Feeding live inside the enclosure, do you remove the decor?

[ewaldrep]

I tried feeding live inside the enclosure because I haven't got Moonlight to switch over to f/t yet and I don't like it for two reasons. I started feeding her in a separate tub when I got her because that was the prevailing wisdom when I stopped keeping snakes previously (years ago). She strikes within 10 seconds or so and goes straight to eating. Since coming to the forums I thought it would be good to feed inside the enclosure but when I tried, it took her 10 minutes to hunt and strike and that was after I took out the 'tree' that the snake was hiding behind. On top of that, the mouse was inside the enclosure chewing on everything, the tree before I took it out, the vines, spending a lot of time around the water bowl, and not to mention little poops dropping here and there (aspen substrate). Oh, and it is only a 10g tank and I am planning on getting her a 322D boaphile soon. Anyways, I just wanted to know if those of you that have a "keeper" set up remove your decor before dropping a live prey in? Thanks.

[Mike41793]

Drop the mouse in closer to the snake next time.

[piedplus]

I don't remove anything and I give mine half-an-hour before I worry about it. There always seem to be little poops to clean up after, even if the strike comes quickly. If stuff has been chewed on, I haven't noticed. Good luck!

[ewaldrep]

in the 10g, it is hard to imagine dropping the mouse in closer, especially since my corner water bowl takes up a good portion of the floor.

[I-KandyReptiles]

I lift up his hide, drop the mouse in front of him, and will poke the mouse with tongs to "herd" the mouse back near my Bp.

[amps daddy]

I take out drift wood and hide and drop mouse in. He also likes to hide in aspen i just pull him out set him back down and then mouse in.

[PorcelainxDoll]

I take everything out but the hide they are in and drop in the mouse or rat. All my snakes eat just fine that way.

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[ewaldrep]

Thanks, I think I will remove the things, it should take too long and hopefully it won't disrupt her feeding response. Feeding her in a separate container doesn't seem stressful to her at all so I fed her outside again this last time. I would just like to get her where my boa is with feeding. He is on f/t and it is just so much easier. Thanks for letting me know what works for you!

[Badgemash]

Thanks, I think I will remove the things, it should take too long and hopefully it won't disrupt her feeding response. Feeding her in a separate container doesn't seem stressful to her at all so I fed her outside again this last time. I would just like to get her where my boa is with feeding. He is on f/t and it is just so much easier. Thanks for letting me know what works for you!

If she's eating happily in a separate container I don't see any reason to stop feeding that way. To answer your original question though, one of my males will only eat live rats, when he eats I take everything out but the water bowl. I want to be able to see the rat at all times since I am afraid of rat on snake violence, and if I can see what is happening there's a chance I can interfere before real harm is done. My female however is quite shy (and on fresh killed so way less risky) so I leave everything in just in case she wants to eat in a nice private hide.

[Nightfirez]

id just feed them in a tub its easer to clean afterwards