The Age Old Question

[Karokash]

I think it may depend on the snake and the routines they get used to. Before I found this place I hadn't even considered feeding in the tanks and so feeding day they were in the tubs. As long as it is dim and quiet they'd eat. That is the only routing they knew. I may keep feeding Livia in a tub as she seemed to be confused when I tried feeding her in her tank. Li on the other hand didnt seem to care.

It's still amazing to me how, with this much diversity in their personalities, they are still so widely dismissed as legitimate pets that require just as much if not more attention than a dog or cat. Glad to hear that all of yours have their own systems down Hopefully Kaa and I can get on the same page soon once I get his house comfy for him.

[Karokash]

I did tend to always have better luck with live, but no shop within an hour of my city sells live any younger than full grown furries. And Kaa just isn't there yet.

[The Golem]

I thought similarly; I had just heard that they would be too uncomfortable to eat if they suddenly got moved to a colder environment with no secure hides.

For the record everyone: my eventual plan is to have both a custom built vivarium for him to live in as well as a second custom feeding enclosure, both fully heated, furnished, and monitored for temps and humidity. I like DIY projects

If you handle it immediately before feeding (to move into different enclosure) it will associate being handled with feeding, so I don't see why this is considered a good idea.

[Rob]

There are no benefits to feeding in a separate container.
....the only time I can see any reason for it is if you have a problem feeder and your trying different avenues to make them eat.

[200xth]

My concerns with feeding in the home enclosure:
1)I want to grow Kaa to be the type of snake I can handle regularly (within reason) and I've heard feeding this way causes them to confuse handling with feeding and creates snapping responses for them
2)I use substrate and have heard that feeding f/t to them while on substrate can pose a risk of them swallowing it, leading to impaction or rupture of the bowels.

Both of those are non-issues.

If the first was true (which it's not) and feeding your snake in his enclosure teaches him to be snappy, what's the inevitable outcome of teaching him that being picked up leads to food?

Ball Pythons have been ingesting bits of wood, dirt, mud, and small rocks for tens of millions of years before humans ever existed. Your snake is well designed to deal with a little bedding.

[200xth]

a second custom feeding enclosure, both fully heated, furnished, and monitored for temps and humidity.

You'd be better off using this enclosure for a second snake.

[Shamri]

So far I have been feeding Atticus in a separate container - cardboard box with a lid, and he has been eating very consistently. The reason I do this is because he sometimes creates a bloody mess when he eats, and it's easier to throw away a cardboard box than to change out substrate. It's also a good time for me to spot clean, change water, etc. Someone pointed out that my strategy may become more inconvenient as he gets bigger, but I will keep using the feeding box until that happens.

[Rickys_Reptiles]

Feed in the enclosure. There is no debate among those in the know....Every single breeder that I know feeds in the enclosure/tubs. No need to overthink this one.

[carlisleishere]

Feeding in enclosure is the way to go. I've never had luck with feeding in a seperate enclosure. Generally when someone refers to feeding in a seperate enclosure, they are talking about a very temporary enclosure with no bedding that the snake is in solely for the purpose of eating. They are then transported back to their normal enclosure.

Pros:
-can't ingest any substrate
-sometime picky eaters will eat in a new, clean environment.

Cons:
-changing enclosures can stress a snake out; therfore it won't eat.
-snake smells food already when you move it to/from enclosure, increases chance of being bitten.
-you can leave a f/t food item in for extended periods of time without worrying about potential snake escape or wrong temps/humidity

I also find that snakes in their own enclosure are already in a comfortable and relaxed position, ready to eat whenever. However, when you move them, they need to get adjusted and in proper position for food. Just my experience.

[Ransack]

Let me actually say something...in 25 years I have never switched any snakes in my care to a separate enclosure for feeding. In all that time I have had exactly one snake that would be "after it" as soon as I opened the cage to the point that it was an issue, which was a Coastal Carpet Python (I've had other Carpet Pythons, no trouble.)

With the GTPs, if you feed at night they way they react is correct and expected.

I am curious if anybody that has been keeping snakes for a bit has had issues with multiple snakes striking out as soon as you open the enclosure?