Feeding in cage vs in box

so i have been told that feeding my ball python in cardboard box will help to keep it from being aggressive when i stick my hand in the cage (so it doesnt think every time i open the cage its gonna get fed). Is it more healthy for my snake to be fed in his cage or is it ok to feed him in a box? i have read that feeding in a box is reccomended but i just dont want to do anything to stress him out.

I have found that there are no negative affects of feeding in the cage. Even my Jungle Carpet Python which is a super aggressive eater doesn't mistake my hand for food as long as I haven't been handling rodents and my ball has never struck at me.

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Originally Posted by Topher

I have found that there are no negative affects of feeding in the cage. Even my Jungle Carpet Python which is a super aggressive eater doesn't mistake my hand for food as long as I haven't been handling rodents and my ball has never struck at me.

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I too have had no problems with feeding in the tank, 3 of mine will take from my hand and never mistake my fingers for mice. Most use tongs w/ f/t, i just dangle in tank and they snatch em up!

All my reptiles get fed in their enclosures. None of my snakes take whacks at me unless I am careless enough to handle a mouse and then put my hands in the enclosure. It only happen three times in ten years of serious reptile keeping. I use BBQ tongs or hemostats to dangle feed the crew. NO incidents for over four years now. P.S. I wouldn't recommend "hand feeding" a python. Accidents do happen and it would be your own fault (sorry pythonweb). Just my :2cent:

-Danny

I feed all of my snakes in their cages and they are fine with it, no aggression. I do have some friends that choose to feed their snakes in boxes/buckets lined with newspaper, but either way is fine in my experience.

cool cool thanks guys, my ball has been slightly sketchy lately so im just looking for ways to calm him down a little, maybe he knows im getting a dumeril boa and is getting jealous :oops:

I have a new ball python (my first snake). I decided after reading many things to feed in his enclosure. It seems less stressful and I don't have to handle him and his bulging belly to get him back into his cage. I know I wouldn't want to be picked up after a huge feast...

I to feed my snake in its enclosure and she feeds great. I do make sure that I feed the same day everyweek and at same time (usually late in evening when it gets dark) and do not have problems. I usually do my tank maintenence during the day and handeling late afternoon. SO she usually knows feeding time is when it is dark and I dont mess with her or the tank at that time.

I've Heard not to feed them in the cage! I don't think your snake will ever bite you, But personally I choose to feed it in a box to be safe!

Here's some simple logic I've posted on here a gazillion times in answering this question:

If one feeding a snake in it's cage would expect their ball python to expect to be fed each and every time the keeper went into its cage, one could make an equally convincing arguement that removing a snake to be fed in a seperate container would condition it to expect to be fed each and every time it was removed from its enclosure (for example, for handling sessions).

What that means: If you say that feeding a snake inside its enclosure causes it to be "aggressive," you could make an equally supported claim that removing it from its enclosure to be fed would cause it to become "aggressive" as well.

In other words- it doesn't matter. I feed all of my snakes in their enclosures, and they know what is a rat (a rat) and what isn't a rat (my hand/arm). C'mon, they deserve a little more credit here....

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

Here's some simple logic I've posted on here a gazillion times in answering this question:

If one feeding a snake in it's cage would expect their ball python to expect to be fed each and every time the keeper went into its cage, one could make an equally convincing arguement that removing a snake to be fed in a seperate container would condition it to expect to be fed each and every time it was removed from its enclosure (for example, for handling sessions).

What that means: If you say that feeding a snake inside its enclosure causes it to be "aggressive," you could make an equally supported claim that removing it from its enclosure to be fed would cause it to become "aggressive" as well.

In other words- it doesn't matter. I feed all of my snakes in their enclosures, and they know what is a rat (a rat) and what isn't a rat (my hand/arm). C'mon, they deserve a little more credit here....

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No it doesn't matter. Taking it out to feed in a box is (1) form of stress you could put the ball under and have it not eat. Plus, if you have more then a few then it becomes a waste of time.... pulling it out, putting it in a box, waiting for it to eat so you can put it back and so on.

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Originally Posted by elevatethis

I feed all of my snakes in their enclosures, and they know what is a rat (a rat) and what isn't a rat (my hand/arm). C'mon, they deserve a little more credit here....

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My thoughts exactly, they have such an amazing sense of smell and we still debate over classical conditioning. Come feed time when I'm sitting in my bathroom with my hair dryer getting the rats nice and hot they're 20ft away poking their heads out of their hides, you can't second guess that.

I'm sure most people that have been bitten will admit it was in some way their fault...ex handling a rat prior, not reading the snake body language, or not paying attention when performing tank maintenance. I've yet to get bitten.

If you get bit, it's never the snakes fault....

I like being fed in my enclosure...more pie please!

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Originally Posted by Sputnik

If you get bit, it's never the snakes fault....

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I think that goes for any animal...including sharks :O Thats why I don't swim in the ocean:) Can't blame the shark for not knowing that I was a human pretending to be a seal.

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Originally Posted by Spaniard

I think that goes for any animal...including sharks :O Thats why I don't swim in the ocean:) Can't blame the shark for not knowing that I was a human pretending to be a seal.

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That, and I'm yet to have seen a shark in any back yard pool!


I guess there can always be a first! :)

My sister had a duck that made up a home in her pool for the summer. Swam with the kids didn't mind at all. I guess we'll start to worry when sharks and pigs fly.

Hey wait a minute, you might be onto something BIGGGGGG! We've all heard of "Snakes on a plane" ..... how about "Day of the flying killer sharks" ? Grab your pop corn! :P

I'll call the screen writers tomorrow. You get George Lucas to work his magic. :sabduel:

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Originally Posted by Spaniard

I'll call the screen writers tomorrow. You get George Lucas to work his magic. :sabduel:

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Sounds like a block buster, one of the sharks has to talk like Darth Vader though! :)