Feeding Environment

[kraniumz]

Ok heres my dillema, do i feed in the cage or another 'container' ?

I know alot of people feed in a seperate box as a method to 'tame' the snake (meaning teaching it that the box is where the food is) and also becoz of not risking substrate impactation (spell?). Im currently practising this method as well.

But wouldnt the rountine of transferring the snake for feeding stress it ? Is there a 'side effect' in the long run ? I just think its a bit unnatural.

Also, im thinking how does the snake relate opening the cage to feeding ? We open the cage daily to spot clean, change water, handle the snake and etc. And only once a week we would chuck in mice. I dont think this routine teaches the snake to relate opening the cage to feeding. Unless we never handle the snake or clean and only open the cage to feeding.

In regards to substrate problem, laying a sheet of paper on the substrate and placing the food on it could eliminate the risk.

I dont know guys. I just want whats best for my bp. What do guys think ?

[JubJub]

I like the seperate feed tank for a variety of reasons:

1. Only time he is on newspaper is in the feed tank. Associates that with feeding.
2. Can easily see what snake is doing...i.e. watch him eat, in tank with hides, and plants it is difficult.
3. I can easily access snake and easily dangle food in front of him (can't with hides, and plants in the way in main tank).
4. I don't have to handle him at all with other tank, besides initial take him out and put him in it. I bring feed tank over to main tank, and slowly turn it and let him crawl back into his main tank.

Just really simple for me, plus it is a place to house my mouse all day, since I feed the snake at night. Therefore, tank is strong in mouse scent.

That's my view on the subject, just easier for me, and snake seems to like it too.

[led4urhead]

I have never fed in a seperate container, and unless i need to i never will. When it comes time for feeding day, i get the little rodents out, make sure they are good and dead, then go in and take all the cage furniture out of the enclosure. Hides, waterbowl, branches, and fake vines all get washed at this time. I just drop the little dead rodent in, and wait until after they finish eating to replace all the stuff. I havent had a problem yet with any of my bp's associating my in their cage with feeding.

What are you using for a substrate? You said you were worried about impaction. That would be one argument for feeding outside of their enclosure. I use newspaper or paper towels so i dont have to worry about that. Remember, its all up to you. Each keeper and snake is different.

[Ironhead]

I have never fed in a seperate container, and unless i need to i never will. When it comes time for feeding day, i get the little rodents out, make sure they are good and dead, then go in and take all the cage furniture out of the enclosure. Hides, waterbowl, branches, and fake vines all get washed at this time. I just drop the little dead rodent in, and wait until after they finish eating to replace all the stuff. I havent had a problem yet with any of my bp's associating me in their cage with feeding.

Ditto here also.

[elevatethis]

I feed in a separate enclosure, a large size bankers box that absolutely reeks of rodent death by now, lol. My bp goes into food mode as soon as I place her inside. I definitely think that conditioning has a lot to do with it. I've tried to feed her thawed rodents inside her enclosure and she wanted nothing to do with them in there, but then I took her out and put her in the box and she nailed it.

Its not necessarily stressful on the snake to be removed from the food box and back to their normal enclosure when they are done. My bp has never been aggressive towards me after a meal, and although she's clearly in food mode, she quickly goes into hide and digest mode immediately after I place her back in her enclosure.

[Bambi]

I have never fed in a seperate container, and unless i need to i never will. When it comes time for feeding day, i get the little rodents out, make sure they are good and dead, then go in and take all the cage furniture out of the enclosure. Hides, waterbowl, branches, and fake vines all get washed at this time. I just drop the little dead rodent in, and wait until after they finish eating to replace all the stuff. I havent had a problem yet with any of my bp's associating my in their cage with feeding.

Same here.

[gozetec02]

I feed outside the enclosure sometimes i try and mix it up. I mostly feed in a sweater box and while jojo is eating and swallowing i clean and disinfect his main enclosure then when i move him back its nice and clean for him. I have fed in his enclosure in the past with hides and everything. He will come out of his hide when i dangle the rat in his sterilite and he takes care of the rest. I think him having to sneak around objects stimulates the mind.

[Anonymous]

I feed in a seperate enclosure.
Main reason I do this is because I clean out the tank and disinfect everything while my snakes are chowing down.
Also, Another reason I don't feed them in their "houses", because I don't want them to get used to the fact that everytime I open the top its feeding time ...

[Smulkin]

Room service for mine too - why dine out when you can eat in. Smynx feeds on paper towel or in seperate container only for the stuff she keeps on aspen.

I think you dont need to worry about that association unles feeding time is the ONLY time you are opening the enclosure and interacting.

[led4urhead]

I think you dont need to worry about that association unles feeding time is the ONLY time you are opening the enclosure and interacting.

Good point Smulkin. If you are in there on a regular basis for spot cleaning, changing water ( i do everyday ), and handling purposes you shouldnt have to worry about it.