First feeding

[Brimstone111888]

this is the thing you will see posted the most on these forums, "my snake has not eaten in months". let me tell you what I do and have done for years. I have a tub that is the right size for the snake that I am feeding, smaller snake would get a smaller tub, just a normal sertlite tub, even large ones cost a whole $4, so they are not expensive. when you are ready to feed him/her put them in that. once they get the food about mid body gentley remove them from the tank and place them back into their enclosure and leave them be for 2-3 days. I feed mine out side of their cage is for several reasons. People that feed there animals in there enclosures run a very high risk of having the animal ingest their substrate/bedding which could make them sick or kill them. I hear the statement " I watch them the whole time they are eating so I am not worried about it". Well that one time it swallows that pretty bedding in your tank it could be its last and I do not feel comfortable with a pair of tweezers digging around in my balls mouth looking for what ever it is they swallowed nor would I recommend that. People that just breed usually use newspaper or paper towels as substrate so this is not an issue for them. Secondly I do not want, nor have I ever had my snakes, mistaken me for food. I have heard of some people have hungry snakes and them sticking there hands down to get their little pal out and it snapping at them. A lot of times that is because they feed them in their home and if they decide they are hungry then little one may think your hand is food. Just because you feed them on a certain day of the week, every week, does not mean that your animal may get hungry some time before that. Some people may think this would be a pain or not worth the little effort you have to put into it but if you ever have to live through the stress I see people on here going through because they can not get there pets to eat, I would think about giving it a shot if it is in your means to do so. I have never had any of my animals go "off feed" even in the winter and I attribute that to feeding them outside of there enclosure because when I taken them out of their home and put them in their tub they know what time it is, time to dine. Just a thought.

Wrong on many different levels. Where did you get your husbandry facts and or advice? Petco?

Feeding in a separate tub is an alternative route to feeding, which is still just as good. That said it is NOT better then feeding in the cage, just a different method.

Substrate will NOT kill your snake if ingested. Possibly if it eats a cup full, but a piece stuck tot he rodent. These animals digest Bone, Teeth, Hydrochloric acid. A thin piece of soft wood won't kill your snake, even in a common sense point of view that is stupid.

Smaller substrates like Aspen can get stuck on your BP's teeth however. Not really a big deal most of the time they can knock it off.

Snakes DON'T mistake your hand for food when you stick your hand in the cage. After dealing with your snake for a while, you will notice the difference between feeding mode and Oh crap!

You seem to be very familiar with the "False Cause Fallacy". "I stick hand in enclosure, and I get bitten. He must be hungry"

Now for feeding:

Find a rodent with the same girth or so as your snake. Small adult mice arn't unusual for new born BP's, so I wouldn't get anything smaller than a hopper.

If you can ask for some soiled bedding with the rodent, from it cage. Use this to Pre-scent when you get home. Put some bedding in with your snake and it should put him in feeding mode. My snakes pretty much go instantaneously.

If you are feeding live, make sure the snake has eaten the mouse. DO NOT leave the mouse attended.