When to feed/handle

[DVirginiana]

Is there a serious issue with feeding BPs in a separate enclosure, or is it one of those things that varies from keeper to keeper? The things you said make sense, but I'm in the same boat as the OP in that it's something I've seen multiple sources and keepers that either recommend it or are indifferent about it.

(Most of my snakes are of a species that regularly co-habits, so removing particularly shy or aggressive feeders from the communal tank for feeding purposes is something I've always done. At the time, I assumed the risk/rewards would be about the same for the python.)

[Eric Alan]

Is there a serious issue with feeding BPs in a separate enclosure, or is it one of those things that varies from keeper to keeper? The things you said make sense, but I'm in the same boat as the OP in that it's something I've seen multiple sources and keepers that either recommend it or are indifferent about it.

(Most of my snakes are of a species that regularly co-habits, so removing particularly shy or aggressive feeders from the communal tank for feeding purposes is something I've always done. At the time, I assumed the risk/rewards would be about the same for the python.)

On it's surface I wouldn't call it a serious issue, but the potential is there for it to become one. As I said before, it can complicate things and introduce unnecessary risks for both the keeper and the snake. If you can come up with a truly beneficial reason to feed a ball python in a separate enclosure, I'm all ears.

[DVirginiana]

Can't come up with any; she seems pretty neutral about it, but I see how it could cause minor stress.
Mainly, she seems to know that that tub means feeding time (goes into hunt-mode in it even if there's no mouse to be seen) and it just seemed natural to keep reinforcing that. She was up for adoption bc of 'food aggression' and I just kept feeding her the way she was used to and the way I feed a couple of my cohabiting Thamnophis. May try feeding in-tank next feeding, see how it goes.
Haven't had time to do the forum thing for awhile, but I've actually never heard anyone present a strong case against feeding out of the tank, so I was interested. Your arguments make sense so IMO it's worth a shot.

[Foolish1]

I believe feeding in tanks are fine as long as you are handling your snakes enough. If the only time their tub gets opened is when a rat or mouse goes in they will become aggressive. My snakes know my hand vs a mouse now. Well everyone except my male retic. He still is figuring it out.

[Sauzo]

Just feed your bp in the enclosure. Feeding outside was an old school idea that has been pretty well debunked as being useful. I have a 5ftish red tail boa that I feed in her enclosure and she can tell the difference easily between feeding time and "play time". Mostly by the scent of a rat which throws her into feeding mode before I even get the cage door open. Also the problems outweigh the benefits. Try moving a 4-5ft snake that is in feeding mode plus try moving one with a full belly. Sure you can leave them in the feeding cage for an hour or 2 depending how strong a feeding response your snake has but then its getting cold when it needs the heat the most. You can use a snake stick or a rolled up newspaper or a paper towel roll to turn off the feeding response in the enclosure but like I said, my red tail who has a very strong feeding response doesn't go into food mode unless she actually smells a rat in the room. If you are worried about substrate as I am, just use newspaper on the floor before feeding or what I use is a big 1 inch high ceramic casserole dish like thing that I throw under her after she grabs the rat. My red tail wont let go of a rat she grabs for anything so I just let her grab the rat, then grab the tail, lift it up along with the snakes head and neck and slide the dish under her and plop her head and the rat into the dish and she eats it np with no aspen being eaten. I've been doing that for almost 2 years now and it works great. But like I said, newspaper on the floor over the aspen or eco earth or cypress before you feed her works too. Avoid paper towels as the covering since I have seen and read of snakes eating the paper towel with the rat since it gets scented and is soft and it actually caused impaction and killed the snake. So stick to newspaper or some other paper that is more rigid than paper towels or like I said, find a shallow dish that fits the rat and half your snake and use that.

[DVirginiana]

If the only time their tub gets opened is when a rat or mouse goes in they will become aggressive.

My parents bought a couple about a year ago that are ridiculously aggressive for that exact reason. All mine are pretty good about not biting hands.

[Sauzo]

Can't come up with any; she seems pretty neutral about it, but I see how it could cause minor stress.
Mainly, she seems to know that that tub means feeding time (goes into hunt-mode in it even if there's no mouse to be seen) and it just seemed natural to keep reinforcing that. She was up for adoption bc of 'food aggression' and I just kept feeding her the way she was used to and the way I feed a couple of my cohabiting Thamnophis. May try feeding in-tank next feeding, see how it goes.
Haven't had time to do the forum thing for awhile, but I've actually never heard anyone present a strong case against feeding out of the tank, so I was interested. Your arguments make sense so IMO it's worth a shot.

The strong case against it is try doing that with a 8-10ft boa or a 14ft retic, both of which have very strong feeding responses. It can be a recipe for disaster if that snake decides its still hungry and you open the feeding bin and put your arm in to move them. Granted, for a bp, its not a big deal as they don't get big but if you look at some of the boa or other big snake forums, you will see a lot people say not to feed in separate bins.

[Sauzo]

Yeah my red tail boa is so tame she actually likes her head pet and when I do, she will usually crawl all the way out of her hide and stretch out to get her whole body pet or she crawls out the front door and onto my arm or out the left or right side to the table to come out and play. My little bp is still learning the ropes as I've only had her 2 weeks. My old bp knew food time from play time as well again mostly by the scent of a rat in the room. But if the only time you open is to feed, then yes it will trigger a response. They are creatures of habit.

[Eric Alan]

If the only time their tub gets opened is when a rat or mouse goes in they will become aggressive.

What is your evidence of this?

I very rarely hold any of my snakes and have only ever fed them in their enclosures. My personal experience: I have more than a few ball pythons - none of which are "aggressive" snakes. What I do have is snakes with a great feeding response when they catch the smell of thawing rodents on feeding day. Outside of feeding day, I'm not the least bit concerned of getting bit when I open a tub to do regular cleaning/etc.

[Eric Alan]

My parents bought a couple about a year ago that are ridiculously aggressive for that exact reason. All mine are pretty good about not biting hands.

Are you confident in that (about your parent's snakes)? What was their husbandry like? Feeding schedule? What were they eating?