Cage feeding

[tsy72001]

Ok I know everyone states there is no such thing as cage feeding aggression, but I do think that my snakes know what is going on. We do feed in a different tub, I am glad we do. When they are placed in the tub they know what is going on, I clean with soap and water so there should not be a smell. Nut they coil up, get in the S position and wait for the drop. So my theory, at least with these snakes is if I fed in their cage it would confuse them.

Now my husband did, 20 years ago, work at a pet shop they feed in the cage and the snake always struck every time they opened the cage. Husband started feeding new snakes in separate containers, new snakes, the new ones never struck. Said pet shop still feeds this way, we are good friends with them.

So what are others views on this topic, and let's all be nice.


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[xdeus]

There's nothing wrong with the way you're doing it if it works for you. I've found that my snakes eat better when they can "hunt" from their cages and their hides. Sometimes the less shy ones will strike as soon as I open the cage during feeding time, but when it is not feeding time I can open any of their cages and handle them without a problem. They seem to go into feeding/hunting mode about an hour after sunset, but during the day they are usually sleeping and never strike... except the babies, they love to strike at all hours of the day.

[tsy72001]

It's crazy how they "know" what is going on!


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[KMG]

My bp's previous owner fed in a different tub but I don't. She has done fine and never strikes at me. One night she was in a rock hide looking out the hole, i reached to lift the top of the hide but decided to leave it. My fingers were dangling in the entrance because that's the best place to grab to lift it but she didn't strike. I then started to lower the mouse toward the hole to bait her out. As the mouse came into her view she struck like lightning and sucked the mouse into the hide, never to be seen again. I realized that she knew the difference between her food and my fingers.

I could see pet store snakes striking because they are not used to regularly being handled and usually when the cage opens it means food. Well that's my thought.

[XXlizaXX]

I feed mine in their cages with no problems. My snakes have never been aggressive towards me during feeding time or any other time. They know I'm not a tasty rat lol

[tsy72001]

At this pet store they where handled often, small mom and pop store with not many snakes.


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[HerpIsAhobby]

To each their own in my opinion. I would never recommend someone to feed outside of the snakes enclosure simply based on nature and their proclivity towards being skiddish. Taking them out of their hide and exposing them in an open tub just doesn't seem "natural" to me. However if it works for you then keep it up. I have a large sample size with my collection and the cage aggression myth is just that from my perspective. There are snakes that have attitudes and snakes that are calm as can be but that has little to do with where they are fed but more so about personality difference. More important than where you feed them is that they are eating consistently so if you have that battle won then .

[satomi325]

I've never had any of my snakes strike at me because they thought I was food. I feed all my snakes in their own enclosures.
I have one girl who always periscopes out of the tub looking for food the moment I open the tub. She rushes out. If I moved my hand too fast in front of her, I'm sure she would bite.
She's my strongest feeder. But I wouldn't say she's aggressive, but has a very strong feeding response. She doesn't fight or try to bite when I pick her up or handle her. So she's not aggressive. But I just need to give her a second to realize that I'm not food after I open her tub.
But aside from her, none of my other snakes really react negatively to anything other than food (rat). They don't flinch or strike when I rummage around them.

Snakes don't strike for no reason. They have food strikes and defensive strikes.
Could it be that your husband moved to quickly and the snakes reacted to such movement? Plus being in a petstore can be stressful for a ball python. The strikes could just be a result of that stress or husbandry.
I always move slow with my snakes and away from their faces. If I handle my snakes, I slightly brush their sides to let them know I'm there and scoop them from the side or behind.

[KMG]

At this pet store they where handled often, small mom and pop store with not many snakes.


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Yes, they are handled but they are young and have not be handled alot in their short life. They still have much to learn and expierence to gain is what I meant.

[BallJohnny]

Not to derail the thread but mite as well ask im probably getting a boa soon feed in cage im guessing and on the note of the thread, my snake was tub fed at the petshop i got him from switched him to his cage. Boy eats like a champ never had him pass on a meal.