Moving BP to Feeder Tank

[MisterDespair]

Hi everyone. I do not own a ball python currently, but I will be making that purchase sometime this month. I am completely new to snakes, but I am a very passionate animal owner, and I am trying to get all of the information possible about Ball Pythons and how to care for them before I bring one into my home.

The one bit of information that I am having a hard time finding is: if you're not supposed to handle your BP after it has eaten, how are you supposed to transport it from its feeding tank back into its cage?

I've also read from a few posts online that it is better to place the thawed mouse or rat or whatever in the snake's cage and not a feeder tank. Is this recommended or should I instead go for the feeder tank?

I plan on building the python a tub enclosure. Should the feeder tank be a similar tub?

Thanks for any info you can provide!

[Skittles1101]

It's a personal preference. I personally feed in their enclosures, I have at least 3-4 ball pythons that would boycott food indefinitely if I ever tried feeding them anywhere else. I have seen zero signs of cage aggression, which I've heard is a myth anyways. It works for some people to help ease their own minds, but IMO it doesn't have any effect of the snake other than you could potentially stress it out to the point of refusing. Depends on the snake, I'm sure a lot do fine being moved, but IMO it's not worth the extra hassle or potential stress.

[tsy72001]

We feed in seperate cage. carefully pickup after the mouse/rat is all the way down.

[mpkeelee]

Just feed in its enclosure. It's not necessary to move. Some people claim their snakes are more aggressive when they are fed in their enclosure because they always think its time to eat when u go in their. But that's not true

[Peoples]

As a relatively new Bp owner I suggest feed in enclosure, feeding in a separate tub could also make your snake associate handling with feeding time...

I always feed my girl in her enclosure and she doesn't associate opening her tank with feeding, quite frankly unless she smells a chick she doesn't even assume feeding time.

You will not create a lid lunging monster... but as others suggest, it's owners preference...

[RestlessRobie]

We feed in a seperate tub gives us the time to clean and adjust his enclosure while he is eating havnet had any problems yet just move carefully home once he is done eating
Robie

[Mr. Constrictor]

feed them in the cage/tub or what ever you keep them in. I dont recommend feeding any snake in a seperate tub. moving a ball then trying to get it to eat can be a hassle. if it does eat and you try to move it, it is now in "feed mode" this can increse your chance of getting bit. the mouse/rat scent may still be in the air. Most importantly moving a snake after it ate can cause it to regurgitate. the people who tell you that feeding them in their cage can cause aggression dont know what they are talking about and probly work at petco

[Salodin]

It's a preference thing. Lightly picking it up and walking it to it's cage will not cause regurgitation, just like feeding it in it's cage will more then likely not cause aggression in your bp. After a month or so you'll both get into a routine when it comes to meal time, just stick with it once you both know what it is.

[MisterDespair]

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I was leaning towards feeding it in the enclosure and not feeding tank because I've read lots about handling it after it has eaten and what happens when they start to regurgitate.

Also, I have only handled a ball python about 3 times in my life, and one of those times I was bitten. The snake was in its feeding tank and had eaten the mouse, and I was going to move it back to its cage.... and chomp!

[rabernet]

I've never used a separate feeding enclosure. Besides which, most of mine would be thrown off by being moved that they wouldn't eat in a separate enclosure, they'd be too busy checking out the new digs they've just been moved to.

I have no issues with cage aggression. I've never seen a compelling enough reason to feed anywhere other than their own enclosure.