Should the bp be moved for feeding

[danny2010]

Im picking up my first ball python tommorow and i was wondering what you all thought about feeding the python in its home or should it be moved to a seperate container. I owned a red blood that i always moved to feed but sometimes it was a little tricky getting him back to his home without getting bit. I know bp's can be a little different about eating.

[CoolioTiffany]

Best to feed in the same enclosure, especially for that Blood too.

Bloods get pretty big, and once they are full grown you'd really want to feed it in its own enclosure.

As for Ball pythons, they tend to stress very easily, especially when they first arrive in their new home. Try feeding it about a week after you've had it.

Don't try handling it in this week either, that adds on to the stress even though it may be hard not to hold it LOL. Trust me, I've been there too many times.

I would recommend feeding any snake in its own enclosure because that's where they feel most secure and its less of a hassle making it easier on the snake and for you.

[danny2010]

so they wont really get the idea that i am just comeing in to feed every time?

[Greez1986]

They shouldn't but I wouldn't be messing with your mice/rats before handling at least without taping it so we can watch

[psycho]

http://ball-pythons.net:80/forums/sh...34#post1324734

[BPelizabeth]

feed in the enclosure...its an old myth that they will get cage agressive. Besides less stress on the snake and much easier for you. Now if you use substrate you can put down a paper towel prior to feeding so that they don't get substrate in their mouth. And make sure you wash your hands after handling the mice otherwise you will smell like lunch.

[loonunit]

I started using cardboard boxes for feeding because I had a couple of boys who were practically leaping out of the tank in their enthusiasm at feeding time, and giving me VERY interested looks whenever I opened the tank for any other occasion. But I've also had snakes that would ONLY eat in the tank (and only if they were in their hide/only if they were hanging from a branch and had the advantage of the high ground/only if I left them the dead mouse and some privacy, etc.). It depends very much on the snake! I'd just start feeding him in the tank, and adjust your feeding strategy as needed.

Frankly, this time of year, if you have an animal that's threatening to take your hand off in its enthusiasm to eat, you're one up on most everybody else around here.

(... oh, but if you ever have two animals in one tank? Feeding separately is a MUST. You don't want any "incidents" between tank mates.)

[Kaorte]

so they wont really get the idea that i am just comeing in to feed every time?

Well I am going to make the assumption that you will be going in the enclosure more then just for feeding.

And during feeding you shouldn't be in the enclosure anyway. I don't have contact with my snakes at all on feeding day so how could they associate me going in the cage with them being fed? If I took them out every time they were being fed then I would be more likely to get this "hand/food association" that everyone is talking about.

Make yours and the snakes life easier. Feed in the home enclosure. Plenty of people, myself included, have been doing it for years with no ill effects. I have never once been bitten. Watch me get bit today during feeding time XD

[BAMReptiles]

i always feed in the cage, as stated for various reasons its more logical/safer/more practical/helps picky eaters all that stuff

[iCandiBallPythons]

Feed inside the enclosure. Simple.