feeding in tank or feeding box

[stevo-d]

Just want peoples thoughts opinions on this as I have always fed in tanks and never had any issues with aggression.the only snakes I have had to separate was my garters but there only 3 foot long. How do you have a feeding box for a 10\12 foot burmese \ red tail I tap on the bottom of the tank with my fingers to mimic a rat and as soon as they feel the small vibration they know its feeding time.

[SnoopySnake]

How do you have a feeding box for a 10\12 foot burmese \ red tail

You don't...lol. Just a bad idea. There's nothing wrong with feeding inside the enclosure. In fact, my snakes that were fed out of the enclosure were more aggressive. Not sure if it's related, though.

[elkied243]

You don't...lol. Just a bad idea. There's nothing wrong with feeding inside the enclosure. In fact, my snakes that were fed out of the enclosure were more aggressive. Not sure if it's related, though.

My corn I used to feed in a separate box became aggressive, the snakes I never transferred didn't have any issues.

My only real opinion on the matter is to make sure you keep the mouse/rat (assuming you feed pre-killed) off the substrate I either use tongs or just leave the mouse/rat on my snakes hide to avoid his consuming the substrate.

I had the same thought not too long ago. It's way too expensive to buy a tank big enough for a red tail simply to feed in! Mine is currently 4.5 feet and I can't see myself getting him a separate tank lol!

[millertime89]

How do you have a feeding box for a 10\12 foot burmese \ red tail

You don't. It is extremely dangerous and unnecessarily stressful. IMO it doesn't matter if the snake is 24 inches or 24 feet, feed it in it's enclosure.

[stevo-d]

I have always thought feeding boxes were a hassle take the snake out feed it in a separate box then put it back in enclosure when its in feeding mode just asking to get tagged. But if it works for people then I have no arguments I was just asking peoples opinions and wondered if anybody tried to feed a big snake in a feeding box. Out all my snakes I have only been bit by one my bullsnake she's mad as hell loves to eat and If I tried to move her I'd get my hand chewed off thanks for the reply

[mistersprinkles]

Feeding boxes are unnecessary and a bad idea. Period. feed the snake in its enclosure. It's fine. Anybody who says its not fine is a dork.

[jjhill001]

I feed my rat snakes in a feeding enclosure because they have natural set ups and really the main negative is the worry they may eat some substrate. This wouldn't normally be an issue for well hydrated animals but my snakes are still little and I just don't like the idea of them eating a bunch of crap if they don't have to. I may or may not continue this feeding strategy as it lets me open everything in their cages up, use my temp probe, spot clean and look for any sort of broken things.

[lady_bug87]

I feed my rat snakes in a feeding enclosure because they have natural set ups and really the main negative is the worry they may eat some substrate. This wouldn't normally be an issue for well hydrated animals but my snakes are still little and I just don't like the idea of them eating a bunch of crap if they don't have to. I may or may not continue this feeding strategy as it lets me open everything in their cages up, use my temp probe, spot clean and look for any sort of broken things.

They digest bones I'm sure a little substrate should be ok. Better than reaching in to a box and pulling out a just-fed snake.

[jjhill001]

They digest bones I'm sure a little substrate should be ok. Better than reaching in to a box and pulling out a just-fed snake.

I feed FT and they are pinkies so EVERYTHING sticks to them. My little male caught a bunch of the dirt in his mouth. It didn't cause him any harm but I felt bad as he twitched around trying to spit it out.

I'm thinking of getting the snakes a plate (IE a flat rock) to set the pinkie on to maybe alleviate this issue.

[lady_bug87]

Yea that works! I've done that. I haven't had to worry about that in a while since I use newspaper

[jjhill001]

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/general-enclosure-discussion/108002-baird-s-setups.html

That's the link to my setups. They are pretty nice. The one with the skull has a wooden cave in it now as well.

[lady_bug87]

Cool. Id get rid of that temperature guage and use an infrared gun.

[jjhill001]

Cool. Id get rid of that temperature guage and use an infrared gun.

I do that too. I keep it in there as the recent swings in weather here in Ohio combined with this crappy house we rent allows the temps to swing pretty greatly. And I can do a quick overall ambient check (the dial is about 3 degrees higher than what the infrared gun says) and see if I need to click the furnace on. It's not too bad in the day but it went from 75 degrees out to 32 degrees in like a day so I like to have it.

[jjhill001]

Plus he likes to climb on it. I noticed that both the female and male were trying to climb a lot and actually got them some plastic plants that suction cup onto the walls. It's not really natural looking but they seem to like climbing in them. The setups I have planned for when they become adults are gonna be cool.

[jjhill001]

Cool. Id get rid of that temperature guage and use an infrared gun.

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/general-colubrid-forum/109046-baird-s-set-up-update.html#post959286

Went and snapped a pic.

[lady_bug87]

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/general-colubrid-forum/109046-baird-s-set-up-update.html#post959286

Went and snapped a pic.

Fancy. What lives in there?

[jjhill001]

Fancy. What lives in there?

My Bairds Ratsnakes. They are just 5.5 gallon tanks for now. The female was starting some nose rubbing so I put black aquarium background around three sides and it really seems to have calmed her down plus it actually looks nicer.

[millertime89]

Looks good. :)

[lady_bug87]

My Bairds Ratsnakes. They are just 5.5 gallon tanks for now. The female was starting some nose rubbing so I put black aquarium background around three sides and it really seems to have calmed her down plus it actually looks nicer.

ah ok! I've never kept rat snakes

[jjhill001]

ah ok! I've never kept rat snakes

These are my first Bairds. They are the weirdest eaters. Right now I put the snakes in the enclosures with the pinkie already in there. But before I was using long tweezers and they didn't strike or anything I just dangled it and they would grab it in their mouth and eat it. The most gentle things on the planet.

The female tail rattles but neither has ever struck anything. I'm tempted to find a live pinkie just to see if they'd eat it whole without even constricting it.

[shaunyboy]

i feed all mine in their tanks

the tanks i keep 2 pythons in,i take which ever ones the easiest to get out,and feed it in a tub,the other gets fed in the tank

it's only carpet pythons i keep,they can smell prey as soon as it starts to defrost,all my pythons are upstairs,prey gets defrosted downstairs


just gotta love carpets :D




cheers shaun

[Eggplant]

I feed my hoggie in her tank and she's the sweetest snake ever :)

I feed my rat snakes in a feeding enclosure because they have natural set ups and really the main negative is the worry they may eat some substrate. This wouldn't normally be an issue for well hydrated animals but my snakes are still little and I just don't like the idea of them eating a bunch of crap if they don't have to. I may or may not continue this feeding strategy as it lets me open everything in their cages up, use my temp probe, spot clean and look for any sort of broken things.

To prevent her from ingesting substrate (I use aspen) I usually put the frozen thawed on top of her hide (she eats it there) or I put in a piece of paper towel and put the mouse on that. It seems like the paper towel weirds her out sometimes though.

[millertime89]

To prevent her from ingesting substrate (I use aspen) I usually put the frozen thawed on top of her hide (she eats it there) or I put in a piece of paper towel and put the mouse on that. It seems like the paper towel weirds her out sometimes though.

It's a foreign object, wouldn't surprise me to be honest. Putting the food on top of the hide is another good idea.