The Great Feeding Question Continues!

[lordkovacs]

Ok, I hear everyone giving advice about whether to feed inside the cage, or remove and have a feeder cage. I agree it's preference. However, does one maybe have more severe consequences then the other? Thanks all,
Cheers,
MIKE

[snakemann87]

To my knowledge, feeding inside can get the snake used to the cage opening meaning food is coming. You of course want to feed outside the cage if you have substrate that can be ingested. But if you want to know I feed all mine in a feeder tank.

[Big Mike]

There are good point both ways but I have come to belive that feeding in the enclosure makes more sense.

First, you have to put the snake back into the enclosure after feeding and we all know that your not supposed to handle a snake after eating...

Second, If the snake can learn that opening the cage means food comming in...then wouldn't it also learn that being taken out means feeding time? Then you have a snake in your hands that thinks it's feeding time. Don't want that...esspecially with a big snake.

I either feed my snakes in their enclosures or in a smaller feeding container that I put in their enclosures. This way they are off of the substrate and I let them get out of the container on their own.

[ReptiZone]

I feed all my snakes in a feeder tank cause snakes are rutine animals and if you get your snake used to feeding inside the cage it nevers know when food is coming so if it is verry hungry and you only want to take it out then......snap you have just ben mistaken for food.

If you feed your snake in a feeder cage the snake gets used to being moved to a box b4 feeding so no mater how hungry it is it knows that it must be moved b4 it can go into feeding mode but never under any circumstances should your snake and your hand be in the feding box at the same time or you will defy the purpos of the box.
But if you have a large boid you can feed it in its cage cause you dont want to handel a hungry 12 foot burm, retic, anaconda

That is what I think any way lets see what others have to say

Chondro Python

[AnthonyC]

It depends on the species and the individual snake.

I feed every single snake I own in their cages and never have had a problem with them mistaking me for food...except for a Burm several years ago. I'm not saying that it won't ever happen, but it's not worth shuffling 30 something snakes around, just to avoid the occasional bite.

Common sense tells you that if you're talking about a snake that can really hurt you, you want to do whatever you can to avoid that, but when we're talking about a slender 4-5 foot Carpet Python, I wouldn't bother.

My older carpets are smart enough to know that if they smell food, they're being fed, and if they don't smell food, they're not being fed. I can reach into any of my Carpet cages any time and I don't have to worry about it.

I also want to mention that I have kept and fed over 100 snakes on cypress mulch, and have never had a problem with them ingesting substrate.

[lordkovacs]

Wow, thanks for the speedy replies. Feeding time isn't until Friday night. It looks like again there is a split. Some think one way others think the opposite. I guess the only thing that can come from this is that everyone has a "style". I have had a corn for years, and I've always taken him out. HOwever, that's only because someone told me that's the way. I guess it's not that big a deal, cause if it was there would be more caresheets or posts giving strong reasons why not to. Thanks again all..
CHeers,
Mike

[Zoe]

I feed mine in their regular tanks. The one I used to feed in a seperate tank would always strike when I removed him from the tank thinking I was food. Whether you feed a snake in his regular tank or in a seperate one, he will at one time or another be somewhere that he gets fed, but if you feed him in his regular tank you don't need to touch him after. Snakes usually don't make mistakes (never in my experience) and typically won't strike unless you smell like a rodent.

Also, it's bad to handle a snake right after eating. The only snakes I feed seperately are my BCIs, because one swallows faster and will try and eat the rat of the other one when it finishes it's rat. PIG! :]

Zoe

[JIMI]

I feed inside the cage as well. I just make a habit of not smelling like a rat when I reach in to do anything else. If they dont smell a rat they dont think twice, but once they get a slight scent, I make sure to watch out because they're on the prowl for anything that moves.

[Mardy]

I feed in there cages, and as Anthony said the carpets are smart enough to know feed from hand.
My new scrubs on the other hand think everything is fair game.LOL

Mardy

[JIMI]

oh ya! i've heard how bad scrubs can be. thats why i want one. lol

[AnthonyC]

Originally posted by Mardy
I feed in there cages, and as Anthony said the carpets are smart enough to know feed from hand.
My new scrubs on the other hand think everything is fair game.LOL

Mardy

Ain't that the truth.

My pair of cbb M. nauta will bite anything...if it tastes like food, they hold on...if it tastes like me, they let go and bite again. lol

My Moluccans are by far the tamest scrubs I've got. They have got to be some of the most intelligent reptiles I've ever had the pleasure of working with.

[marisa]

I actually have a survey about this very subject going on right now....its located:

http://members.rogers.com/marisamarenbrophy

I have gotten many many repiles but I am still waiting for more before I compile the results.

Anyways....

I believe the whole "feeding in cage will make your snake think its getting food each time!" is not true.

For one if you practice normal handling and good cleaning measures, how can one out of say 7 times per week make the snake believe each time food will be coming? It doesn't make sense, (7 times being handling, feeding, opening to clean water, change bedding, spot clean, etc)

Of course there are individuals. But on a whole I believe its an outdated string of thinking.

Marisa

[lordkovacs]

Interesting perspectives. Thanks. I'd be interested in hearing the results of your poll if you don't mind Marisa. Thanks.
Cheers,
Mike