Bandit

[rabernet]

there are many reasons:

1.they dont swallow substrate they cant digest

They were awesomely designed to be able to handle a little substrate - no one is clearing away leaves and twigs for them in their natural environment. They can break down bones, hair, teeth and nails with their stomach acids, they can also break down some subtrate.

I've never had an issue with swallowed substrate (and I feed 40+ ball pythons a week).

2.wont confuse your hand with food everytime you go to pick it up

What's to keep him from associating the floor with food? Now he's going to associate your hand with food every time you put him on the floor.

Basically, that's a myth. You aren't feeding him every time you go into his enclosure, so why should he make the assumption he's going to be fed each time?

3.Feeding on a plastic bag is cheaper and more sanitary because you dont have to worry about cleaning up their tank and redoing substrate and all you got to do is rinse down the plastic bag

I don't think that just rinsing the bag makes it more sanitary.

4.if rats/mice poop or pee you dont have to worry about cleaning that up because itll be on the plastic bag versus in the tank

I guess I don't find it that difficult or a pain to spot clean as needed.

[DutchHerp]

Why it's bad:

1) If you're feeding live, the rodent could easily get away.

2) The snake might get stressed out for being in such an open environment when feeding.

3) A snake would never feel good being handled after eating.

And FYI, just because Slim says it's interesting doesn't necessarily mean that he thinks it's bad, and you don't have to start defending yourself.

[BanditNClyde]

i got an idea how about i control my snakes the way i want and you can control yours the way you want. and for the record i wasnt being defensive i was just replying to the question i was given.

[DutchHerp]

i got an idea how about i control my snakes the way i want and you can control yours the way you want. and for the record i wasnt being defensive i was just replying to the question i was given.

Sorry, but this looks defensive to me:

why is that interesting? its better then feeding in the cage.

We're just trying to give you advice on how to make your BP the best he possibly can. We're not trying to bash on you or whatever you might think we're doing.

[BanditNClyde]

oh ok im sorry i completely misunderstood! thanks for the advice and opinions

[Slim]

why is that interesting? its better then feeding in the cage.

No...no it's not, for many reasons.

there are many reasons:

1.they dont swallow substrate they cant digest

2.wont confuse your hand with food everytime you go to pick it up

3.Feeding on a plastic bag is cheaper and more sanitary because you dont have to worry about cleaning up their tank and redoing substrate and all you got to do is rinse down the plastic bag

4.if rats/mice poop or pee you dont have to worry about cleaning that up because itll be on the plastic bag versus in the tank

1. Depends on the substrate, but even with a very loose substrate, they can handle small amounts without fear of impaction.

2. Possibly the biggest myth in the BP hobby. They don't try to eat things that aren't food. Defensive strikes are differnet, but it's not out of food confusion.

3. BPs are ambush hunters by nature. Hard to ambush a rat out in the middle of the living room.

4. I've yet to see a rat that could out poop or out pee a BP, and I assume you clean that up.

i got an idea how about i control my snakes the way i want and you can control yours the way you want. and for the record i wasnt being defensive i was just replying to the question i was given.

That sounds a bit defensive to me. I totally agree that you can treat your snake as you see fit, but the members here have collectively about 5,000 years more experience than you and I combined. The advice you get here is tried and true. Sure, you may have that one of a kind BP that eats like a champ off the living room floor, but that doesn't make it recommended.

Interesting.

[DutchHerp]

Interesting.

Very.

[Hock3ymonk3y]

Sorry about the but I feed my BP in a bin separate from his cage, is that alright?

[BanditNClyde]

oh yea thats fine, me personally i like feeding my BP's out of their tank too. i dont feed live only pre killed so i dont have to worry about them getting bit or let alone having the small rat run haha.

[Koolaid]

No...no it's not, for many reasons.



1. Depends on the substrate, but even with a very loose substrate, they can handle small amounts without fear of impaction.

2. Possibly the biggest myth in the BP hobby. They don't try to eat things that aren't food. Defensive strikes are differnet, but it's not out of food confusion.

3. BPs are ambush hunters by nature. Hard to ambush a rat out in the middle of the living room.

4. I've yet to see a rat that could out poop or out pee a BP, and I assume you clean that up.



That sounds a bit defensive to me. I totally agree that you can treat your snake as you see fit, but the members here have collectively about 5,000 years more experience than you and I combined. The advice you get here is tried and true. Sure, you may have that one of a kind BP that eats like a champ off the living room floor, but that doesn't make it recommended.

Interesting.

I totally agree...

And you say you're feeding your snakes in a bag? Where did you get these ideas on how to feed your snake? I'm just wondering because I've never heard of anyone feeding their snakes in a bag or floor. The only way I could see it good to feed in a bag is if it is a paper bag that way it would be at least dark when they would eat, but you said you "wash it out" so it has to be a plastic bag?

I feed my snakes in their racks... drop a mouse/rat in... close it up... end of discussion. I don't have to pick them up and stress them out... I don't get hit by defensive strikes.... and no regurgitation. They get to eat in the privacy of their home where it is nice and dark. And once they are done they go in their hide and take a nice nap. And, most of all, all my snakes are happy!