure/container always means being fed.

Also, I do feed live to my ball pythons, but I NEVER EVER leave/walk away from them once the rodent goes in for safety reasons. My bp's eat live only, in the past I tried to switch them over to P/K or F/T, but they all quit eating..for months. My boa is fed P/K or F/T though, as he has NEVER had a live feeding, although, a long time ago, I did try a live mouse with him when he was a tiny little guy, his feeding response seemed very slow and he was not very responsive, like he was unsure of this thing that should not be moving that much, seeing as though he is use to P/K or F/T. He just would not mess with the mouse. Period. So I have continued him on F/T or P/K.

Some people feed in a separate container also so that the snake does not ingest the substrate. I use paper towels so that is not an issue for me. I tried once to feed my Rainbow Boa in a separate container because that's what was recommended to me - I only did it ONCE. I don't know how anyone who does it gets the snake back in it's enclosure because it's in "feeding mode" and I almost got bit!!! I'm sure it works for others, but when I tried it, it was very stressful for my snake - and for me!!!


I only feed F/T but I do not own a BP - yet. I hope to get one next month at the Reptile Expo/Show. I know they can be problem feeders. My friend who has a BP heats the F/T rat with a hair dryer before feeding and it works for him.

Actually Steph a lot of the so called problem feeders, shedders, etc. are either snakes sold as captive born that are actually wild caught, or sold as good feeding babies that have never in reality taken a decent meal or downright sick as well as some that are just not being cared for correctly. Sure some BP's fast during the winter...one of mine didn't eat for 5 months. Doesn't mean they are poor feeders if you've done everything right for them and they are healthy. They'll start eating when they are darned good and ready to and likely pound down the rats or mice LOL. Our fasting female btw only lost a grand total of 100 grams (no big deal as she's an adult) and we expected the fast as she is a wild caught we adopted as a non-feeder to try and save her. Sometimes even the best cared for BP won't eat or shed right...it does happen but not nearly as often as you've probably been led to believe.

Best advice I can offer....do you homework about BP care, get the enclosure all set up and ready before you go get your snake, buy from a reputable source and then let the snake settle in quietly for a week or two with no fussing with it. I bet you'll find out that most of what's out on the internet about BP's being "difficult" is a lot of hooey LOL.

Thanks for the advice, Joanna! I'm very excited!!! :banana: I have always had a love for BP's and I'm glad I have the opportunity now to get one. I have done all the research and actually have all that I need already even though it's a month away!!! I am a planner and like to be prepared. I want to set up the enclosure a week ahead of time to make sure my temps/humidity are good. Now I'm looking at the Vendor list to see who's going to be at the show. I'm checking out their websites and asking around to see who's good to buy from.

I'll let you know how things go!!! :D

I personally have tested this theory, I feed one of my snakes in there enclosure and one of the others in a different tub, I have noticed no difference in aggression in any way, the only thing I have noticed is they seem to strike quicker when feed in the enclosure, when fed in the tub it's a new strange place and they start to investigate instead of eating right away. Personally I would feed in the enclosure that way you don't have to move the snake after feeding.

I've always fed in the enclosure where Austin feels safer. He eats then heads for his hide with a full belly and I don't have to disturb him.

Sounds like a great plan you've got going on Steph. All of the prep work will pay off I bet. Once you've found out who is vending at the show you are planning to attend you can also check them out through this link to see if there's been good or bad issues brought the BOI in the past.


If you've never used the BOI, you do have to sign up to read there. It does cost $10.00 to join if you want to post but you can use the search function and check out breeders under their name or business name for free.

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...splay.php?f=13