Geno's lost interest in feedings! Lost 28g!

[Sauzo]

I was always told that feeding in the tank is bad because they think every time you open the tank, it's feeding time and you're more likely to get bit yadda yadda but from my personal experience, I have never been struck at other than defensive strikes from startling them. Also, from personal experience once again, none of the snakes i have ever owned liked to feed in anything other than home sweet home. They would feed eventually but were always hesitant and when I drop one in the enclosure, they'd almost always go right for it. I think it has alot to do with comfort and feeling safe with a little bit of being territorial and not liking anything scurrying around and crapping all over their stuff

Thats an old wives tale that has been debunked for years. Some snakes get cage defensive but that has nothing to do with feeding. A snake will perk up when you open the cage but once there is no food and it doesnt smell food, it will mellow out. I have fed all my snakes in their cages for years and never had a problem except when i did something stupid like forget to wash my hands after handling FT. Even my retic is fed in his cage and i have never had an issue.

My question to the guys who say you need to feed outside the cage, want come and try that with my retic or boas? I would love to watch you try and move them after they smell food especially my retic who has slammed his cage doors a couple times going for food.

And to the OP, i wouldnt worry too much as long as your husbandry is correct. My girl has gone off food for 4-6 months before with no problems. She actually pissed and shed in that time too. And eating some aspen wont hurt them. All of my snakes have eaten aspen before. Some people will say it can cause impaction. This is true if your husbandry is wrong. A well hydrated snake will easily pass a few pieces od aspen. Their stomach acids break down bone...i think it can break down a few slivers of wood lol. After all, imagine what they eat in the wild.

If you are worried, just feed them on a sheet of cardboard or newspaper. I would avoid paper towels as that can wrapped in the prey.

[c0r3yr0s3]

Another good reason to feed in cage is after they have eaten, they are more likely to regurgitate because you have to pick them up to put them back in their enclosure. I look at it as being better for the snake and I feel like the health and safety of the snake is more important than the possibility of being bitten and like stated above, I would think the chance of being bitten by a snake that is still in feed mode is greater than being mistaken for food when you just want to handle one

[oodaT]

Definitely feed in his enclosure, no need to take your animals from where they "believe" is their home, dinner table etc. It's where they are comfortable to do what they need to do.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Feed in the enclosure and make sure your husbandry is optimal as for a 28 grams loss it's nothing hardly the equivalent of a bowel movement, and in most cases it's because weight is not recorded as it should. (Always on empty)

[Aerries]

Huh, I think I'll try feeding in his tank then next time. But like I said, 3 weeks ago (still in the tub, probably the 4th month of feeding in tub) he ate like a champ! It's like something just changed that 2 weeks ago And, yeah, the "feeding in the tank will make them more aggressive" stuff, is just downright stupid We ate in enclosure, he was just as sweet as always

just check out my latest post....hahaha but i will say that feeding in the enclosure is the best option...my heat signature was just higher then the rat...my mistake.

[GpBp]

Oooh Aerries that's a nice bite My *cough* 3 *cough* bites were not nearly that bad! I'm glad you survived

[GpBp]

Feed in the enclosure and make sure your husbandry is optimal as for a 28 grams loss it's nothing hardly the equivalent of a bowel movement, and in most cases it's because weight is not recorded as it should. (Always on empty)

Thanks! I have been checking my husbandry, more than often recently. Tryna stay on top of things And phew okay, I thought 28g was a lot, but you're right, would make sense to just be a poop. Thank you!

[GpBp]

Definitely feed in his enclosure, no need to take your animals from where they "believe" is their home, dinner table etc. It's where they are comfortable to do what they need to do.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Thank you, will do That'd make sense, I mean if I were the snake getting taken out of my house and driven some houses away to eat on a strangers porch I would be a bit uncomfortable too!