how do you feed...

we've always fed our snakes in a separate enclosure. well, tonight, we decided to let them eat in their own territory and it went pretty well. just wondering what all of you do?

i feed mostly in there enclosures,sometimes in a seperate container.perhaps "both" should be a option ?

All 25+ snakes get fed in their enclosures. And that's my final answer! :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by twh

i feed mostly in there enclosures,sometimes in a seperate container.perhaps "both" should be a option ?

---

just curious, why? is it certain snakes that get fed in separate enclosures? and for what reason?

I feed everyone in their tub.

I feed in the enclosure with no problems

i feed most hatchlings in deli cups,i've had good success with that.all yearlings to adults are fed in there tubs.

i feed all of mine in their tubs. the whole "they mistake your hand with food" thing is pure myth. it gives them a better sense of hunting in their own home.

I feed monty in a cardboard box (avon box). We don't want him associating food with his territory because we dont want to get bit when we reach into the tank to get him out. We handle him daily.

Anyway, it is also nice that as soon as Monty realizes that he is in the cardboard box he knows it is time to eat. He actually start looking for the rat before we even get the bag near the box.

One time he grabbed the rat before the rat hit the bottom of the box.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SirMontyPython

I feed monty in a cardboard box (avon box). We don't want him associating food with his territory because we dont want to get bit when we reach into the tank to get him out.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Snakeman

the whole "they mistake your hand with food" thing is pure myth.

---

I've never fed in a separate enclosure. Just don't see the need to, and I have ferocious feeding response from all of mine. I personally never want to handle any of my crew on feeding day! That would be suicide! :O

And I've never been mistaken for food, because I'm doing routine maintenance throughout the week in their enclosures and taking them out for short handling sessions. So to them, just because the enclosure opens, doesn't mean that there's always food.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SirMontyPython

I feed monty in a cardboard box (avon box). We don't want him associating food with his territory because we dont want to get bit when we reach into the tank to get him out. We handle him daily.

---

He won't. See my post above. I feed sixteen ball pythons in their own enclosures, they've never bitten me when I reach into their enclosure to take them out. Feeding time is not the ONLY time I go into their enclosure, so they don't make that association.

Quote:

---

I feed monty in a cardboard box (avon box). We don't want him associating food with his territory because we dont want to get bit when we reach into the tank to get him out. We handle him daily.

---

This is a myth if you go in the enclosure on a regular basis if you have a good feeding routine there is not reason to fear something like this will happen.

Now can they strike of course they can but it would be a defensive strike not mistaken you for food this is why you must know your snake and learn it's body language.

Quote:

---

Anyway, it is also nice that as soon as Monty realizes that he is in the cardboard box he knows it is time to eat.

---

All 16 of mine know that Wednesday is feeding day and they are all fed in their enclosure (Never got bitten)

Feeding in their enclosure allows BP to ambush their prey from the safety of their hides, and it reduces stress.

Now you can feed in a separate box if it makes you feel more comfortable however know what is true and what is not ;) .

I feed ALL my snakes in their enclosures. :gj:


I did however start off feeding one of my bloods in a seperate tub. I think I tried that twice. It didn't seem like the best option..to me.

That same blood however does get a little feisty come dinra time. I'd say about a day or two before feeding day you do NOT want your fingers in her tub. She will bite you. She hasn't yet, but I have had a few close calls.

yeah, so last night was the first time being fed in the tanks and i gotta say... it was more enjoyable for me! lol. sit and watch them hunt down their prey... lol. and you don't have to worry about upsetting their stomachs picking them up to put them away. yay!

All 10 of my snakes have been getting fed every week in their tub/house. They all know every Saturday is feeding day and I've yet to have a problem.

I used to be one of those that fed in a seperate enclosure until someone pointed out to me that I'm in the cage MUCH more to do maintenance and handling than I am for feeding.

The only snake I feed in a seperate tub is my Hog island boa and that's just because she's a clutz when it comes to grabbing the F/T rat. By feeding her in a tub, I save missed strikes and refusing food cause she hit the water bowl or the side of the tank (clumsiest boa when it comes to food I've ever had).

All of my guys are fine unless they smell the rats when it's feeding day. THEN, you have to be careful! :-)

melanie feeding live in a fish tank poses a threat to your snakes,if they should strike and miss hitting the glass could cause a broken jaw.it would be safer to feed stunned or thawed feeders and put them in the middle of the tank.have fun !

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by twh

melanie feeding live in a fish tank poses a threat to your snakes,if they should strike and miss hitting the glass could cause a broken jaw.it would be safer to feed stunned or thawed feeders and put them in the middle of the tank.have fun !

---

:confused:

Just curious, have you ever heard of a snake breaking their jaw because they missed a strike at a live prey item?

yes it happened to a friend of mine's boa,had to be put down.the vet had never seen that happen before.not real likely but can happen.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by twh

yes it happened to a friend of mine's boa,had to be put down.the vet had never seen that happen before.not real likely but can happen.

---

Ah... well, a Boa strike is quite a bit different than a Ball. They're faster and they have a lot more mass behind them. I think the same can be said for any large python or boa.

However, I think the risk of a Ball breaking their jaw on a missed strike is pretty slim.

I am not a big fan of glass tanks and now I have another reason(broken jaw?). I don't think taking a BP out to feed is a good idea, they can be picky eaters as it is and disturbing them doesn't help. Most small BP's don't care where they eat but as they get older they get a little more freaked out. and fast way easier. I have heard the oppisite said about removing BP's to feed, someone once said if anything they are gonna think whenever you take them out they will assume it's feeding time so it actually defeats the purpose. Personally I don't think they have that much reasoning skills. In my experience if they smell rodents (even just in the same room) and get a heat signal they will strike. Most people get bit because they are handling rodents or have them close and then try to handle a snake. Not a good combination. Snakes can get severly burned from their own regurg fluids so moving snakes and feeding is not a good idea. it just isn't necessary.