Best way to get my BP used to a feed box

[Drake78]

Hello,
I have a nine year old female ball python. I made the stupid mistake of getting her used to eating in her home enclosure. Recently, she's become nippy and I suspect this is the cause. I'm starting to use a feed box, I was hoping someone could explain the process for making this transition (without getting bitten). I know it was a mistake, but I've resolved to fix it.

[2kdime]

Id say she's just having a bad week....

I feed ALL my Bloods in they're cages.

This is a hot topic just like feeding live or F/T.

I don't believe you feeding in the cage has ANYTHING to do with her aggression.

[cinderbird]

cage aggression due to feeding in the enclosure is a myth.

You say she's being nippy? Are these defense strikes or feeding strikes? (when she's nipping, is she recoiling quickly, or is she staying and constricting?).

Do you clean her cage and cage accessories often? The few times i have had problems with some animals being a little trigger happy is when their cage still smells like rodents the day or two after feeding. A quick cage cleaning has them acting just like normal because they no longer smell food. Or when the animal is a new acquisition and is still settling in. (but thats a different issue all together).

has something changed in her environment? Has she grown and you haven't upped her prey size? If you give us a little more information we may be able to help you better diagnose the issue.

[Drake78]

Thanks so much for all of your quick replies. Cinderbird, You brought up a great point. She used to eat Frozen rats without a problem, but suddenly, she didn't seem very interested. For a few weeks, she has been snubbing frozen. She's obviously hungry as she very actively tracks movement. I tried one last ditch frozen this weekend. She didn't take it. But it had been left in her enclosure for several hours. So I buckled and gave her a live rat. She happily ate it. But when I get close, she still follows me around like I'm a buffet. I think the problem is that the smell of that frozen rat is still hanging around. I think I'll have to get her out of there and clean it really well. Thanks so much guys.

[cinderbird]

Thanks so much for all of your quick replies. Cinderbird, You brought up a great point. She used to eat Frozen rats without a problem, but suddenly, she didn't seem very interested. For a few weeks, she has been snubbing frozen. She's obviously hungry as she very actively tracks movement. I tried one last ditch frozen this weekend. She didn't take it. But it had been left in her enclosure for several hours. So I buckled and gave her a live rat. She happily ate it. But when I get close, she still follows me around like I'm a buffet. I think the problem is that the smell of that frozen rat is still hanging around. I think I'll have to get her out of there and clean it really well. Thanks so much guys.

She may be snubbing her nose at F/t because its not warm enough. try using a hair dryer to get the rodent up to temp after its thawed out completely (it also pre-scents because it blows the rat smell around). This is the feeding method i use and it works SUPER well for me.

[Drake78]

Alright, this has been really helpful. But, I do have one more, subsequent question. Although, a thorough cleaning may remedy the issue in the future, have you got any pointers as to how I'm supposed to get her out of her enclosure to do that? I was thinking, maybe feed her again? So she won't be hungry, or will that not make any difference?

[Oxylepy]

You go in and grab her, toss her in something, clean her enclosure, and then grab her out and put her back in. Do it delicately, don't move your hands by her head, and get the whole thing done as fast as possible.

If you are feeding her enough then you shouldn't have to worry about coaxing her with more food.

[Elise.m]

Make sure you don't wake her up and startle her. Let her know you're there and wake up for a min.

[cinderbird]

Alright, this has been really helpful. But, I do have one more, subsequent question. Although, a thorough cleaning may remedy the issue in the future, have you got any pointers as to how I'm supposed to get her out of her enclosure to do that? I was thinking, maybe feed her again? So she won't be hungry, or will that not make any difference?

MOST of the time, if you tap them on the head with something they'll snap out of it. You can always pick up a particularly "friendly" snake with a thick towel or something, just watch the teeth dont get caught. But through the towel they won't really see a heat signature and will be less likely to strike i'd imagine. I have a few i can just mist with some cool water and it stops them in their tracks.

[trott]

Feed in enclosure. Be sure to prescent when feeding and they'll know the diference when its feed mode or when you pull them out of thier hide or handling mode.