Feeding Locations

[Mephibosheth1]

If my friends experience is not normal, I guess I can just start feedin in the main cage then...

Should I be using tongs though?? And if so are there "good tongs" and "bad tongs"??

[bcr229]

Just wondering; how does this apply with other snake species??
A friend of mine had a corn snake that they had fed in a separate container for many moons; the husband was a little lazy one day and fed it in its cage, and from that point on it always would strike at them when they put their hands in the cage to grab it out...

Is that due to the snake being afraid, or do different snakes act different??

It could just be a strong prey drive, my female MBK is the same way. If we need to take her out of the enclosure we hook her first. Over time she's learned that hook = no food.

We don't use tongs for the live feeders, they move just fine all on their own.

[Anya]

I don't use tongs even on F/t...all my snakes happily eat without needing to see a zombie dance. And in the past when they have, I just use my hand. Hey, I like the rush of danger....

[KMG]

I feed with tongs because many of my collection strike hard and fast while I'm lowering the prey in.

I think for most prey items almost any tongs will work. Where I have an issue is trying to handle XL rats. I usually just set the XL ones down and then slide them with the tongs where I want it.

[Archimedes]

I started out feeding Magnus in a separate container, and the only time I've ever gotten tagged was because of that. He was still in feed-mode when I went to pull him out. I kept with the Rubbermaid for awhile after that, although I was always more careful. Since I started feeding in-tank, I've had absolutely zero warning signs of strike when I reach in, whether it's to handle him or feed him. I also use tongs when I feed, because Magnus likes the zombie dance, although he doesn't need it; his feeding response is good either way. It eases my mind to keep the rat up out of the substrate until he strikes, to minimize ingestion.

Man, Anya, I'm surprised you haven't lost an arm yet.

[Anya]

Man, Anya, I'm surprised you haven't lost an arm yet.

I know, right? What am I thinking hand-feeding these killer pythons?

[KMG]

I know, right? What am I thinking hand-feeding these killer pythons?

You can feed my gtp and bloods that way if you would like.

I do occasionally feed my ball by hand but she is very predictable and having already been tagged by my bloods and gtp I'm not real worried about a ball. I Bet I will survive.

[satomi325]

Just wondering; how does this apply with other snake species??
A friend of mine had a corn snake that they had fed in a separate container for many moons; the husband was a little lazy one day and fed it in its cage, and from that point on it always would strike at them when they put their hands in the cage to grab it out...

I don't think it's very efficient or safe to move a large species (i.e. burm, retic, larger boas, etc) when food is around.
Gosh... can you imagine trying to move a retic back and forth to a feeding container and back while still in feeding mode? Yikes.....

[DooLittle]

I feed all mine in their enclosures. Gtp and boas get p/k off tongs, balls get live. Yeah, who wants to move a hungry snake to feed, thats a great way to get bit. My boas and gtp KNOW when feed day is. I would never feed without tongs. Ha, couldn't even imagine it with the boas and gtp. With the gtp and one boa, you better know where they are before you even open the enclosure/tub on feed day, cuz they're coming out for their food. Let alone try to take them out and move them for feeding...:p. Not a single ball of mine is tub aggressive. Moving them just stresses them out unnecessarily.

[PiercingPrincess]

I feed all my F/T eaters in their tubs, and two of the picky live feeders who only take small mice, but all my live rat feeders get fed in separate bins because I've seen one too many pictures of rats going after snakes, and its easier to watch them and make sure everything is okay. The only other bonus of feeding out of their normal cage or tub would be that its easier to do poop patrol and fill water and whatnot while they are eating.
I used to feed all of them in separate bins and it really just wasn't worth it. It was a pain to move them all the time and making space to put the bins and yeah.. not worth it if you have a larger collection..