Feed in or out of cage?

[BWyant]

Of course he didn't leave the rat on it and dragged it across the tank a little.

One decent reason to feed outside the tank.

If the BP is dragging the prey across the substrate (assuming it's a type of wood, not paper), then you run the risk (albeit slim) of substrate ingestion.

*Shrug* I'm new, so I'm really just a parrot, repeating what I've heard. There may be absolutely no adverse effects to in-cage feeding.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Personally, I think it's a case of better safe than sorry. You'll hear evidence for both sides of the story. However, until I hear some evidence that suggests feeding them outside of their tub/cage has a negative impact, I'd rather feed outside, even if just for my own peace of mind as a placebo. I'd welcome someone that could tell me about some negative side-effects though, 'cause I'm not sure it's a real great idea to be handling a BP that's digesting food, putting it back into the enclosure. Just my .02, as they say.

You are far more likely to get bitten moving a hungry snake into and from a feeding tub than you are by simply feeding in the snakes cage.

A BP isn't going to mistake you for food. I'm not saying that you will never get bit but if you do it won't be because your snake thinks that you are a rodent.

A BP uses multiple senses to ID potential prey, smell, sight, and heat signature. Unless you look, smell and give off the same thermal signature as a rat a BP simply isn't going to think that you are one.

Moving a BP before feeding increases the chances or him/her refusing a meal. This is especially the case when a BP is already not eating consistently.

Every major breeder and most of the vets here on BP.net feed in the snakes cage. It is a much better system.

[darthsamurai]

Thanks for the input, I'll just leave him in his cage the next time. He went for his hides pretty quick when I put him back in, so I'm sure he wasn't too impressed with his bin feeding.

This might be worth another thread.. but... do you worry about dead rodent germs breeding in your balls cage? Or am I just being a unrealistic germaphobe? Last week when I fed him in the cage I put the rat on a large shallow petri dish that I have (I occasionally order baby silk worms for my lizards and they are shipped in them) and put the rat on that. Of course he didn't leave the rat on it and dragged it across the tank a little. I then forgot to take out the dish (it's clear) and put his water dish on it. I noticed it when I cleaned his dish the next day, so the "germ dish" was in there for a day anyways.

I feed f/t. If they take the rat in their water dish, I wash then disinfect it. Other than that, I spot clean every day and do a full clean, disinfect once a month.

[The Serpent Merchant]

One decent reason to feed outside the tank.

If the BP is dragging the prey across the substrate (assuming it's a type of wood, not paper), then you run the risk (albeit slim) of substrate ingestion.

*Shrug* I'm new, so I'm really just a parrot, repeating what I've heard. There may be absolutely no adverse effects to in-cage feeding.

substrate ingestion usually isn't a problem, do you think that BP's in the wild never eat some dirt/whatever when they are eating?

there is a big difference between ingestion some substrate and ingesting an entire mouthful. yes it is something to watch out for... but it isn't enough to outweigh the benefits of feeding in the cage.

[ibbu]

I feed live, and do it outside the enclosure. Don't want the rat leaving droppings inside.

[BWyant]

substrate ingestion usually isn't a problem, do you think that BP's in the wild never eat some dirt/whatever when they are eating?

Nope, never! Which is why it's never killed 'em in the wild either.

Just razzing ya'. You've put some pretty good/helpful info up on this forum.

there is a big difference between ingestion some substrate and ingesting an entire mouthful. yes it is something to watch out for... but it isn't enough to outweigh the benefits of feeding in the cage.

I'd probably take your word for it. Like I said, it's my inexperience talking. I seem to remember the BHB guys saying in one of their Youtube videos that they'd prefer to feed out-of-tub if they could, but they just don't have the time. Hell, I've only ever fed 1 BP, 1 time, so all of my opinion is chalked up to what I've heard. Experience is the best teacher. If folks say it's fine to feed in-cage, then it more than likely is fine to do so. Me personally, I'd just try and keep the rodent clean if I could because that is one thing that could potentially go wrong. Of course, if you feed out of cage, you could stress the snake, so...

If one guy with all of one feeding under his belt says feed outside the tub versus 5 folks with countless feedings inside the enclosure feed in it, I'd probably go with the 5 over the 1.

[el8ch]

We feed in the tubs with live rats. Any rat droppings are just spot cleaned away, no big deal.

We have had a few that got fed in a separate tubs for a while, but feeding n their own enclosure proved to increase feeding response.

[I-KandyReptiles]

When I first got into bps, my male was being fed in a separate container. Until I found this site, I continued to do so. Now he happily eats in his enclosure and I notice no difference in personality, etc.

[darthsamurai]

When I first got into bps, my male was being fed in a separate container. Until I found this site, I continued to do so. Now he happily eats in his enclosure and I notice no difference in personality, etc.

X2 Now that I have a lot more I can't even consider feeding in different enclosures

[Gene Collins]

This is a tough topic for me even though I am also new to BP ownership. My little sister had a BP that was given away to a friend of hers after she passed away. I was upset with my parents as I would have loved to keep Charlotte for myself. Anyhow, my sister always fed Charlotte out of her tank because the person she got her from did the same and my sister was stubborn. My sister also only fed Charlotte hoppers every other month even she was large enough to take small to medium rats. Shortly before she was given away my dad measured her at 3.5ft. No idea on the weight as none of us knew weight was more significant than length lol.

I personally like feeding outside the tubs and so far it hasn't caused any feeding issues. They have not mistaken me for food. I take their feeding time as tub cleaning time.
Also, even with the majority of people favoring prekilled over live I also prefer live feeding. I watch my snake and make sure they eat it soon. If they show no interest in it within a short time I remove it right away.