Do you feed in or out of the enclosure?

[BR8080]

I started feeding in a separate tub at the direction of the guy at the reptile shop I bought the snake at. it was my first snake, I had no experience, and doing as I was told- without any issues except it took forever (removing, letting her settle in, then feeding and waiting for her settle down again before putting her back). So naturally when I added the next 5 to my collection I fed all of them in separate tubs - again without any issues, except it took an hour or so.

I guess my biggest worry was impaction from ingesting bedding. I decided to feed in their enclosures 2 weeks ago after watching countless Brian Barczyk/Viperkeeper vlogs of their snakes eating, reading about everyone that feeds in enclosures without issue, and it seemed to go flawlessly for me as well. Not to mention cut the time it took immensely, which was very nice.

Now will I say it's mandatory, no. Maybe I was lucky....I don't know...I'm no expert. But I'm happy they are now eating in enclosures, if for nothing but the time it saves me with my ever expanding collection.

[the_rotten1]

In enclosure for all of my snakes. I've tried feeding out several times, and none of the snakes I did it with seemed to mind, but there's no reason to keep doing it. The only time I've ever found it beneficial is occasionally feeding hatchling Western Hogs in a cup. Being in a small container sometimes seems to help them smell/find the prey better, but they've all gotten too big for that trick to work.

As far as training snakes not to expect food when you open the cage, just make sure you go in there for other reasons just as often as you go in to feed them. I've made it a habit to check on all my snakes either a few days before, or a few days after feeding. I hold them briefly, clean up any messes, and put them back. Haven't had a problem with them thinking I'm food, unless I handled rodents just before that and forgot to wash my hands.

[Zincubus]

Guessing it's common knowledge but when feeding in viv - any concerns about ingesting substrate can be allayed by simply placing a couple of pieces of card down and feeding over the card ..


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[andrewross8705]

Always in the enclosure.

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

I have one sand boa who I feed outside of his tub because he won't eat in his tub. I've tried dozens of times to feed in his tub but he refuses. Put him in a small container and he immediately goes for the food. I have to disagree that there are only risks when feeding out of the tub. It also depends on the size of the snake.

[Craiga 01453]

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


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Zincubus, let me preface this by saying I have gotten to "know" you pretty well through this forum and I have nothing but the utmost respect for you, so please don't take this in a negative way. I don't think you will, but wanted the disclaimer out there....
I always get a chuckle when you discuss your Kings' feeing responses. I can almost picture you (without having a clue what you look like) feeding your Kings and just love the image I have created in my head, Hahahaha!!! Anyway, hope you took that the way I meant it. You're one of the people on the forum I have 100% respect for and would never mean to give you anything but the compliments you deserve....

Like most Kings, my boy Django has that insane feeding response, so I completely get what you're saying. I just open his enclosure with his mouse close by and he's all kinds of fired up and there are times he comes flying out the top to get his prey. It's hilarious!!! So, I get it. I just dangle and let him do his thing. Sometimes he'll miss more than once, sometimes he'll strike at a shadow, sometimes he'll try to strike me through the glass.... it's hilarious to me. I love my crazy boy to death and his feeding response is part of what I love about him.

[Craiga 01453]

Now, to answer the OP question: Always INSIDE the enclosure. I have experience with both in and out, but it has been over 15 years since I fed outside the enclosure. I was young, new and still learning way back then (though still learning today too, there's ALWAYS more to learn ) and have since dispelled the "myths" about feeding outside the enclosure through my own experience as well as plenty of research.

So, in conclusion, through years of experience and research I see NO benefit to feeding outside the enclosure. Granted, there are exceptions to every rule, I personally haven't found the exception to this rule.

[JodanOrNoDan]

Now, to answer the OP question: Always INSIDE the enclosure. I have experience with both in and out, but it has been over 15 years since I fed outside the enclosure. I was young, new and still learning way back then (though still learning today too, there's ALWAYS more to learn ) and have since dispelled the "myths" about feeding outside the enclosure through my own experience as well as plenty of research.

So, in conclusion, through years of experience and research I see NO benefit to feeding outside the enclosure. Granted, there are exceptions to every rule, I personally haven't found the exception to this rule.

I only have one girl that breaks the rule. I got her as an adult that only ate live. I tried every known method to get her to eat FT. Nothing worked. So, I decided to establish a pattern to get her to eat. I would throw her in another tub let her see a live rat and get her good and fired up. Then I would drop the rat in and boom. I then started doing the same thing with FT. Eventually I got her eating FT in her own tub, but every year, after she drops her eggs I have to go through the same thing to get her eating in her tub again.

[Craiga 01453]

I only have one girl that breaks the rule. I got her as an adult that only ate live. I tried every known method to get her to eat FT. Nothing worked. So, I decided to establish a pattern to get her to eat. I would throw her in another tub let her see a live rat and get her good and fired up. Then I would drop the rat in and boom. I then started doing the same thing with FT. Eventually I got her eating FT in her own tub, but every year, after she drops her eggs I have to go through the same thing to get her eating in her tub again.

There's the exception to the rule. Thanks for sharing!!!

[maausen]

So how do all of you BP vets recommend feeding LIVE inside the enclosure? Just curious, as I am planning to feed live in the next couple weeks.

[JodanOrNoDan]

Don't stress the rat out. Drop it in. Cover the top of the enclosure. Watch to make sure nothing goes wrong. Have a set of tongs ready for if it does.