Quote Originally Posted by Coils View Post
I honestly try to feed all my balls in another cage. Only a few times have I had to do it in the enclosure, but that was during a few first feeds after they had come from their shipping boxes.

I have aspen bedding in the cages, but still don't exactly want them -eating- it since it's these little chips that I am sure wouldn't be comfortable being swallowed/passed. I have never had a problem moving them from the cage and then back after they have eaten either, they let you pick them up no problem just to put them back away. They do not and have NEVER regurged.

I also DO believe that feeding them in the cage might get them used to YOU opening it and sticking your hands inside as "feeding time". My pastel Rin was fed in her cage a few times after she arrived because she liked "hide feeding", but then when she was used to everything I got her in another cage for feeding time and she eats fine now when moved.

-However-, one time when I was rearranging some leaves in her cage she was watching me and I got just a little to close and got bit. I am pretty sure it was a feed bite too since it was a decent clamp, but she realized that it wasn't a mouse she was biting and let go.
Why would you be sticking your hand inside the snake cage during feeding time? You should either drop it in or use tongs. Your hand should never be associated with feeding. That doesn't make sense. Rodents are what triggers the feeding response. Not a giant human hand waving around.

The only reasons for biting is
1. You smell like a mouse and the snake is hungry
2. You pissed the snake off
3. The snake is scared and bit out of defense.