It is absolutely a myth that feeding in the enclosure causes cage aggression. Our collection is a pretty decent size (at the peak of hatching season it is usually around 200 BPs). We feed everyone in their tubs and have no issues with anybody being aggressive. If you think about it, it makes sense. Everyone's tub gets opened once a day at a minimum (sometimes more if we are checking for locks/eggs), so one out of 7+ tub openings leads to food. Plus, if you feed outside of the enclosure, you then have to move a snake that is in feeding mode, which increases the chances of being bitten. Another thing- if snakes really did make such a strong association with regards to where their food comes from, moving them to feed them probably wouldn't help anyway. They would just learn that being taken out means that food is coming and become aggressive when they were removed from their enclosures.Originally Posted by MorbidWolfess
Though I do not AT ALL agree with not separating her for food. If she's a pet this is a must because she'll start to expect food IN HER TANK. My friend feeds her snakes in her tank, and at first they were really friendly animals, now they almost always strike unless she gets them out with a snake hook. It's better safe then sorry in the end. Another thing is, is her enclosure always retains the scent of the rat.
I've always fed my boys in a container, and it's trained them to know to expect food when they're in it, which almost immediately causes a feeding reaction even with the mouse still under the heat lamp 14 feet away. It's something that helps exercise good feeding habits and keep your hands bite free.
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