I agree with this post completely. I have a 7 ft. Red Tail and when I first got him (rescued him from certain death) less than a year ago, he had been fed in cage and I started out feeding him out. He messed me up a few times at first, but he is totally fine with it now. The main reason I dealt with getting tagged a few times at first was because I don't want to deal with that aggression every time I go to handle him or change water, etc. I know this is a Ball Python forum and Red Tail Boas are different. It's relative to the fact that I have been feeding both of my 9 mo. old BP's out sinc I got them and they are so o.k. with it, and are totally relaxed when handles about 20 mins. after each feed. That said, if I noticed any stress around feeding time at any time in their lives, I would consider changing out the loose substrate and feeding in cage if it makes my snakes happier. This is working very well for me now, though.Originally Posted by artis223
I always feed in a seperate cage. My BPs have never shown stress and rarely refuse a meal. It just the way i have always done it and my snakes know that they get handled before they eat and they are fine with it, i do give them 10 or so mins to remember why they are in this little rodent smelling cage before i dangle there dinner. I started doing this first with my Red tail boa cause she is a little cranky and the last thing i need is that big girl thinking foods a coming every time the top comes off her cage. I think it is a choice that we all have to make for ourselves. I do know that the sometime my snakes will hit a thawed rat so hard that the belly rips open and blood and stuff gets in the feed cage. I would not want mess in my bed room so i show them the kindness of keeping that out of their home
chris
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