Do you feed in or out of the enclosure?

[Zincubus]

These people are welcome to come feed my retics outside of their enclosures.

Then they can come around to us and feed my Kings in a separate container ... I'll video it


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[Pezz]

in the enclosure. no need to add stress of switching containers. Different feeding tanks is an old wives tale.

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[dakski]

In the enclosure for all my snakes (BP, Corn, and BCI).

I feed all at night with the lights out - almost totally dark. I handle with lights on either in room and/or in enclosure.

When I go in with lights on they do not expect food. When I go with lights out the corn is in hunt mode immediately (even when I walk by the cage). The BCI is calmer, but eats like a champ every time. The BP is shy and likes the darkness.

I have never had any of my snakes strike at me with the lights on, or off for that matter, but they are definitely ready for food with lights out.

In this sense, they are conditioned somewhat.

I will say I handle all my snakes regularly, 3-5 times a week, and not every time I go in their enclosure are they getting fed. That helps too.

I don't think it's black and white. As mentioned above, there are other factors to snake behavior and how they react when you go in the enclosure. So, other people may have different experiences.

I also believe the less stress the better and that is another reason I feed in the enclosure.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

These people are welcome to come feed my retics outside of their enclosures.

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I feed inside the enclosure regardless of size of the animal, substrate, species etc, there is no reasoning or logic for feeding outside the enclosure.

[SDA]

Depends on the animal. For a ball python I would never recommend feeding in a separate enclosure. They are just not the type of animal that should have that done. My Savannahs never would eat inside the enclosure once full grown. I had to let them out and feed them. It never caused stress to do so but then again monitor lizards and ball pythons are worlds apart.

[Godzilla78]

In, always in. It seems natural as they are AMBUSH predators. So their prey comes to them.

[redshepherd]

Always in the enclosure.

There's really no reason to feed outside the enclosure, only risks.

[aes1004]

I feed in their enclosures because I feel like I would get bit if I tried taking them out. They know when it’s feeding time so they strike as soon as they see the prey. I’ve never had a problem with doing it this way.


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[Moshimaru]

I also feed in the enclosure. I think it's much easier, and less stressful for all involved, especially the snake. I've had absolutely no issues, and I think it is due in part, at least, to the fact that I make sure to do something in his cage each day (ie: replace water). I also make sure to hold him at least a few times a week for a short period of time. The only time he tends to sometimes get S-neck is the day after he's eaten if he happens to notice me near the cage. (Ghost's boop brain maybe??: "sooo... do you have rat?") Even then, it's not even aggressive; it almost seems like he's wondering if perhaps I do have more food. I know they probably don't have the propensity to beg for food in the traditional sense, but I almost get that impression.

He just usually puts his head back in his hide if I put my hand in the tank. If he doesn't, I take my hand out, and wait for him to go back to sleep. The next time I pick him up (48 + hours after feeding), he's doesn't get S-neck or strike or anything.

[Brownspidey]

I have done both for my ball pythons and I have never had any issues. But I mainly feed out of the enclosure just because I don't want them to get used to thinking food when I open their cage for fear of getting bit.