Feeding Q

[Shaun J]

Can i feed my bp in his cage?i've heard of people doing it w/o a problem.

[Jase]

depends
the only real limitations to "in-cage" feeding are the substrate in the tank, and the risk of having the snake confuse your hand for food, since its used to recieving its meals in the tank

[TekWarren]

its generally not recommended. the thought is that if you feed the animal in its "home" that it will associate every opening of the enclosure or sight of you ...with food. I generally have spare tubs that I use for feeding. No substrate or anything for a clean easy feeding.


Edit: doh! seconds to late on the reply

[Hoomi]

I've been feeding my BP's in their enclosures, and I've had my first one, Phil, for over a year now. You can find advantages and disadvantages to both ways of doing things. The advantage of feeding in their normal enclosure is that the snake is more likely to be comfortable and secure feeling, which helps promote active feeding. A stressed or fearful snake is not as likely to eat as one that's relaxed and feels safe.

One of the disadvantages of feeding in the enclosure is the one mentioned above; if your snake tends to be an aggressive feeder, it may decide that the heat signature of your hand is similar enough to a mouse/rat that it strikes first and then checks to see if the "smell" is right.

[sk8er4life]

i feed mine in her tank cuz she wont eat ne where else! but my substrate is repticarpet so i dont have 2 worry about her eating a piece of substrate!

[Shaun J]

mine is newspaper. he seems interested in the food,eyeing it down,but he wont eat!!

[Cody]

The idea of a snake associating your hand in the tank with food is incorrect IMO. Think about it. You go in the tank more often to change water and spot clean than you do to feed them, so why would they associate food with your hand in the cage, if it's the thing you do the least in the week compared to the water changing and stuff. The only reason a snake will bite you when you're in its cage is usually if you have the scent of mouse on you, or in the air. Or for defense, if you really spook it. But to me, the hand in tank = food thing doesn't make much sense.

So yeah, the only reason you would have to feed out of the cage is if you have loose substrate, or a crowded tank with not much chow down room, lol. I have loose substrate, but I still feed in the cage. I just lay down a sheet of newspaper over the substrate. Works fine.

[Super_Smash]

i agree with Cody.... i feed in my tank too, and i also have loose substrate. i watch her every single time to make sure nothing happens, and im always ready to go in with the tongs and pick off anything potentially dangerous. she's accidentally eaten pieces of her substrate a few times, but nothing happened... so yeah. she wont the food if shes anywhere BUT her tank.

[Shaun J]

i fed him in his tank last night in his cage and he ate!it took him 3 hours in the other container(he didnt eat it)and only like 5 minutes in his tank.He wasnt agressive with me this morning when i misted him and changed his water...so i guess from now on im gonna feed the mouse in his tank.