how important is it to feed the snake in another enclosure besides his normal daily one? ive been told by several ppl that you shouldnt feed the snake in his tank cuz then he might associate your hand with food and be more likely to strike at you...but my uncle who breeds snakes..feeds all of his in their tanks...of course im learning alot of the stuff he does with his snake is kind of half assed...whatever he can do to get by...
but yeah ive been feeding mine inside his tank...ive had him maybe a month and a half...so should I be feeding him in something besides his tank??

Well your biggest problem would be if he associates the lid opening with food, he may strike you when you want to handle him or clean the cage. Of course some snakes are more sensitive to this than others. He may be ok as long as there are no trigger odors on you...or he may become nippy....It is not necessary to feed in a seperate bucket, but if you dont want to get nipped on occasion, best to get him used to a seperate location to feed....good luck!!

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

As long as you are consistent with handling daily and make sure you have no prey odor smell on you it isn't as big a problem as some think. The problem arises with those who only open the tank occassionally and feed. The opening of the tank triggers a feeding response which will get you bitten. The main reason for feeding outside the tank is to avoid the snake ingesting any of its bedding. I have a boa constrictor which steadfastly refuses to eat outside her tank. However I handle frequently and have never had a problem with it.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Can you do without it? Of course.

That being said, I consider it a huge mistake. Not only does feeding out-of-tank train the snake never to expect food in his tank, thus avoiding bites, but in my experience, the snake also DOES expect food in his food tank.
This helps to make sure the snake eats regularly, which is especially useful for species like balls that can be troublesome eaters.

I would highly recommend feeding out of tank, and to be honest, I consider it simply a case of being lazy if you don't. There are huge gains (more easily accepting food / less risk of being bitten) with only a moderate sacrifice - every 10 days you have to move your snake from one box to another.

Jim

Hello,

I feed all 3 of my snakes in a separate enclosure. The reason for this is exactly what jspuds has pointed out. It induces a natural feeding response by tank association.

I handle the snakes frequently, and they do not anticipate being fed when I open the enclosure. The moment I place them in the feeding tubs however, they almost instantly begin searching for their prey.

I believe that they have associated their feeding tubs with prey. I never place them in there unless I intend on feeding them.

To this day, I have yet to have a problem with my BP's not feeding. Only once did Godiva refuse a meal, and she ate the following week.

I also use the time they are out of the tank to do a complete cleaning of the enclosure. (I feed once a week.) This includes removing everything, and washing everything. It allows me to kill 2 birds with one stone. (I spot clean regularly if needed.)

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I have done both. I used to feed outside their normal enclosure because I didn't want them ingesting Aspen slivers.

Now, however, I feed in the enclosure. However, I have enough room to put the mice inside a hide that doesn't have bedding in it. I then pick up the snake and place them in front of the hide. They will crawl in and eat - no ingesting Aspen slivers.

Is one right and one wrong? I don't think so. People with large colllections certainly don't take the animals out to feed. Are there advantages to both? Yes.

Do what you feel is best for your snake in your situation.

I also think it is more sanitary in general to feed in a separate tub. (I use a plastic sweater box for my Ball Python. On occasion the frozen/thawed rat was sitting a little too long in the hot water and got soft, so when Monty struck and coiled, it split open and made a mess as he dragged it around trying to get into a good swallowing position. I'm glad I didn't have that all over his substrate, plants and hide boxes.
The plastic tub is quick to wash out and the smell of rats is not lingering long in Monty's enclosure (or in my office!)
I would also worry about him swallowing a lot of substrate with the food item, as I warm up the rats in hot water and leave them a bit wet so he gets some extra fluids. If I put that in the dirt, it would be impossible for him not get it all stuck in his mouth and maybe cause impaction.

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Andrea

I find that my corns will happily feed in a 'feeding tube' but my two royals won't feed unless in their vivs/tubs.

My 2.5 yrs old male rescue never strikes at me and never has. He was a non-feeder when I got him and is still a little erratic. I don't think it is anything to do with being fed in his viv as he will NOT feed if taken out of it and put into a tub.

My 05/'07 female royal also feeds in her tub, I've never tried to feed in a 'feeding tub' as she is Chytrid Fungus and I've only just started to handle her at all as I wanted her to settle into a feeding regime. She has now stopped striking at me when I go into to handle or feed her. At first, due to her fear, she struck constantly. She doesn't strike at feeding time unless the food item is on forceps.


royalbabylover

i find it easier to feed mine in a seperate container because they also have associated being in there with getting food and they mostly always eat. it also gives me a chance to check them out before I put them in and while they're eating I can go into their enclosures and change their water, take out any soiled substrate and clean up whatever is dirty.

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