Quote Originally Posted by ballpythonluvr View Post
"I do not and will not feed in a separate container because on feeding day all of my snakes are ready to strike at anything that comes near their tubs so I would surely be bitten."
"This X 100"

I have seen a lot of people say this. That on feeding day putting their hand in their hungry snakes tub would "surely" get them bitten. I don't think this is cage agression at all. I think it is simply that when the snake is hungry he is looking for food to come into his enclosure and a heat signature is one of the things that identifies a prey item, and a good enough reason to strike. I disagree that is it an association of "hand in tub = food" but something more like "hungry and I eat here normally = time to eat".
I only have one snake and he will eat out of his enclosure so I have no problem moving him. A prey item has never entered his enclosure so I'm hopoing he will never mistake my hand for food when he is hungry (in his enclosure).
In his feeding box is a different matter. When he is in his feeding box he is coiled and just waiting for a prey item. His box smells like rats and he definitely associates the box to food and eating. I DO have to be careful to not get bit after he has eaten when I move him back, but this is the only time I ever have to be cautious when I go to pick him up.
Snakes have a brain the size of a pea. I don't think they have a strict list of criteria to meet before they strike when they are hungry.
I am not afraid to be bitten, I'm sure it barely hurts, like everyone says, but I don't want to be anticipating a bite at anytime when I'm putting my hand in his enclosure. Although it has never happened and I hope it never will I expect I will be bitten somehow, at some point, in my snake's 20-30 year lifespan. Until then I am going to do what I can to minimize the chance of that happening.