Feeding in a display enclosure

[Shaky]

I'm setting up a nice big enclosure for a pair of adult ratsnakes. I'm wondering what's the preferred way to feed in such a setting without removing the snakes to feed individually.

[Tim_Cranwill]

Ummm.... there isn't one. Just do what's right and feed them in seperate enclosures.

[Shaky]

Really? Don't zoos and such feed them in the enclosure, or do they pull 'em out every time?

[mykee]

1: I'm not sure with ratsnakes, but with most others, you should avoid housing them together.
2: ALWAYS seperate them when feeding, unless you don't mind a dead one.

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

Thats a zoo. We are responsible herpers that know what we are doing and do those things responsibly(not that zoos don't). Always seperate when feeding with any snakes. And as mykee said, you should avoid housing them together

I completely agree with that statement.

[crocdoc]

what our local zoo does for feeding snakes in the same enclosure is to put the snakes into individual snake bags with a dead mouse (or rat) each, then leave the bags in the enclosure until they've eaten. The snakes adjust to this very quickly.

[Tim_Cranwill]

But really, how hard is it to just take one snake out at feeding time? Easy as pie. :)



Ptsss.... I also vote for two seperate enclosures.... ;)

[crocdoc]

not hard at all, Tim, but putting them in bags is even easier :)

If you had several enclosures, some with more than a couple of snakes, then taking snakes out to feed them would quickly become time consuming and unnecessary. That's why the zoo opted for the bag method.

[Tim_Cranwill]

Hmmmm... I have a few snakes that would be tough to get into bags and scary to take out! :D

[Sunrunner]

How in a Zoo do you bag a 20 foot retic ;)
:)

[Sunrunner]

Ah beat me 2 it Tim :P

[crocdoc]

didn't this thread start with someone talking about ratsnakes?

I was referring to big collections with many enclosures, some of which have more than one snake.

anyone can find exceptions to any husbandry trick, that isn't hard, but in answer to your question if the snake is that scary to get into a bag, it will be just as scary taking it out of the enclosure to feed it.

[crocdoc]

By the way, the zoo I was referring to does this bag thing with all of their Australian elapids.

What sort of scary snakes are you referring to? You shouldn't keep any reptile that frightens you.

[Tim_Cranwill]

Hey man, I wasn't knocking the method. I was just saying that I wouldn't want to reach into a bag to pull out a snake that has just fed. No biggie.... And what does being scared of anything have to do with anything????

Peace, man... I was making a joke. Later.....

[crocdoc]

no problems, Tim.

I wouldn't reach into a bag to pull out a snake, anyway, unless it was something with a harmless bite and there aren't many of those around here.