i'm not really knowledgeable on this stuff, but i tried a seperate tank and mine would NOT eat in it. but now that i feed him in his tank i make sure he knows that i'm using long BBQ tongs to put the mice in so he knows when i reach my hand in it's NOT FEEDING TIME....i just assume this is working but so far so good. also i didn't want to handle him after eating to put him back home from a feeding tank for fear of regurgitating.