So.. Feeding in vs out of the enclosure?

[Brixxart]

I have a boa (whom is an idiot) and a new ball python.

It seems that the majority of this website says feed inside the enclosure, I've always fed in tubs, one time I tried feeding my boa in his enclosure on a 12x12 piece of cardboard... aaaand he missed the entire cardboard in all of it's entirety and decided he'd prefer a massive mouth of substrate :/ so that's put me off even more than I was about feeding inside the enclosures, it's incredibly stressful for me. BUT I want what's best for my animals.

Both eat vigorously in tubs, and sit in a warm room for about 30 minutes after the prey item is down before I move their tub into their enclosure and allow them to come out on their own after I leave...

So my question is, should I still attempt to get over myself and feed inside the enclosure? I use eco earth for both and know that's supposed to be better for impaction anyways?

I had a corn snake whom I fed in her enclosure, on aspen bedding, and she died overnight after I fed her one time, probably not related to feeding inside the enclosure, but this just adds another level of stress for me.

Both are eating perfectly fine in separate areas currently.

[artgecko]

Usually, the reason people give for feeding out of the enclosure is supposed cage aggression (i.e. animal thinks anything coming into the cage is food). Many people have disproven this through experience over time (i.e. feed in the enclosure and animal is fine with handling, etc.).

The main reasons given for not feeding outside the enclosure are that the animal will be in food mode and thus more likely to strike you when you attempt to move it back and that moving the animal so soon after feeding could cause regurg, etc.

In the end it is up to you and your personal preference.

I think the method you use for getting the animals back into their enclosures (leaving them in the tub and allowing them to crawl out) would negate any regurg concerns and would also limit the chance of them striking at you (since they will be in the tub).

I personally have done both. When I first started out, I fed my kenyan sand boa and hognose in tubs, waited 20 minutes, then moved back into their enclosures. As I got more snakes, this became tedious and I had a couple that became finicky about being moved and would refuse to eat in their tubs. Due to that, I switched to feeding in their enclosures and have had not issues with impaction or cage aggression with all 10 of my snakes (boas, BPs, BRB, Carpet, KSB).

If you choose to try feeding in the enclosure, one thing that might help to avoid substrate ingestion is to hold the prey well up off the ground (over the snakes' eye level and in front of them). I typically hold prey about 10" above ground level for my boas. The other thing that may help is to ensure that the prey item is dry and will not pick up substrate being wet.

I know many people feed on cardboard or tile, which I think is a good idea. Even though it did not work in your first attempt, you could give it a second go. Eco earth shouldn't be bad if only a little is ingested, so I think that is a pretty safe substrate to use as well.

[Zincubus]

I put a few pieces of card and cover a decent area .

Never had a problem... I take them out with TONGS afterwards ( Royals ) or the next morning ( Burm , Retic , Kings etc ) .


I use those card inserts you get in boxes of biscuits or chocolates ...


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[Skiploder]

I have a boa (whom is an idiot) and a new ball python.

It seems that the majority of this website says feed inside the enclosure, I've always fed in tubs, one time I tried feeding my boa in his enclosure on a 12x12 piece of cardboard... aaaand he missed the entire cardboard in all of it's entirety and decided he'd prefer a massive mouth of substrate :/ so that's put me off even more than I was about feeding inside the enclosures, it's incredibly stressful for me. BUT I want what's best for my animals.

Both eat vigorously in tubs, and sit in a warm room for about 30 minutes after the prey item is down before I move their tub into their enclosure and allow them to come out on their own after I leave...

So my question is, should I still attempt to get over myself and feed inside the enclosure? I use eco earth for both and know that's supposed to be better for impaction anyways?

I had a corn snake whom I fed in her enclosure, on aspen bedding, and she died overnight after I fed her one time, probably not related to feeding inside the enclosure, but this just adds another level of stress for me.

Both are eating perfectly fine in separate areas currently.

Impaction is not an issue. I know you've been told it is...but it's not - I promise you. If anyone tells you otherwise, ask them to cite one firsthand experience they have had with impaction. I bet you a donut they can't.

Now that you know that impactions are a forum created bugaboo, how do you feel about feeding inside the enclosure?

[bcr229]

Eventually that boa will get big enough that feeding it outside if the enclosure will result in a nasty bite to you. I would feed it inside. Put down a piece of cardboard or plastic plate for it to feed on if you're worried about it ingesting substrate.

[Sauzo]

I feed all my snakes using a sheet of printer paper, even my 7' retic and big boas. Sure they might not be on it 100% of the time but a piece of substrate wont hurt them. Lime mentioned, it might be easy to move them now but when they get big, it wont be easy nor fun. You stress now, wait until you are moving a 6'+boa that has the dinner bell light turned on.

The easiest way i do it even with my big ones is give them the food first with tongs. Then once they are wrapped on it, then i just lift the mass of snake and food and slide the printer paper under the mass and put them down on it and then close the door. Usually they unwrap on top of the paper and eat so if anything, maybe a little of the rat, rabbit or guinea pig is hanging off but my big snakes lift themselves up when they are about half down with the food anyways so nothing is on it. The little ones are still small enough that their whole food and them are on the sheet still. You can also use thick cardboard like Zincubus said or even big paper dinner plates or newspaper. Then once they are done, i just wait until they crawl off the paper and then quietly slide the door open and reach in with tongs and grab it.

[Zincubus]

Once they've grabbed and coiled with 'some' I lift them gently over the main part of the card if required ...

Not the Retic / Burm / any King snake and certainly not the psychotic Bamboo Rat snake though


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[Stewart_Reptiles]

In or out well it comes down to do you want to get tagged or not? Trust me moving any snake that is in feed mode is not the best idea.

And feeding mode can last hours starting before and ending long after feeding.

[ckuhn003]

In or out well it comes down to do you want to get tagged or not? Trust me moving any snake that is in feed mode is not the best idea.

And feeding mode can last hours starting before and ending long after feeding.

Do you suggest removing the hide to get their attention when feeding or is it normal for them to smell the food and come out on their own? Feeding for the first time tonight and not sure what to expect.

[Brixxart]

Thanks for the info everyone!

also to the user above me, just wiggle it in front of their hide, they'll smell it, just try not to jump too much when he goes for it