Turbine eating in the air.

[ilovemysnake]

I thought it was amusing haha! She's never done this before.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=235433153298107&set=pcb.235433249964764&type=1&theater

For more photo's of her eating, go to https://www.facebook.com/TurboAndTurbine . (=

Also, i was wondering, how does heat tape work? i've never seen it. pros vs. cons?

[Aaron_S]

Snakes swallow like that to use gravity to their advantage.

As for heat tape. Only con I really can come up with is you have to wire it up yourself and have a good thermostat for it to be used properly. Also, I have never seen it used on glass. It comes in rolls so it's very useful for rack systems.

[drumcrush]

Real neat!

[Starbuck]

why bother feeding her out of her enclosure?

[ilovemysnake]

why bother feeding her out of her enclosure?

Its easier.

[MDT]

Its easier.

Than what? Dropping the mouse in the enclosure?

[ilovemysnake]

Than what? Dropping the mouse in the enclosure?

90% of the time, shell only eat in the dark. So I just place her in a differant bin so its easier to cover up with a blanket.

[KORBIN5895]

90% of the time, shell only eat in the dark. So I just place her in a differant bin so its easier to cover up with a blanket.

Great pics but if she only eats when covered I wouldn't uncover her for photos or she might regurgitate.

[Pareeeee]

lol nice pic. My bp does that, completely vertical. It looks so weird, like a stretched sock.

I don't feed my snakes in my enclosures either. Every time I've fed my rosy in his tub he squishes it into a corner or gets it trapped under driftwood/hide/etc. and then gives up. I'm always worried about substrate ingestion too, I've heard bad stories about that.

[Aaron_S]

lol nice pic. My bp does that, completely vertical. It looks so weird, like a stretched sock.

I don't feed my snakes in my enclosures either. Every time I've fed my rosy in his tub he squishes it into a corner or gets it trapped under driftwood/hide/etc. and then gives up. I'm always worried about substrate ingestion too, I've heard bad stories about that.

Paris, those stories are from people who can't fathom that they were the actual reason the animal died. Snakes can ingest substrate and poop it out just fine. I have seen this happen multitude of times.

[desipooh.12]

Trust me I thought that too, & its MUCH EASIER
To feed in there enclosure, plus all you have to do is offer
At night when its quiet & dark..
If I were you start feeding in its enclosure,
Listen to the ones above they're are correct lol

[Aaron_S]

My suspicion is that there are two snakes in the one enclosure and that is the real reason for feeding outside.

[ilovemysnake]

Trust me I thought that too, & its MUCH EASIER
To feed in there enclosure, plus all you have to do is offer
At night when its quiet & dark..
If I were you start feeding in its enclosure,
Listen to the ones above they're are correct lol

Even if I do try to feed in the enclosure, all she does is tunnel. She doesnt come out to eat. I tried before with the repti carpet, she wouldnt come out of the hide.

[Pareeeee]

Paris, those stories are from people who can't fathom that they were the actual reason the animal died. Snakes can ingest substrate and poop it out just fine. I have seen this happen multitude of times.

Really? That's a relief to know. I've been so scared of my snakes dying from impaction since I've had more than one person tell me their snake died after ingesting substrate.

I will see if I can get my BP to eat in his enclosure.
The rosy is a lost cause though. Maybe he's "mentally handicapped" (since it won't let me say the other word?). :rolleyes:

[Aaron_S]

Really? That's a relief to know. I've been so scared of my snakes dying from impaction since I've had more than one person tell me their snake died after ingesting substrate.

I will see if I can get my BP to eat in his enclosure.
The rosy is a lost cause though. Maybe he's "mentally handicapped" (since it won't let me say the other word?). :rolleyes:

If you looked more deep into those people you'd find common husbandry errors I am sure. The snake or snakes could have been ill already for something else in the husbandry. Lack of heat or whatever.

I picture it this way, these animals don't have paper towel or plates or plastic in the wild. I am sure some gets in and they do just fine.

[ilovemysnake]

Really? That's a relief to know. I've been so scared of my snakes dying from impaction since I've had more than one person tell me their snake died after ingesting substrate.

I will see if I can get my BP to eat in his enclosure.
The rosy is a lost cause though. Maybe he's "mentally handicapped" (since it won't let me say the other word?). :rolleyes:

i know a guy who breeds pythons, and he said otherwise. i was told they can die from impactation.

[Sharlynn93]

my rainbow had ingested eco earth a few times now...poops quite well...way too well...bahaha! its natural...snakes do get dirt on their food in the wild...as well as leaves, twigs, bark, grass, etc...i was paranoid at first too, but seems it was all for naught! :D

[poison123]

Honestly, a lot of snake (boids mainly) crap out bigger pieces then any loose substrate on the market. Eating a bit while feeding is not harmful.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Even if I do try to feed in the enclosure, all she does is tunnel. She doesnt come out to eat. I tried before with the repti carpet, she wouldnt come out of the hide.

It was the same way with my ball python. I put the hot end of the rat actually inside the hide, and he's been taking it every time. I'm not sure if a hot spot is important for colubrids, but you could try sticking it at the hide's entrance nonetheless.

As far as the impaction, I fed Bud in his enclosure once with the bedding in at one point and he got a lot of it in his mouth. He missed the rat (this is when I fed live) and got his mouth just filled with substrate. It took him several minutes to get his mouth clear, and I was so worried he was going to die or something from eating all of that EcoEarth because it expands. Luckily, he was perfectly fine and passed some urates with no problems the next day, but the vet was close by if anything went wrong. This wasn't the summer that just ended, but the one before it. I'm sure it will be fine feeding in the enclosure if you have the proper husbandry. Snakes are a bit hardier than you think. Of course, ingesting as much as Bud did every feeding wouldn't be too good, but just eating they normally don't ingest all that much bedding.

[Aaron_S]

i know a guy who breeds pythons, and he said otherwise. i was told they can die from impactation.

Last I checked I am a guy and I breed pythons too. What's your point?

[ilovemysnake]

It was the same way with my ball python. I put the hot end of the rat actually inside the hide, and he's been taking it every time. I'm not sure if a hot spot is important for colubrids, but you could try sticking it at the hide's entrance nonetheless.


now that i have substrate, she tunnels. and doesnt come out, once in awhile she'll pop her head out.. thats it though.

[Sharlynn93]

uncover her head and show her the pinky...if she is hungry she will take it...mine take 1 whiff and slam them hard...I rarely have to tease...

[MDT]

Last I checked I am a guy and I breed pythons too. What's your point?


Yeah....but you're not *that* guy....
:)

[KORBIN5895]

I have had snakes eat mouthfuls of Eco earth and even cocohusk chunks and never had an issue.

[Aaron_S]

Yeah....but you're not *that* guy....
:)

You're right Matt. I am better :D

[KORBIN5895]

You're right Matt. I am better :D

That's what mykee said......

[Aaron_S]

That's what mykee said......

Come up with something new please.

[KORBIN5895]

Come up with something new please.

Okay..... That's not what your ex said.

[ilovemysnake]

well then..

[Aaron_S]

Okay..... That's not what your ex said.

Meh...could still be better.

[MDT]

You're right Matt. I am better :D


BOOM go the dynamite!!!

[desipooh.12]

Even if I do try to feed in the enclosure, all she does is tunnel. She doesnt come out to eat. I tried before with the repti carpet, she wouldnt come out of the hide.
do you feed em live or F/T?

[Sublimeballs]

Last I checked I am a guy and I breed pythons too. What's your point?

Yeah....but you're not *that* guy....

Awesome, I was thinking the same thing.

First time I bred pythons was an incredible cage cleaning accident(put the male in females cage for cleaning, they were locked up I let them be). Breeding doesn't mean you know what you're talking about.

[kelzerman]

i know a guy who breeds pythons, and he said otherwise. i was told they can die from impactation.

My blood ate a whole sheet of paper towel along with a large rat... She was fine. lol Don't ask...

[Terranaut]

Even I am a guy who breeds pythons. Impaction is an excuse for bad husbandry. If the husbandry is spot on they can digest almost anything even teeth and bones :)

[CosmicOwl]

Even I am a guy who breeds pythons. Impaction is an excuse for bad husbandry. If the husbandry is spot on they can digest almost anything even teeth and bones :)


I don't think they digest substrate. I'm petty sure teeth and bones can be dissolved because they are primarily made of calcium. Wood shavings, coco husk, paper, etc are made of cellulose, which I think only bacteria and fungi can break down. Snakes usually just pass any foreign material. That's why large pieces of substrate or swallowed paper towels will cause a a blockage. If they can't be passed, or if they pack together in the snakes gut, it will cause problems.

I've never had a snake with this problem, but my dog once had a blockage from eating something he wasn't supposed to. Take my opinion with a grain of salt.

[kelzerman]

I didn't find any bounty in her poop... so I am guessing she broke it down. Well at least to the individual fibers that it consists of.

[Aaron_S]

I don't think they digest substrate. I'm petty sure teeth and bones can be dissolved because they are primarily made of calcium. Wood shavings, coco husk, paper, etc are made of cellulose, which I think only bacteria and fungi can break down. Snakes usually just pass any foreign material. That's why large pieces of substrate or swallowed paper towels will cause a a blockage. If they can't be passed, or if they pack together in the snakes gut, it will cause problems.

I've never had a snake with this problem, but my dog once had a blockage from eating something he wasn't supposed to. Take my opinion with a grain of salt.

Dogs and snakes are two distinctly different creatures. I wouldn't compare them.

Dan's point was that even if they did ingest substrate that proper husbandry should allow it to pass normally without harm.

[Terranaut]

Think of a wet rat running through the forrest and the snake jumping out from a pile of leaves in the dirt. What will your snake injest along with the rat? It's top notch all natural substrate ;)

[kelzerman]

Think of a wet rat running through the forrest and the snake jumping out from a pile of leaves in the dirt. What will your snake injest along with the rat? It's top notch all natural substrate ;)

So I take it the paper towel wasn't top notch?! I don't buy the cheap stuff!! Lol.

[Terranaut]

So I take it the paper towel wasn't top notch?! I don't buy the cheap stuff!! Lol.

I am very surprised to hear a snake survived ingestion of an entire sheet. Were these sponge towels? ;)

[kelzerman]

I am very surprised to hear a snake survived ingestion of an entire sheet. Were these sponge towels? ;)

I was actually extremely worried at the time. Lol hardly slept until she finally pooped. Which for bloods is months. This finally broke me of the impaction scare that was forced into my brain as a young child from local pet shops and phony care sheets you find on google.

[Ks42]

from experience i can say feeding in a separate encloser greatly reduces the chance of being mistaken for feeding time,thus resulting in being struck, if its really to much of a problem to spend 15 minutes swapping enclosers for feeding time then why spend the time and money owning/caring for a snake.
my snakes know there gettin food when i put them in there feeding enclosers,
and know thair not, when there in there housing encloser,

[poison123]

Didnt know we kept snakes just to swap them out of their enclosures just for feeding?

I have never had a snake mistake my hand for food unless I smelled like mice. My snakes know they're getting food when they smell it.

[Shann]

from experience i can say feeding in a separate encloser greatly reduces the chance of being mistaken for feeding time,thus resulting in being struck, if its really to much of a problem to spend 15 minutes swapping enclosers for feeding time then why spend the time and money owning/caring for a snake.
my snakes know there gettin food when i put them in there feeding enclosers,
and know thair not, when there in there housing encloser,

There is no way I would want to move an adult boa still in feed mode from a separate feeding enclosure back into their cage. That's from my experience.

[CameronVarnish]

my hatchling carpet does that too. its for gravity to push down the mouse. :freakedout:

[Ks42]

Didnt know we kept snakes just to swap them out of their enclosures just for feeding?

I have never had a snake mistake my hand for food unless I smelled like mice. My snakes know they're getting food when they smell it.

youre choice to take my words as that is very disapointing, never did i say that was the main reason fo woning a snake,, most people keep them due to enjoying them and having love for snakes, thus taking the proper precaution to ensure that thair helth and safty needs are met to the outmost degree, if putting them in a seperate encloser for a short time to eat is a big deal then maybe owning a snake is to big of a deal in itself.

take my words and twist them how you will,

[LiL Zap]

I know this thread kinda got off topic lol but I feed my snake in her enclosure as well. I use Aspen Snake Bedding and she has ingested it a few times with no problems. Snakes in the wild constantly ingest leaves, sticks etc. I don't think substrate can seriously hurt a snake unless it ingested an unreal amount of it.

[Ks42]

There is no way I would want to move an adult boa still in feed mode from a separate feeding enclosure back into their cage. That's from my experience.


well from experience with my red-tailed boasaswell as a few of my friends boas, i have never had a problem doing the swapp, the proper equiptmet does come in handy with a nippy snake such as a SNAKE HOOK which i would say is a must have in the closet of any larger snake owner, once again, from my experience as well as many snake owners and breeders that i have come to know, agree that feeding in the enclosur increases hostility towards one entering the encloser that they are repeatedly being fed in,

if you dont handle your snakes then why worrie if there hostile in there enclosurs (ie.breeding snakes)

[poison123]

Calm yourself ;)

I'm curious as to how feeding in a separate enclosure is for health and/or saftey precaution?

[Ks42]

I know this thread kinda got off topic lol but I feed my snake in her enclosure as well. I use Aspen Snake Bedding and she has ingested it a few times with no problems. Snakes in the wild constantly ingest leaves, sticks etc. I don't think substrate can seriously hurt a snake unless it ingested an unreal amount of it.

i agree, or if one is using improper substrate that can definetly lead to problems :/

[Mikoh4792]

It's just my opinion but.... I don't think snakes have the cognitive ability to know "this is my feeding tub". They just go into feeding mode when the smell of food is around.

I'm also speaking from personal experience. I feed every single one of my snakes in their enclosures and always have. I've never gotten a food response bite inside the enclosure, only defensive bites.

Again, speaking only by my opinion, I think moving a snake into a tub and then out of it for feeding purposes causes undue stress, especially after a meal.

[Ks42]

Calm yourself ;)

I'm curious as to how feeding in a separate enclosure is for health and/or saftey precaution?


calm as a cucumber,
to adress the question, an empty enclosure allows you to fully view both the snake aswell as the live food allowing no where for them to dig under substrate or hide out of view,, keeping a close eye on live feeding so you dont end up with your snake becoming rat food,

to adress the fozen feeding topic, this is for the people who have the issue with there snake possibly consuming there substraight,which if youre using the proper bedding then it shouldnt be a problem, i have herd stories that other keepers snakes have injested bedding thus "causing" death,

its not uncommen for substraight or bedding to cantain FM *foreign material* such as plant seeds, fungi spors and in one case i am rather familiar with, spider/fly eggs. so baking your bedding befor using it is very much encouraged.

[KORBIN5895]

well from experience with my red-tailed boasaswell as a few of my friends boas, i have never had a problem doing the swapp, the proper equiptmet does come in handy with a nippy snake such as a SNAKE HOOK which i would say is a must have in the closet of any larger snake owner, once again, from my experience as well as many snake owners and breeders that i have come to know, agree that feeding in the enclosur increases hostility towards one entering the encloser that they are repeatedly being fed in,

if you dont handle your snakes then why worrie if there hostile in there enclosurs (ie.breeding snakes)

I have several boas that have been fed in their enclosures their whole life. One is blind and has been fed in her enclosure for five years. I can reach in and touch them as long i i dont have feeders out.

[Ks42]

It's just my opinion but.... I don't think snakes have the cognitive ability to know "this is my feeding tub". They just go into feeding mode when the smell of food is around.

I'm also speaking from personal experience. I feed every single one of my snakes in their enclosures and always have. I've never gotten a food response bite inside the enclosure, only defensive bites.

Again, speaking only by my opinion, I think moving a snake into a tub and then out of it for feeding purposes causes undue stress, especially after a meal.

snakes reconize sents and smells, thus reconizing the sent of previous feeding//mice in that same enclosure
i myself feed in seperate tubs, never once have i been bit by any of my BPs Boas, or colubridae,with the exception of my ratsnake being an ******* and have never once been struck or even shown signs of hostility,

[Mikoh4792]

snakes reconize sents and smells, thus reconizing the sent of previous feeding//mice in that same enclosure
i myself feed in seperate tubs, never once have i been bit by any of my BPs Boas, or colubridae,with the exception of my ratsnake being an ******* and have never once been struck or even shown signs of hostility,

But I'm not arguing that using a feeding tub raises the risk. I'm only arguing that feeding inside the enclosure is just as good.

[Ks42]

I have several boas that have been fed in their enclosures their whole life. One is blind and has been fed in her enclosure for five years. I can reach in and touch them as long i i dont have feeders out.
sorry to hear about the vission loss, reason why it occured?

[Ks42]

But I'm not arguing that using a feeding tub raises the risk. I'm only arguing that feeding inside the enclosure is just as good.

nor am i, im just stating my opinions as a snake /petstor owner that has encounterd both sides of the fence,
close friend and customer who currentlly pushing 32 diffrent snakes most with breeding pairs has agreed with most things i am saying, regaurdless that he feeds in the enlosures , his snakes are also straight breeders, mine are my family,friends,and children, so i like to make the little acomadations for them

[poison123]

calm as a cucumber,
to adress the question, an empty enclosure allows you to fully view both the snake aswell as the live food allowing no where for them to dig under substrate or hide out of view,, keeping a close eye on live feeding so you dont end up with your snake becoming rat food,

to adress the fozen feeding topic, this is for the people who have the issue with there snake possibly consuming there substraight,which if youre using the proper bedding then it shouldnt be a problem, i have herd stories that other keepers snakes have injested bedding thus "causing" death,

its not uncommen for substraight or bedding to cantain FM *foreign material* such as plant seeds, fungi spors and in one case i am rather familiar with, spider/fly eggs. so baking your bedding befor using it is very much encouraged.

Thank for your reply

Snakes generally don't go off to hide once they've got ahold of their prey item. Once they finish feeding then yes.

I too have heard these stories but a lot of times it is just assumptions and the snakes don't get taken to the vet to find out.

Spider eggs and fly eggs will not do any harm if ingested. They would get digested in a matter of time. No clue on how harmful fungal spors are.

[Mikoh4792]

nor am i, im just stating my opinions as a snake /petstor owner that has encounterd both sides of the fence,
close friend and customer who currentlly pushing 32 diffrent snakes most with breeding pairs has agreed with most things i am saying, regaurdless that he feeds in the enlosures , his snakes are also straight breeders, mine are my family,friends,and children, so i like to make the little acomadations for them

But you are. You said several posts ago that feeding in a tub greatly reduces the risk of getting struck... so in other words you are saying it's better than feeding inside the enclosure, and also chastising people who feed their snakes in their cages for not allotting the time to care for their snakes. Time is not the reason I choose to feed inside the enclosure.

from experience i can say feeding in a separate encloser greatly reduces the chance of being mistaken for feeding time,thus resulting in being struck, if its really to much of a problem to spend 15 minutes swapping enclosers for feeding time then why spend the time and money owning/caring for a snake.

[MDT]

from experience i can say feeding in a separate encloser greatly reduces the chance of being mistaken for feeding time,thus resulting in being struck, if its really to much of a problem to spend 15 minutes swapping enclosers for feeding time then why spend the time and money owning/caring for a snake.
my snakes know there gettin food when i put them in there feeding enclosers,
and know thair not, when there in there housing encloser,

Are you kidding me? Dude...work smarter, not harder. Hook train, feed in enclosure, make sure husbandry is good. It's not that tough.

You've obviously not owned/fed retics....

[Ks42]

But you are. You said several posts ago that feeding in a tub greatly reduces the risk of getting struck... so in other words you are saying it's better than feeding inside the enclosure, and also chastising people who feed their snakes in their cages for not allotting the time to care for their snakes. Time is not the reason I choose to feed inside the enclosure.

not once have i chastising what so ever, simply stating my opinion, i feed them in seperatre enclosures to reduce the chance ofhostility as wekk as imcation ,it maybe uncommen, but not unheard of, can you justify feeding in the encloser? better safe then sorry is my motto and nothig but the best for my snakes, id hate to come back to a feeding and see my snake wth a mouthfull of bedding, once again, not commen but not unherd of.
if you dont want to feed in a seperate enclosure then thats your choise,. once agina, since times not the reason you feed outside the cage, can you justify the fact you dont?

[Ks42]

Are you kidding me? Dude...work smarter, not harder. Hook train, feed in enclosure, make sure husbandry is good. It's not that tough.

You've obviously not owned/fed retics....

impaction isnt unherd of, isnt working safer also working smarter. i hadle all my anske and no, i dont work with retics, never said i did.
BP and boas as well as colus

[Ks42]

Thank for your reply

Snakes generally don't go off to hide once they've got ahold of their prey item. Once they finish feeding then yes.

I too have heard these stories but a lot of times it is just assumptions and the snakes don't get taken to the vet to find out.

Spider eggs and fly eggs will not do any harm if ingested. They would get digested in a matter of time. No clue on how harmful fungal spors are.


fungi spors are the leading cause of lung and respritory issues and can caus alot of issues, and are also very commen in coco husk bedidng as well as plantation soil. nbaking is a must if you ask me

[CosmicOwl]

not once have i chastising what so ever, simply stating my opinion, i feed them in seperatre enclosures to reduce the chance ofhostility as wekk as imcation ,it maybe uncommen, but not unheard of, can you justify feeding in the encloser? better safe then sorry is my motto and nothig but the best for my snakes, id hate to come back to a feeding and see my snake wth a mouthfull of bedding, once again, not commen but not unherd of.
if you dont want to feed in a seperate enclosure then thats your choise,. once agina, since times not the reason you feed outside the cage, can you justify the fact you dont?

There's no logic behind the idea that feeding in a separate enclosure makes a snake less aggressive. You can easily reverse the theory and say that feeding a snake in a separate enclosure will cause them to associate being taken out of the cage with being fed. Thus it would be more likely that they will bite you any time you take them out o their environment.

Feeding in a separate tub just adds unnecessary stress to an animal.You're taking a snake out of the enclosure it's accustomed to, moving it to an alien enclosure, feeding it, and then picking it up and moving it back to it's normal enclosure. If you don't see how that is more stressful(and likely to cause aggression) than simply feeding your snake in it's enclosure, than you might need to reevaluate your understanding of reptile husbandry.

[Ks42]

There's no logic behind the idea that feeding in a separate enclosure makes a snake less aggressive. You can easily reverse the theory and say that feeding a snake in a separate enclosure will cause them to associate being taken out of the cage with being fed. Thus it would be more likely that they will bite you any time you take them out o their environment.

Feeding in a separate tub just adds unnecessary stress to an animal.You're taking a snake out of the enclosure it's accustomed to, moving it to an alien enclosure, feeding it, and then picking it up and moving it back to it's normal enclosure. If you don't see how that is more stressful(and likely to cause aggression) than simply feeding your snake in it's enclosure, than you might need to reevaluate your understanding of reptile husbandry.

well considering all my snakes have been tub fed since they were babies as well as handled almost every day for a period of about 40 minutes and not once has any snake in my collection ever reared up at me or showed agretion in any way what so ever, now on the other hand, the second i out them in the feeding tubs, any thing that enters the enclosure is reconized as food, , my snakes are ecxtreamly agressive and stoong feeders, mouse doesnt even touch the ground and its already in its mouth.

to cockly reply to your comment, do you try and eat befor youre seated at your supper table? not likley
as for my understanding of husbandry, ive never encounters a problem relating towards that topic or any problem with my snakes for that matter, one picky feeder is the only thing i have to deal with and thats been solved with a few assists feeds, now hes eating all on his own and happier then ever, so if my understanding of husbandry is misguided, id like to first see signs from my several snakes befor id say my understandings of the husbndry is misguided, you sir are just ignorent

[Starbuck]

fungi spors are the leading cause of lung and respiratory issues and can caus alot of issues, and are also very commen in coco husk bedidng as well as plantation soil. nbaking is a must if you ask me


Every time you pick up your snake, or fill its water dish from the tap, or feed it a live prey item, you are introducing it to fungal spores and bacteria. The World is not sterile, and a properly picked up snake enclosure is not going to kill your snake with exposure to these microbes. Additionally, not all fungi causes disease, i can eat a whole tub of bakers yeast and i won't get a lung infection; it takes the right microbe at the right time, with access to the right environment to cause illness.
A healthy, adult snake with access to proper humidity and temperatures, regardless of its substrate (or ingestion of that substrate... unless maybe it ate a whole slab of repticarpet or something) is NOT going to get sick from 'fungal spores' in its bedding.

I have never baked my substrates, and have used cocohusk, aspen, newspaper, and now cypress mulch, and i have never had an issue with respiratory infections in any of my snakes.

Some of the healthiest, and best-kept snakes on this forum use bio-active substrate, picked up outside and dumped right into the enclosure.

[Ks42]

There's no logic behind the idea that feeding in a separate enclosure makes a snake less aggressive. You can easily reverse the theory and say that feeding a snake in a separate enclosure will cause them to associate being taken out of the cage with being fed. Thus it would be more likely that they will bite you any time you take them out o their environment.

Feeding in a separate tub just adds unnecessary stress to an animal.You're taking a snake out of the enclosure it's accustomed to, moving it to an alien enclosure, feeding it, and then picking it up and moving it back to it's normal enclosure. If you don't see how that is more stressful(and likely to cause aggression) than simply feeding your snake in it's enclosure, than you might need to reevaluate your understanding of reptile husbandry.

to address your comment about the alien encloser, my snakes have been using the same feeding tubs since there were hatched,so its VERY unlikley that its considers an alien enviroment, more like a secontd home/ resturant. its there dinner table and every single one of my snakes realize and acknowledge that face. proof is by them eating and me never being it. dont like it? deal with it an ddo it your way,

[Ks42]

Every time you pick up your snake, or fill its water dish from the tap, or feed it a live prey item, you are introducing it to fungal spores and bacteria. The World is not sterile, and a properly picked up snake enclosure is not going to kill your snake with exposure to these microbes. Additionally, not all fungi causes disease, i can eat a whole tub of bakers yeast and i won't get a lung infection; it takes the right microbe at the right time, with access to the right environment to cause illness.
A healthy, adult snake with access to proper humidity and temperatures, regardless of its substrate (or ingestion of that substrate... unless maybe it ate a whole slab of repticarpet or something) is NOT going to get sick from 'fungal spores' in its bedding.

I have never baked my substrates, and have used cocohusk, aspen, newspaper, and now cypress mulch, and i have never had an issue with respiratory infections in any of my snakes.

Some of the healthiest, and best-kept snakes on this forum use bio-active substrate, picked up outside and dumped right into the enclosure.


well to adres this in a rather apropriate manner. i run and work at a pet stor for the past 8 years, even my suppliers suggest baking bedding due to FM like spores, several cases have occured were mushrooms have gronw and becomes visible within there enclosure, high humidity and darkness are key in mushroom grown,

fungal spors are one lead cause in respritory problems. this is a true fact, just likenot all fungi are dangerious but why wouldnt you take the propper precautiings to ensure a a good enclosure. safty first. if the people who produce it and provide it suggest you to bake it as a precautiobn, why wouldnt you, few minutes out of your day for a spore free enviroment and an even more controled encloser.
the question is, why wouldnt you bake somehting that can be potentialy dangerious to somehting you love?

[poison123]

I have had mushrooms grow in my enclosures but they die very fast and never show up again.

The lead cause in URI in reptiles has nothing to do with fungal spors. It is caused by improper husbandy (like temps and humidity).

[Shann]

I'm sorry but "I work at a pet store and my suppliers even suggest" does not give me confidence or make me suddenly want to take your advice. I've seen way more bad pet stores than good.

You seem to think we don't do these things because it's a time issue. Most of us don't do these things because there really is no point, and I believe that it's more detrimental than good in the case of feeding outside the enclosure.

I have never heard anyone say that fungal spores are a leading cause in respiratory problems until you said it just now, so I'm just curious on where you're getting this information.

[poison123]

Ks42, what petstore do you own?

[bigsnakegirl785]

well from experience with my red-tailed boasaswell as a few of my friends boas, i have never had a problem doing the swapp, the proper equiptmet does come in handy with a nippy snake such as a SNAKE HOOK which i would say is a must have in the closet of any larger snake owner, once again, from my experience as well as many snake owners and breeders that i have come to know, agree that feeding in the enclosur increases hostility towards one entering the encloser that they are repeatedly being fed in,

if you dont handle your snakes then why worrie if there hostile in there enclosurs (ie.breeding snakes)

I feed my boa constrictor in the enclosure, and I don't get any sort of feeding response outside of feeding day from him. In fact, the only times I've gotten bit or struck at was when I was feeding in a separate container. Not only that, but he's getting more and more docile every day. He won't even strike his food anymore and tries to run away if I dangle it around. He used to send hides flying and slosh water out of his dish hitting his food.

not once have i chastising what so ever, simply stating my opinion, i feed them in seperatre enclosures to reduce the chance ofhostility as wekk as imcation ,it maybe uncommen, but not unheard of, can you justify feeding in the encloser? better safe then sorry is my motto and nothig but the best for my snakes, id hate to come back to a feeding and see my snake wth a mouthfull of bedding, once again, not commen but not unherd of.
if you dont want to feed in a seperate enclosure then thats your choise,. once agina, since times not the reason you feed outside the cage, can you justify the fact you dont?

All of my snakes have ingested mouthfuls of bedding on several occasions without any sort of bad thing happening. If you practice proper husbandry I doubt impaction is anything to worry about.

fungi spors are the leading cause of lung and respritory issues and can caus alot of issues, and are also very commen in coco husk bedidng as well as plantation soil. nbaking is a must if you ask me

No, bacterial and viral infections cause RI's, of which fungi is neither.

I'm not going to say either feeding in or out of the enclosure reduces aggression. In my case, in the enclosure REDUCED me getting bit, but it could be different for another INDIVIDUAL snake. It also would not do well for my ball python who has such a weak feeding response it's basically non-existent.

[Ks42]

I feed my boa constrictor in the enclosure, and I don't get any sort of feeding response outside of feeding day from him. In fact, the only times I've gotten bit or struck at was when I was feeding in a separate container. Not only that, but he's getting more and more docile every day. He won't even strike his food anymore and tries to run away if I dangle it around. He used to send hides flying and slosh water out of his dish hitting his food.



All of my snakes have ingested mouthfuls of bedding on several occasions without any sort of bad thing happening. If you practice proper husbandry I doubt impaction is anything to worry about.

No, bacterial and viral infections cause RI's, of which fungi is neither.

I'm not going to say either feeding in or out of the enclosure reduces aggression. In my case, in the enclosure REDUCED me getting bit, but it could be different for another INDIVIDUAL snake. It also would not do well for my ball python who has such a weak feeding response it's basically non-existent.

ive posted everything as my own and friends opinions , mold is commen with humiduty and produces spores, could that not cause lung infections if inhailed in larger quantitys ? and putting them in a bedding less container for feeding would solve the mouthfuls of bedding issue, if you dont find that a problem well thats your opinion.

[poison123]

ive posted everything as my own and friends opinions ,
Did you?,,,


fungal spors are one lead cause in respritory problems. this is a true fact,

[Shann]

I lay down a plastic placemat when my boa eats. I don't think it's necessary by any means, but it does prevent substrate ingestion, so it's just an extra precaution, and a way to let her know she is going to be fed. And as soon as that placemat goes into her cage, she knows it's dinnertime. That way I'm not moving a large snake in feeding mode.

[bigsnakegirl785]

ive posted everything as my own and friends opinions , mold is commen with humiduty and produces spores, could that not cause lung infections if inhailed in larger quantitys ? and putting them in a bedding less container for feeding would solve the mouthfuls of bedding issue, if you dont find that a problem well thats your opinion.

No, I doubt it. The spores could possibly irritate the snake's lung, but I doubt it would get infected. Generally, spores and mold can be avoided by not allowing too much air flow and not keeping your bedding soaking wet. Mold thrives in hot AND humid environments. I've heard of fungi infecting snake skin, but I've never heard of it affecting them internally, although if anyone has any links of such a case I'd be glad to read them!

Since I feed f/t, the snakes don't GENERALLY get much bedding in their mouths, but if the drag the rat around or the bedding sticks to wet parts they can ingest some and they have gotten a good mouthful each before with no blockages or death.

[Ks42]

[QUOTE=Shann;899912]I lay down a plastic placemat when my boa eats. I don't think it's necessary by any means, but it does prevent substrate ingestion, so it's just an extra precaution, and a way to let her know she is going to be fed. And as soon as that placemat goes into her cage, she knows it's dinnertime. That way I'm not moving a large snake in feeding mode.[/QU

i agree that it isnt necessary but taking it as an ecxtra preaution never hurt.
id rather do the little extra work then have my snake get a mouth full of bedding :/

[Ks42]

No, I doubt it. The spores could possibly irritate the snake's lung, but I doubt it would get infected. Generally, spores and mold can be avoided by not allowing too much air flow and not keeping your bedding soaking wet. Mold thrives in hot AND humid environments. I've heard of fungi infecting snake skin, but I've never heard of it affecting them internally, although if anyone has any links of such a case I'd be glad to read them!

Since I feed f/t, the snakes don't GENERALLY get much bedding in their mouths, but if the drag the rat around or the bedding sticks to wet parts they can ingest some and they have gotten a good mouthful each before with no blockages or death.

i know it is very uncommen for a snake to be harmed from ingesting bedding but it isnt unherd of, i wouldnt be so against it if i havent had some one come to me with pictures and questions, regaurdless that i told RECOMENDED feeding in a seperate continer (not just for the bedding injestion but i do belive feeding in a seperate container lowers agraetion within the original encolsure) he blamed me for selling him the ' unfit substraight' regaurdless it was specificaly desinged for snakes.

[Ks42]

Did you?,,,

from the infomation on mold and excessive spor inhalation ive read, yes, spores can cause lung infections,
me stating this is a fact was myslef being slightly egotistical and trusting somehting i read on an unfarmiliar site, my apologies. that being said, it isnt compleatly incorect due to the fact that yes mold spores can cause lung infections

[bigsnakegirl785]

i know it is very uncommen for a snake to be harmed from ingesting bedding but it isnt unherd of, i wouldnt be so against it if i havent had some one come to me with pictures and questions, regaurdless that i told RECOMENDED feeding in a seperate continer (not just for the bedding injestion but i do belive feeding in a seperate container lowers agraetion within the original encolsure) he blamed me for selling him the ' unfit substraight' regaurdless it was specificaly desinged for snakes.

Well, as I said before it's a hit or miss on the aggression. Personally, my boa was a lot more willing to bite when I was feeding in a separate enclosure, and moving him around when he's got a nice whiff of rat just increased my chances of getting bit even more. I do use a hook, but I don't use it to pick them up so even using a hook didn't help. Besides, it's pointless to use a hook if you're going to use it during feeding time, too.

[CosmicOwl]

well considering all my snakes have been tub fed since they were babies as well as handled almost every day for a period of about 40 minutes and not once has any snake in my collection ever reared up at me or showed agretion in any way what so ever, now on the other hand, the second i out them in the feeding tubs, any thing that enters the enclosure is reconized as food, , my snakes are ecxtreamly agressive and stoong feeders, mouse doesnt even touch the ground and its already in its mouth.

to cockly reply to your comment, do you try and eat befor youre seated at your supper table? not likley
as for my understanding of husbandry, ive never encounters a problem relating towards that topic or any problem with my snakes for that matter, one picky feeder is the only thing i have to deal with and thats been solved with a few assists feeds, now hes eating all on his own and happier then ever, so if my understanding of husbandry is misguided, id like to first see signs from my several snakes befor id say my understandings of the husbndry is misguided, you sir are just ignorent

The problem with what you're saying is that it is completely anecdotal. There are plenty of people who have managed to keep animals alive despite having poor husbandry. It doesn't mean that such conditions are actually acceptable or beneficial.

I called your husbandry into question because you don't seem to understand how moving around a a snake that is about to be fed/has eaten is much more stressful that simply feeding the snake in its enclosure.

[Sublimeballs]

You've obviously not owned/fed retics....

^This.

I have never had a snake mistake my hand for food unless I smelled like mice. My snakes know they're getting food when they smell it.

^And this

That is all.

[Ks42]

The problem with what you're saying is that it is completely anecdotal. There are plenty of people who have managed to keep animals alive despite having poor husbandry. It doesn't mean that such conditions are actually acceptable or beneficial.

I called your husbandry into question because you don't seem to understand how moving around a a snake that is about to be fed/has eaten is much more stressful that simply feeding the snake in its enclosure.

my understanding is husbandry refers to what they are housed in, not how the snake in handled? my snakes have never refused a meal or regurgitated, if there were problems in my husbandry or with handling my snakes, wouldnt i have some issues?
4 yearswith larger snakes and no issues i seem to be doing it right in my opinion, and i belive my snakes go to show it

[Ks42]

^This.



^And this

That is all.

your post is irrelavent to the conversation at hand,
^and that is all

[Sublimeballs]

Seeing as it is quotes from this exact conversation it is infact rather relevant.

[MDT]

This is how I feel after reading this thread...
http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh572/mtucker66/c4bc3f6bfc5d9bda224e3d7b5c8ac485_zps9bbe1eee.jpg

Freaking spores?!?!? Are you kidding? I have no idea how snakes have survived millions of years without us.....

[Mikoh4792]

Give him a break, hes new here hahahha.

[Mikoh4792]

Actually husbandry encompasses all aspects of care including handling. Especially handling during feeding.

[Sublimeballs]

This is how I feel after reading this thread...
http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh572/mtucker66/c4bc3f6bfc5d9bda224e3d7b5c8ac485_zps9bbe1eee.jpg

Freaking spores?!?!? Are you kidding? I have no idea how snakes have survived millions of years without us.....

Hahaha, I'm right there with you man. I'm debating if I care enough to make an actual reply.

[Ks42]

Give him a break, hes new here hahahha.

new to this site, yes, new to snakes not.
but thanks for the help, seems people cant take an opinion

[bigsnakegirl785]

new to this site, yes, new to snakes not.
but thanks for the help, seems people cant take an opinion

Some of the things you're saying are opinion, but you're trying to pass off all your ideas as the only true way of caring for snakes and portraying them more as "known facts" than personal opinion. You only admitted to them being opinion later on.

[Mikoh4792]

new to this site, yes, new to snakes not.
but thanks for the help, seems people cant take an opinion

Thats what I meant. I know youre not new to snakes.

We understand that you admit its an opinion but you did degrade those in general who feed their snakes inside their enclosures for not giving enough time/effort for their snakes... and without much substantiation either. Were just calling you out, not really getting offended.


Welcome to the forum btw

[Ks42]

This is how I feel after reading this thread...
http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh572/mtucker66/c4bc3f6bfc5d9bda224e3d7b5c8ac485_zps9bbe1eee.jpg

Freaking spores?!?!? Are you kidding? I have no idea how snakes have survived millions of years without us.....

since you 47 id liek to think you would take into the account that the massive amount of airflow as well as freedom to roam and not confied to small space that we have to tendto, that sir, is how they have lived millions of years. if you read my posts, inhalation of lare amounts of spores can be dangerious, not likly they would inhae lots if there was wind and airflow as well as there frededom to roam, yu sir are very ignorent and i felt the same way reading your comment, but i expected a 47 year old to understand that in small space with lower airflow you have a higher chance of larger quantitys of spores being inhaled

[poison123]

What he said (mickoh)

[MDT]

Dude...just....wow.


Btw...I'll be 48 in 2 weeks. I might get it then :)
Or then again, I may just be too old.

[LadyWraith]

Dude...just....wow.


Btw...I'll be 48 in 2 weeks. I might get it then :)
Or then again, I may just be too old.

:laugh::laugh::laugh:

[Mikoh4792]

Sorry guys but what does substrate fungi have to do with feeding?

If were going off track id like to add, many high humidity requiring snake keepers and breeders house their snakes in low ventilation, high humidity housing....with substrates like cocohusk, cypress mulch...etc and have no problems with RI's. Have they been doing it wrong all these years?

[Ks42]

Thats what I meant. I know youre not new to snakes.

We understand that you admit its an opinion but you did degrade those in general who feed their snakes inside their enclosures for not giving enough time/effort for their snakes... and without much substantiation either. Were just calling you out, not really getting offended.


Welcome to the forum btw
my apologies to the ones that i came across a tad to pushie, to the others who were just rude about it, well.... yea.. feeding in youre housing enclosure is the owners choice, as for the time isue, thats how that comment came across to me, so, that being said, my apologies,
not once was i meaning to degrade people who feed in there houseing encloser, it may have come across that way but it was not intentinal.

[Mikoh4792]

my apologies to the ones that i came across a tad to pushie, to the others who were just rude about it, well.... yea.. feeding in youre housing enclosure is the owners choice, as for the time isue, thats how that comment came across to me, so, that being said, my apologies,
not once was i meaning to degrade people who feed in there houseing encloser, it may have come across that way but it was not intentinal.

Guess were on the same page then. Sometimes its hard to express thoughts through text.

[KORBIN5895]

sorry to hear about the vission loss, reason why it occured?

The original owner fed live and they tore her eyes up.

Give him a break, hes new here hahahha.

I'm not so sure he is......

Also it almost feels like I'm talking to Frank R......

[Ks42]

[QUOTE=Mikoh4792;899949]Sorry guys but what does substrate fungi have to do with feeding?

If were going off track id like to add, many high humidity requiring snake keepers and breeders house their snakes in low ventilation, high humidity housing....with substrates like cocohusk, cypress mulch...etc and have no problems with RI's. Have they been doing it wrong all these years?

maybe they bake it? kiling all spores and unwanted things? i was more so refuing to spores being in the air, rather then injesting the mushroom/fungi, allowing the posobility to produce more of said fungi or releace more spores in there air. a fellow snake keeper found a small mushroom in his plantation soil in his encloser so did a bit of reaserch wich wasnt all tht posmising, a small mushroom could easily pass the unsespecting eye

[Ks42]

The original owner fed live and they tore her eyes up.



I'm not so sure he is......

Also it almost feels like I'm talking to Frank R......

well i am, not sure who frank r is lol but i just got on here earlyer thismorning :/ what a great first encounter lol

[Ks42]

Guess were on the same page then. Sometimes its hard to express thoughts through text.

very hard, text can be taken any way the reader reads it

[Sublimeballs]

Dude...just....wow.


Btw...I'll be 48 in 2 weeks. I might get it then :)
Or then again, I may just be too old.

Made me laugh.

[Mikoh4792]

Ks42 id have to take a survey to find out the percentage of people who bake their substrate to go further but baking it only kills the fungi at that moment, new fungi can and will grow just like even if you wash something with soap, bacteria will build up again.

[Ks42]

Dude...just....wow.


Btw...I'll be 48 in 2 weeks. I might get it then :)
Or then again, I may just be too old.

no dog is too old to lern new tricks,

[bigsnakegirl785]

[QUOTE=Mikoh4792;899949]Sorry guys but what does substrate fungi have to do with feeding?

If were going off track id like to add, many high humidity requiring snake keepers and breeders house their snakes in low ventilation, high humidity housing....with substrates like cocohusk, cypress mulch...etc and have no problems with RI's. Have they been doing it wrong all these years?

maybe they bake it? kiling all spores and unwanted things? i was more so refuing to spores being in the air, rather then injesting the mushroom/fungi, allowing the posobility to produce more of said fungi or releace more spores in there air. a fellow snake keeper found a small mushroom in his plantation soil in his encloser so did a bit of reaserch wich wasnt all tht posmising, a small mushroom could easily pass the unsespecting eye

Then they'd have to bake it every time they gave the snake fresh water or sprayed down the tank, because you can introduce fungal spores through water. Spores can also be introduced and run rampant if there's too much air circulation.

EDIT: Sorry about that Mikoh, he incorrectly quoted you so it looks like I'm responding to you.

[Sublimeballs]

The original owner fed live and they tore her eyes up.



I'm not so sure he is......

Also it almost feels like I'm talking to Frank R......

That's terrible Kevin. Atleast she's in a good home now.

Didn't Wayne sticky that preventable live feeding horror thread? You should take pics and add them to it.

[MDT]

Mushrooms= good sautéed. Not pathogenic.

Two words: alveolar macrophage

[Ks42]

Ks42 id have to take a survey to find out the percentage of people who bake their substrate to go further but baking it only kills the fungi at that moment, new fungi can and will grow just like even if you wash something with soap, bacteria will build up again.

not sure how many people do it, but im supose to tell them to every time i sell bedding just as a precaution, ''wouldnt a quick bake be better then a dead snake?'' sortof redicules but that what y exo-terra rep tells me. atleats the bacteria would be build up from bacteria around your location, rather then a alien bacteria ect few hundred miles away were it is gatherd and bagged up

[Mikoh4792]

[QUOTE=Ks42;899954]

Then they'd have to bake it every time they gave the snake fresh water or sprayed down the tank, because you can introduce fungal spores through water. Spores can also be introduced and run rampant if there's too much air circulation.

EDIT: Sorry about that Mikoh, he incorrectly quoted you so it looks like I'm responding to you.

Lol one step ahead of you

[Ks42]

That's terrible Kevin. Atleast she's in a good home now.

Didn't Wayne sticky that preventable live feeding horror thread? You should take pics and add them to it.

oh god i seen that sticky earlyer and still cant get the imagies out of my head :/

[Ks42]

[QUOTE=bigsnakegirl785;899962]

Lol one step ahead of you

yes but they would be spores that the immune system is fermiliar with and not alien spores from a diffent state for example that it is unfurmiliar with?

[Mikoh4792]

not sure how many people do it, but im supose to tell them to every time i sell bedding just as a precaution, ''wouldnt a quick bake be better then a dead snake?'' sortof redicules but that what y exo-terra rep tells me. atleats the bacteria would be build up from bacteria around your location, rather then a alien bacteria ect few hundred miles away were it is gatherd and bagged up

Well I use newspaper so no worries for me lol. And if i were to go loose id use bio active substrate or something relatively dry like aspen and cocohusk.

[Ks42]

[QUOTE=Ks42;899954]

Then they'd have to bake it every time they gave the snake fresh water or sprayed down the tank, because you can introduce fungal spores through water. Spores can also be introduced and run rampant if there's too much air circulation.

EDIT: Sorry about that Mikoh, he incorrectly quoted you so it looks like I'm responding to you.

yes, possibly intrducing spores and bacteria that its immune system is furmilair with ? rather then spores from a diffrent state and climate taht its system wouldnt be able to combat aswel?
unlikley but still possible.

[Ks42]

Well I use newspaper so no worries for me lol. And if i were to go loose id use bio active substrate or something relatively dry like aspen and cocohusk.

suprisingly it was the cocohusky that grew my buddie a small turged dometopped mushroom, was thinking of eating it but who knows what trip that would send you on

[MDT]

unlikley but still possible.

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh572/mtucker66/380b183637b17321483f64013c8aa544_zpsadf60a11.jpg

[Mikoh4792]

suprisingly it was the cocohusky that grew my buddie a small turged dometopped mushroom, was thinking of eating it but who knows what trip that would send you on

Ive had fungi grow on cocohusk as well, not from the humidity but from the substrate being wet. It was in a screen top enclosure with lots of ventilation.

[Mikoh4792]

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh572/mtucker66/380b183637b17321483f64013c8aa544_zpsadf60a11.jpg

Thats great. Saving pic now

[Ks42]

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh572/mtucker66/380b183637b17321483f64013c8aa544_zpsadf60a11.jpg

you must have quite the collection of pointless pictures, or alot of free googling timee

[Sublimeballs]

Thats great. Saving pic now

Saved it aswell.
MDT funny pic, as usual.

[MDT]

you must have quite the collection of pointless pictures, or alot of free googling timee

What can I say? It's a gift....

[Terranaut]

Well after reading all of yesterdays posts here is what I have concluded.....
1) Feeding in the enclosure or in a tub is one of those endless debates that waste page after page of reading.
2) Ks42 never mentioned what pet store they work at even after being asked.
3) Baking substrate.....whatever. My opinion is a waste of time but see #1
4) Ks42 never mentioned what large snakes they were talking about or how large.
5) Saying you work at a pet store 99% of the time is like telling people you work the counter at a drug store so sure I can remove your appendix.
6) We have yet another thread where the new person is way out there preaching BS based on personal experiences and not facts.
7) I won't be baking my substrate or feeding using a separate tub.
8) This thread is way off topic now but who cares as the original topic was a waste of cyber space anyway.
9) I knew I didn't read it yesterday for a reason.
10) Maybe it's time for popcorn.

[dbank999]

Well after reading all of yesterdays posts here is what I have concluded.....
1) Feeding in the enclosure or in a tub is one of those endless debates that waste page after page of reading.
2) Ks42 never mentioned what pet store they work at even after being asked.
3) Baking substrate.....whatever. My opinion is a waste of time but see #1
4) Ks42 never mentioned what large snakes they were talking about or how large.
5) Saying you work at a pet store 99% of the time is like telling people you work the counter at a drug store so sure I can remove your appendix.
6) We have yet another thread where the new person is way out there preaching BS based on personal experiences and not facts.
7) I won't be baking my substrate or feeding using a separate tub.
8) This thread is way off topic now but who cares as the original topic was a waste of cyber space anyway.
9) I knew I didn't read it yesterday for a reason.
10) Maybe it's time for popcorn.

Preach!

No feeding tubs.

And I agree with Aaron. I think there's only one enclosure for the two snakes.

[KORBIN5895]

Ks42...... Wow. Do you have any working knowledge of what you are talking about? Immunity to spores????? Respiratory infections caused by spores? Reading your posts leads me to believe you are either A) 14 years old or B) "ignorent" as you would say.

[Terranaut]

Ks42...... Wow. Do you have any working knowledge of what you are talking about? Immunity to spores????? Respiratory infections caused by spores? Reading your posts leads me to believe you are either A) 14 years old or B) "ignorent" as you would say.

Or both. When someone says to me they work with large snakes I figure they either don't actually or consider an adult female ball to be a large snake. If someone says they work with Retics and Annies , I know they actually have worked with "large snakes". Herpers generally use species names to identify people with their experience and do not refer to them as "large snakes".
Also first saying a friend who owns a pet store ,to I work at a pet store. Strange indeed and people who work at pet stores know you tell a customer to bake their substrate so you have no responsibility associated with anything growing in peoples enclosures...."Did you bake your substrate first?" No " Awe sorry man , nothing I can do".

Be who you are.
Don't exaggerate your experience level.
Don't call people ignorant for finding holes in your stories or faults in your practices.


Discuss.
Learn.
Help others.

That's how this all works here.

[Will0W783]

Good grief, Ks42's spelling/grammatical errors make my brain hurt. I feel the need to chime in on the whole substrate fungus issue.
If you are using the wrong kind of substrate for the species' humidity level, then yes mold might be an issue. Visible fungus growing on substrate is definitely not healthy for a snake, but if you are maintaining proper humidity levels and using an appropriate substrate, this should not happen. I use aspen only for snakes that do not need misting or extra humidity, and I change it every two months. For higher humidity species, I use only cypress mulch, which will not mold. Cypress trees grow in swamps and marshes, so the bark is very resistant to fungal growth.

In the wild, snakes are going to come into contact with all kinds of bacteria, fungi and other germs. They can move to escape, or use their immune system to combat the threat. In captivity, they are limited to what space we provide them, so it is up to us to keep it clean. These animals do have immune systems, but a filthy environment will overwhelm them. That being said, I keep mainly rare arboreal pitvipers, and I don't ever bake substrate. The majority of my animals were imported (they are mostly LTC, but I have a few fresher imports) and I am working to establish clean, healthy CBB bloodlines. These are animals that were in the wild at one point, but have acclimated to captivity. I don't provide a sterile environment, and in fact I think it would be less healthy to do so. I do, however, provide a clean enclosure, clean up waste products, change substrate several times a year and ensure no visible mold is growing.

That's all you need to do. I feed all my animals inside their enclosures; I do not worry about substrate ingestion, or spores, or anything really. They're snakes; I provide as natural an environment as I can and let them do their thing.

[Donnie]

not once have i chastising what so ever, simply stating my opinion, i feed them in seperatre enclosures to reduce the chance ofhostility as wekk as imcation ,it maybe uncommen, but not unheard of, can you justify feeding in the encloser? better safe then sorry is my motto and nothig but the best for my snakes, id hate to come back to a feeding and see my snake wth a mouthfull of bedding, once again, not commen but not unherd of.
if you dont want to feed in a seperate enclosure then thats your choise,. once agina, since times not the reason you feed outside the cage, can you justify the fact you dont?
If it is better to be safe than sorry then why do you take the risk with feeding live prey to your snakes? Surely a bite or three from a rodent is worse than a bit of substrate ingestion?

Dude...just....wow.


Btw...I'll be 48 in 2 weeks. I might get it then :)
Or then again, I may just be too old.

Yep, too old :p

[Will0W783]

I can surely justify feeding inside the animals' enclosures. Their enclosure is their territory, their space; it is the only location they have to feel safe and secure and feeding in the home enclosure reduces stress on the animal. This is especially true for arboreal species and ambush predators. These animals remain in a small area even in the wild, and moving them to a barren empty tub for feeding can just create more stress.

[MrGetLifted]

Thats great. Saving pic now

Had to save this pic aswell lol. Could be useful in the future lol.

[Ks42]

If it is better to be safe than sorry then why do you take the risk with feeding live prey to your snakes? Surely a bite or three from a rodent is worse than a bit of substrate ingestion?



Yep, too old :p

i dont feed live, sorry if i gave that impretion,

[MrGetLifted]

Thats great. Saving pic now

Had to save this pic aswell lol. Could be useful in the future lol.

[Donnie]

i dont feed live, sorry if i gave that impretion,

NP, I misread this quote below which is why I asked


calm as a cucumber,
to adress the question, an empty enclosure allows you to fully view both the snake aswell as the live food allowing no where for them to dig under substrate or hide out of view,, keeping a close eye on live feeding so you dont end up with your snake becoming rat food,

to adress the fozen feeding topic, this is for the people who have the issue with there snake possibly consuming there substraight,which if youre using the proper bedding then it shouldnt be a problem, i have herd stories that other keepers snakes have injested bedding thus "causing" death,

its not uncommen for substraight or bedding to cantain FM *foreign material* such as plant seeds, fungi spors and in one case i am rather familiar with, spider/fly eggs. so baking your bedding befor using it is very much encouraged.