The Age Old Question

[Karokash]

Yet another thread about whether to feed inside their home enclosure or use a secondary one. I am not looking to start arguments; I really want to hear the pros and cons opinions from both sides. In case any of this info is pertinent: Kaa is a pastel, weight unknown atm but about 15 inches, unsure of sex, low traffic room that only I go in, only f/t are available in my area, I plan to handle him as opposed to having him as strictly a show snake. If any more info is needed just let me know.

My concerns with feeding in the home enclosure:
1)I want to grow Kaa to be the type of snake I can handle regularly (within reason) and I've heard feeding this way causes them to confuse handling with feeding and creates snapping responses for them
2)I use substrate and have heard that feeding f/t to them while on substrate can pose a risk of them swallowing it, leading to impaction or rupture of the bowels.

My concerns with using a separate enclosure:
1) Less convenient as it requires a secondary setup with it's own heat, hides, and bedding (small concern but i'm listing it anyway)
2) I would think that being moved to a less familiar enclosure would cause stress and could potentially contribute to poor feeding or denying feeds altogether (partly my thinking to why Kaa hasn't fed the last two times)

Again I have seen this Hatfield and McCoy dispute since the first time I read up on keeping snakes; I'm not really looking for a one is better the other shouldn't be considered, and I know each snake and handler's situation are unique, I'd just like to hear everyone's experience and suggestions so I can figure out what my desired situation would best require.

TL;DR take the poll and post your thoughts on your choice.

[JPerkins]

I always feed my bp's in their enclosures and never have had a problem with handling on or off feed days. As for feeding them is another tub there is no reason to have heat, hides or bedding as they are not going to be housed in it; only to feed then back to their normal enclosure.

[Spoons]

Snake substrate is typically okay for them to ingest a bit if it sticks to the mouse. Look at wild snakes, they no doubt ingest all kinds of things while they eat. Dry the mouse off the best you can and take out the water to avoid re-wetting and sticking shouldn't be a problem. If you're especially worried lots of people just throw a paper towel or newspaper square down before feeding and take it out later.

It will not invoke aggression, especially if you feed with a tongs. They will have no reason to associate your hands with food. Just wash your hands before and after feeding so you don't smell like mouse! It's a common myth that tank feeding causes cage aggression, especially if you are feeding correctly (i.e. don't offer food with your fingers).

Feeding out of the enclosure can be stressful. New environment, it's generally not warm, they don't like to be handled after eating. It can definitely lead to food refusal. I don't see a reason to move them, the snake is more likely to eat where they're comfortable.

[Karokash]

I always feed my bp's in their enclosures and never have had a problem with handling on or off feed days. As for feeding them is another tub there is no reason to have heat, hides or bedding as they are not going to be housed in it; only to feed then back to their normal enclosure.

I thought similarly; I had just heard that they would be too uncomfortable to eat if they suddenly got moved to a colder environment with no secure hides.

For the record everyone: my eventual plan is to have both a custom built vivarium for him to live in as well as a second custom feeding enclosure, both fully heated, furnished, and monitored for temps and humidity. I like DIY projects

[BPSnakeLady]

When I've fed in a separate enclosure, with f/t it's usually a plastic tub. The snake is in there long enough to strike, eat, then about 10 min later i transfer her back to her tank. Since the tub is in use for at most an hour a week (usually 20min) i see no need for other heating stuff. The snake isn't in there long enough for it to be a concern.

That said I did do an in home feed experiment this past sun. One snake refused to eat, the other virtually inhaled the mouse. I didn't see any issues with the aspen sticking to mr mousy but it was a lot easier than risking a nip from a snake with a full tummy.

[Karokash]

Snake substrate is typically okay for them to ingest a bit if it sticks to the mouse. Look at wild snakes, they no doubt ingest all kinds of things while they eat.... lots of people just throw a paper towel or newspaper square down before feeding and take it out later.

You are the first person to suggest throwing down a piece of paper temporarily. I have honestly never heard that before but it makes so much sense. I mean he shouldn't roam around with it too much with it being f/t so I shouldn't have to worry about him taking it off the paper, and I can just toss it once he goes back into his hide. That sounds very simple.

Honestly curious if I could add you as a buddy or whatever on here, you've posted in a lot of the same threads and you always seem to have very beneficial information.

[Karokash]

@BPSnakeLady:
When I had my Banded California King, I used the little plastic carriers you take them home in to feed her and she was perfect: quick strike, swallow and back in her home in like half an hour. But with BP's I keep hearing that they do not like huge changes in their situation when feeding such as loss of heat and hides. I've also heard they need hours to calm down after ingesting as opposed to minutes like smaller breeds. So it's nice to actually hear that BP's can also successfully feed with moving them to a very temporary little container just to eat. To me it seems to make the most sense, but as I said I've heard so many things from both sides.

[Spoons]

Is there a buddy system on this forum? If so sure

I'm pretty new to all of this myself (I kept snakes when I was young, new to balls) but I've been stalking this forum for quite a while and soaking in everything I can. I've done enough reading in the past few weeks to equal a novel at least!

As a side note, I was a bit worried because my ball DID ingest some substrate and mystery moss that came with his tank when I fed him (I dried the mouse and he managed to drag it into the water dish, which is why I recommend taking it out... haha. Shouldn't be a problem with the larger tank, before the water was crowded near his hide). I was worried about him passing it but discovered quite the log in the tank today. So, it must not have been an issue.

You say you want a custom built feeding tank - but it sounds just like a regular tank? Why go through all of that? He'll be in there all of a half hour per week, and if it's so similar to the regular tank you might as well leave him in the regular tank.

[Karokash]

I just remember seeing something on the profile page about buddies, I'm assuming some sort of friend system so it's easier to follow people with similar interests.

And the tank wouldn't be out of necessity really. I just really like the idea of building one. It would just be for the fun of making a one of a kind enclosure for him.

[BPSnakeLady]

I think it may depend on the snake and the routines they get used to. Before I found this place I hadn't even considered feeding in the tanks and so feeding day they were in the tubs. As long as it is dim and quiet they'd eat. That is the only routing they knew. I may keep feeding Livia in a tub as she seemed to be confused when I tried feeding her in her tank. Li on the other hand didnt seem to care.