Feeding Technique????

[gardenfiend138]

I know most people don't do this, but I feed in a large box, separate from their living enclosure. I put a towel on the floor, and lay the box out with the bottom flaps to the side (so you may lift the box up off of the snake after feeding, and approach from the rear to put back in habitat). I just leave em in the box for about 10 minutes with the top shut then check on em and if they're waiting for food I drop in the live. I also use my snake hook to pin back the rear legs once it's being constricted to minimize the amount of scratching that goes on. Once they've eaten, I leave em alone for about 20 minutes, then take the box off, pick em up, and put em back. Works like a charm, every time, and mine have never missed a meal or regurgitated or had an impaction. This isn't really feasible if you have more than a few snakes, though

[anatess]

I feed live. Been feeding live since 2008. I usually feed in a different container. My enclosures are decked out in "grandeur". It's not easy to take things out and put things back in. And I don't want rat poop inside the enclosure.

So, on feeding day, I put the snake in a different container, put a lab block (I feed the rats lab block) on one corner and put the rat in there too.

When I produced baby snakes, I started them off by feeding in their enclosure. They were on paper towels, so it's easier to clean. I leave everything - hides and water bowls - and put the rat in with a lab block. The snakes wait for the rats to get closer to the hide and they strike. Sometimes they sneak half-way out of their hides to strike. From my observation, the rats can tell there's a snake in the hide, because they haven't tried to go inside the hide.

But, I've only done this for the first few months, then I moved the "kids" to their "decked out" vivs and now they feed in a separate container.

[L.West]

Wow, that sounds interesting - maybe I could try that with my two finicky eaters - they have both been off food for months now. Sounds like a good plan.

Thanks

[stratus_020202]

I wouldn't try feeding outside of the enclosure until you get them eating. That can be stressful on a snake, and the first thing is to get him to take a meal. You want him in his comfy enclosure. Some where he is used to being.

Sorry, but i don't see the advantages of handling before and after a meal. That's just me.

[gardenfiend138]

I wouldn't try feeding outside of the enclosure until you get them eating. That can be stressful on a snake, and the first thing is to get him to take a meal. You want him in his comfy enclosure. Some where he is used to being.

Sorry, but i don't see the advantages of handling before and after a meal. That's just me.

I agree, and from all I've read I am very fortunate to have such good eaters. That aside, advantages are: no risk of impaction from ingested substrate, no rat contamination in enclosure, I can observe the feeding and make sure my snake isn't being hurt, and since my box is cardboard, there is no risk of a missed strike resulting in a broken jaw.

[L.West]

It's so hard to know what is the right way to go. Seems like so many people have such different methods.

[gardenfiend138]

I think it just boils down to what works for you and your snakes...the most important thing is their well-being. I've heard of snakes going off feed for 6+ months... if they're not eating, I can't really give you much advice, but it doesn't seem best to change up anything during a hunger strike... they'll decide to eat one day, so as long as they're not rapidly loosing weight, I think time is your best friend

[stratus_020202]

I agree, and from all I've read I am very fortunate to have such good eaters. That aside, advantages are: no risk of impaction from ingested substrate, no rat contamination in enclosure, I can observe the feeding and make sure my snake isn't being hurt, and since my box is cardboard, there is no risk of a missed strike resulting in a broken jaw.

Ok. I use paper towels, so there is no ingested substrate. My tubs are clear so I can observe everything at eye level. My balls are used to there tubs, and it is where they feel safe. They aren't stressed by a new place, and I don't handle before or after eating. My rats aren't in there long enough to make a mess until they are constricted, unless they aren't eaten. In that case, they get new towels. Which is so much easier to clean than an type of loose bedding.

The top priority is getting them to eat, so feed them where they are comfortable. Then you can decide what is best for your snake. To me there are more advantages to you feeding outside, than the snake. A snake can digest bones, substrate is no issue. I'm telling you the wild is not clean. Lol. I'm pretty sure they could care less of a few mouse droppings are in there.

And, although I haven't seen any proof of handling after feeding leads to regurgitation. It's still frowned upon. Is it worth the risk?

[anatess]

Ok. I use paper towels, so there is no ingested substrate. My tubs are clear so I can observe everything at eye level. My balls are used to there tubs, and it is where they feel safe. They aren't stressed by a new place, and I don't handle before or after eating. My rats aren't in there long enough to make a mess until they are constricted, unless they aren't eaten. In that case, they get new towels. Which is so much easier to clean than an type of loose bedding.

The top priority is getting them to eat, so feed them where they are comfortable. Then you can decide what is best for your snake. To me there are more advantages to you feeding outside, than the snake. A snake can digest bones, substrate is no issue. I'm telling you the wild is not clean. Lol. I'm pretty sure they could care less of a few mouse droppings are in there.

And, although I haven't seen any proof of handling after feeding leads to regurgitation. It's still frowned upon. Is it worth the risk?

When you're moving a snake from his feeding box to his enclosure, you are moving the snake - not "handling" the snake. You make it so that it would be as close to the same amount of movement as if the snake was moving from outside his hide to inside his hide after eating.

If you have an enclosure like this:


You can't really feed inside the enclosure because a rat can hide in areas that are in-accessible to the snake and taking apart the enclosure for feeding is not practical.

So yes, it is completely dependent on your set-up and your snake.

Either method is fine.

[mmateo]

Put it in a separate tub so the rat doesnt poo all over...