Should I feed my BP in a different tank?

[rabernet]

With that logic (associating your hand with food if fed in the home enclosure), consider this:

Since you are probably going into the enclosure on more days than just feeding day, the snake isn't going to associate your being in there with just feeding time.

However, if you feed in a separate feeding enclosure, and the only time it's moved to that enclosure is to be fed, you're more likely to be bitten when you move it to a separate enclosure, because feeding is the only association that your snake has with that separate enclosure.

I've never fed in a separate feeding enclosure. I feed ~ 40 ball pythons a week, and I've never had one mistake me for food on a non-feeding day. I have had some that KNOW that it's feeding day come flying out of their tubs when it's their turn to have food offered in anticipation, but never had them do that when food wasn't being offered.

[frankykeno]

I'm currently feeding 40 snakes a week - 36 ball pythons of various ages and sizes, 3 boas ranging from a young male and female up to a 9 foot female and one smaller milksnake. They all eat in their enclosures. I've been doing this week after week for a few years now and have yet to have a feeding incident bite. Much as Robin mentioned, I have had to dance out of the way of an over-excited snake coming up out of an opening tub trying to "help" me feed it though but that's not a bite attempt in my mind.

Ball pythons are a very popular pet snake, hence there's a lot of misconceptions and myths surrounding them that often get repeated over and over as fact (especially from supposed reptile "experts" in chain pet stores). Things like all ball pythons are picky eaters - not true and often related to the lack of knowledge of a new owner about how this species hunts and eats - that feeding in the cage encourges biting - again not true as proven over and over by our experienced membership here.

Doesn't bother me if folks want to feed their snakes in a seperate feeding enclosure. Just do your research, make sure you know the pro's and con's of any decisions you make for your snake and base your decisions ultimately on what is best for that snake and you'll do fine.

[paulaura]

I also feed alot of BPs and have never moved one to different space to eat.

Seems like unnecessary hassle to me.

[llovelace]

Nope, feed in their enclosure.

[guambomb832]

It is best to feed them in their home.
Also try leaving everything in its cage when you are feeding it such as water bowl, hide boxes, decor, etc.
Like what kaorte said, they only eat when they feel secure.
Quick Tip:

If you want to feed your snake but it is still in its hide box, try leaving the ESCAPE PROOF tub that the rat/mouse is in next to the snakes cage with its screen OPEN thus letting my odor into his cage thus alerting him food his coming. Since the snakes and rodents cages are open, be in the room supervising. About 15-30 minutes will yield to roaming and rapid tongue flicking of your snake.

[tonkatoyman]

We feed between 50 and 100 animals a week in their enclosure. So DITTO every one elses comments

[harper]

Thanks, everyone. Kaorte pretty much wrote out what I had been thinking, but I had been told by the guy I bought the snake from that I should feed him in a separate enclosure, so I wanted to get some more opinions. I'll definitely try feeding him in his tank first.