should I let her explorer.

[Rinne]

A lot of great info here. I just got my first ball python and was originally going to feed him in a separate enclosure but your picture there is enough to change my mind, Eric. Heh. And while it could work while he's small I don't want to try and deal with that when he gets bigger!

I just fed my little guy tonight in his enclosure. I fed a live rat pup. I first just put the paper bag with the pup in it on top of the enclosure so Snakey Shakes could smell it. When he came out of his hide, I put the pup in, and he struck and ate. Later when I checked his temps and humidity and water, I tapped the enclosure and spoke to him. He didn't even move (my temp and humidity are good and he's basking after his meal), he just barely acknowledged that I gave him fresh water.

I rubbed him lightly and now he's super chilling. This is my first bp, and he's just been amazing awesome. I may have lucked out with the coolest snake ever. I do tend to tap on his hide when I'm putting my hands in to change water or make sure his paper towels are clean (he peed the day after I got him and he had a nice dump after shedding) and when I want to handle him. I didn't put my hands in at all with the pup. I dumped the little thing out of the bag and closed up the enclosure and just watched Snakey Shakes get his meal. I didn't talk to Snakey or anything like I'd normally do and it all worked out fine.

I'm going to keep feeding him in his own enclosure and tapping to let him know it's not food time. I also make sure to sanitize my hands so that they don't smell like food or my other animals. Seems to be working, I have a satisfied and happy snake on my hands right now.

Thanks for this post, very informative. I think I'll be using a similar method to yours.