Quote Originally Posted by Badgemash View Post
Wouldn't feeding her in her cage reinforce the idea that things coming into the cage are edible and encourage her to strike? It's just her in there, and she's not going to get a buddy. My justification for having her (to the hubby) is that she keeps our freezer clear of rats when the BPs get picky about their food. Apparently I have used "because I really like it" too many times, now things must have a purpose in our household if they require feeding.
I think "because I really like it" is a perfectly good argument! In the twenty years of feeding my boa in her cage, I was only bitten the day I stuck my hand in on feeding day (thawed rat in the room). After that, I used the precaution of a towel or hook, but never had another issue. The logic on cage aggression from feeding doesn't make sense - why wouldn't she get used to thinking anything going into the tub with her was edible? Wouldn't she start trying to bite any time a bath was needed, or when you have to move her back to her cage? Don't you reach in the cage to handle her more often than you do to feed her? I NEVER touch my snakes after feeding that day - it's just asking to have an accident (like mistaking my hand for seconds).