feed my big boy in or out of tank

[Damion930]

I feed out seems to me Ther is a division on how ppl feel about this that do u all believe and why i recently visited a new unnamed forum that preach in a rude holyer than thow way in tank is the only way to go seemed to me Ther reasoning was Ther fear of handling Ther snakes around feeding time and that anyone who would take Ther snake out to feed is an idiot

[presspirate]

I too used to feed outside of the enclosure. Because this was the predominant wisdom read in many care sheets and online forums. Do not feed your snake in the cage for it may learn to associate the opening of the cage with food, and try to eat you. After hearing from many with opposing views. (Right here on this forum to be exact) 3 months ago I started feeding in the cage. Thinking that if a snake would associate opening the cage with food, would it not also associate being taken out of the cage with food? I have been feeding all but my corns in their enclosures and have had no incidents of them confusing my opening the cage with feeding time.

[infernalis]

I can't stand people who lack open minds.

I have been feeding almost all of my snakes outside their cages for years.

after I lost a couple due to choking on their bedding, it's my preferred way of feeding.

There are other people who are just fine feeding in the cage.

as with a lot of other husbandry options, what works for one person may not work for another.. it's not an absolute.

[Nafun]

I never feed snakes in their enclosure if they have a loose bedding (except my garters, but they're civilized and eat off a plate inside their enclosure). Some, however, will only eat in their enclosures (the two BPs that I rescued will only eat in their enclosures) so I keep them on astroturf.

Getting bitten by your snakes happens. It happens. It's not their fault any more than it's the fault of my big yellow dog when he steps on my foot. Unless you're keeping hots, if you're terrified of getting bitten, snakes may not be the pet for you.

I've never had any experience of snakes getting cage aggressive from being fed in their enclosures though. My two most aggressive snakes are both tub fed and my two most docile are both fed in their enclosure.

Every snake is different, every person is different. As long as you eliminate the risk of ingesting substrate, you can pretty much feed your snake where ever you, or it, wants in my opinion.

[Lankyrob]

I feed my arboreal snakes in the enclosure as they eat hanging off the perch. My BP gets fed in a tub - but inside the enclosure as he is too shy to eat out side the enclosure. The others get fed in a plastic tub on the floor of the living room. Once fed i hold the tub up to the viv so that htey sliver out on their own - no handling after feeding needed.

[infernalis]

I have one group that I feed in tubs, but they make it challenging, as soon as I start reaching in the cage, their mouths are gaping open, and they are in a "feed trance" until I get them all fed.

[dragunov.762]

i used to feed outside my tank with all mine snakes, but as soon as you get a few this becomes a little inconvenient with only one feeding tub so i switched to feeding in their tank and have not noticed a difference in behavior

[infernalis]

try this (only during breeding season) talk about labor intensive, I was working with almost 400 babies the season I took the pic.

http://www.thamnophis.us/secret/feeding.jpg

I now have over 30 of those little feed boxes.

[dragunov.762]

i got my first snake in a little 2.5 gal tank from our local reptile store before it went under. my boa has now out grown it and feeding one snake at a time was slow (especially when one does not want to eat.)

[Reptile_Reptile]

i feed my bp in a shoebox and my corn in a wood box. its not cause im afraid of cage aggression i just like the idea of them out of their cages when feeding its just something to do for them and me and it works out fine.

[Nafun]

I feed my arboreal snakes in the enclosure as they eat hanging off the perch. My BP gets fed in a tub - but inside the enclosure as he is too shy to eat out side the enclosure. The others get fed in a plastic tub on the floor of the living room. Once fed i hold the tub up to the viv so that htey sliver out on their own - no handling after feeding needed.


My bp Mr. Slithers will only feed of he's hanging from his branch in his enclosure.

My semi arboreals (jcp and crb) are tub fed. Berber (jcp) because she's a bitch and I hope that by handling her every week she'll eventually stop biting me, and Cuddles (crb) because she has loose substrate (eco earth).

Two weeks ago I made the mistake of holding Cuddles while getting out her mouse, only to have her help herself, and eat dangling from my wrist. A 1lb snake doesn't seem like much until you have to spend 15 minutes with it hanging from your outstretched arm.

[shaunyboy]

imo its easier to feed in the tank

i dont like handling them after feeding

when ive kept pairs in the same tank i have had to take 1 snake out to feed so they get fed apart

re agression
i have found it makes no difference feeding in or out the tank


re being fed in tank = agressive snake

i think the theory of a snake associating every time the tank door opens its going to get fed so gets bitey is a load of crap...!!!

if you applied the same logic to taking it out

then it would associatte being fed every time you took it out

so if you follow the same logic then it would be bitey everytime you took it out.no?

re that other web site

as has been said there is no room for people with only 1 way to do things

there are many ways to do most things some work better than others for some snakes

i have found it is down to the individual snake and its keeper

as long as you do whats in best interest of the snake and your method works then no one has the right to knock you for it

cheers shaun

[Aaron_S]

I feed all of mine in their tubs because I keep ball pythons. I don't need to disturb them any more than i have to. Anything causes a bp to stop eating. ;)

[percey39]

I find moving snakes after feeding cause stress and COULD POSSIBLY lead to regurgitation in young or shy and nervous snakes. Its all personal preferance but all mine are fed in their tanks.

[Lankyrob]

Does anyone feed in their tanks on repti-bark? If so have you had any issues with snakes eating substrate? or do you put the prey item on a plate? Would be a lot easier to feed in their tanks imo but have always been told it is too dangerous due to impaction?

[marvelfreak]

Does anyone feed in their tanks on repti-bark? If so have you had any issues with snakes eating substrate? or do you put the prey item on a plate? Would be a lot easier to feed in their tanks imo but have always been told it is too dangerous due to impaction?
I do i put the food in a bowl so they have to climb in to get to it. try the plate thing, but they would hit the rat so hard it and them would go rolling all over.

[bighog85]

Being as this discussion is on the giant python section, I am going to assume that the original poster was talking about something other than a garter snake or a boa. Feeding options are much more flexible with them as opposed to a giant. Dealing with a three or four foot bp is much different than messing with an 18 ft. retic in feeding mode. Never, EVER feed a giant outside of its enclosure. First of all, it is dangerous for the snake to be handled with a full stomach. Smaller snakes can be completely supported when being lifted whereas a giant is going to have extra pressure put on its internal organs when being heaved around trying to get it to go back in its enclosure. Secondly, that whole situation is dependent on you not getting wrapped and killed while trying to move it because you smell like a prey item. To the OP, ya you might have gotten some "holier than thou" answers, though I'm not quite sure what you mean by that, but it was for a good reason. Giant snakes are not something to be taken lightly. When people that are more experienced than you, tell you something that could save your life, you might want to take them seriously. I might have even been one of those that answered you because I hear this question a lot. Feeding in the enclosure is the ONLY way to feed. If you do things properly, your snake will not associate the opening of the door with food and both you and the animal will remain much healthier as well. Get a hook and start hook training it. This will ensure that the snake knows the difference between feeding time and handling time.

[TeaNinja]

Does anyone feed in their tanks on repti-bark? If so have you had any issues with snakes eating substrate? or do you put the prey item on a plate? Would be a lot easier to feed in their tanks imo but have always been told it is too dangerous due to impaction?

i was feeding my snake in his tank when he was on aspen and he's always been smart enough to not eat any substrate. I got his new home less then 7 days ago i believe, and i switched him to repti bark/coconut shreds, but i have yet to feed him since he's been in his new home.

[Damion930]

by holier than thou I ment they wher rude to the poor kid that asked telling him he's an idiot for asking I find people with closed minds disagreeable to think Ther May be a diff or even better way of doing things than Thers not to say Ther is or that they wher wrong. no offence bighog but so far its my opinion that its half dozen for one and six of the other because plenty of experienced people have told me to feed out so ur advice on listening to experience is flawed but on the other hand I am in agreance with u I am seeing far less benefits to taking him out and it will def be more difficult when he's larger still deciding for myself

[bighog85]

by holier than thou I ment they wher rude to the poor kid that asked telling him he's an idiot for asking I find people with closed minds disagreeable to think Ther May be a diff or even better way of doing things than Thers not to say Ther is or that they wher wrong. no offence bighog but so far its my opinion that its half dozen for one and six of the other because plenty of experienced people have told me to feed out so ur advice on listening to experience is flawed but on the other hand I am in agreance with u I am seeing far less benefits to taking him out and it will def be more difficult when he's larger still deciding for myself

No experienced giant keeper will tell you to feed outside the enclosure, period. I am telling you this, as an experienced giant keeper. If you are talking about the responses here, then you need to realize that I am the only one that addressed this issue pertaining the big snakes because I think I am the only one that really keeps them on this forum.

[Jenn_06]

im with bighog if you ever had a retic or a burm you know they have a strong feeding response and can say in feeding mode for days, my retic is just 8 feet but i would never feed her out of the cage, smaller snakes are different but i still feed all my snakes in there cage and never got bitten from them thinking its feeding time because i use a hook.

[Damion930]

lol I just find that funny it seems purdy obvious to me that the question wouldn't have Ben asked if I hadn't found and discussed diff schools of thought with other "experienced" keepers and the fact that u seem oblivious to this is surprising and others I've spoken with find your school of thought is just as ignorant as u do Thers its kinda hard to blindly follow the advice of some one that seems so blind to the circumstances experienced keepers do feed out of the tank regardless of your opinion wich very well could be the best way to go about things thank u for your imput

[Lankyrob]

lol I just find that funny it seems purdy obvious to me that the question wouldn't have Ben asked if I hadn't found and discussed diff schools of thought with other "experienced" keepers and the fact that u seem oblivious to this is surprising and others I've spoken with find your school of thought is just as ignorant as u do Thers its kinda hard to blindly follow the advice of some one that seems so blind to the circumstances experienced keepers do feed out of the tank regardless of your opinion wich very well could be the best way to go about things thank u for your imput

Wow, what a sentence!!! :Wow: :hmm: :wacky:

[TeaNinja]

for everyone's info, i fed my snake on his repti bark. he didn't eat any or get any in his mouth or anything, seemed ok. (thats not saying it won't happen xO) i can't really put the food on a plate, cuz dum's are ambush hunters. and mine just stays super still until the rat walks RIGHT up to it.

[presspirate]

lol I just find that funny it seems purdy obvious to me that the question wouldn't have Ben asked if I hadn't found and discussed diff schools of thought with other "experienced" keepers and the fact that u seem oblivious to this is surprising and others I've spoken with find your school of thought is just as ignorant as u do Thers its kinda hard to blindly follow the advice of some one that seems so blind to the circumstances experienced keepers do feed out of the tank regardless of your opinion wich very well could be the best way to go about things thank u for your imput

If your mind has been made up, why ask the question? Are you looking for controversy?

[Damion930]

no sorry not trying to come off sounding like a jerk I'm just trying to disect the labyrinth of information that is the internet weight all the pros and cons and make an educated desision and just trying to make the point that if I hadn't received different instructions from care sheets and other keepers Ther never would have Ben a question or decisions to make again my apologies I do respect everyone's opinions when they are presented as such

[presspirate]

Very good then, that is understandable. Personally I think whether to feed in the cage, or out of the cage is a matter of preference. However, many people feel strongly that their opinion is the only one that should matter.:crazy2:

[Ch^4]

Very good then, that is understandable. Personally I think whether to feed in the cage, or out of the cage is a matter of preference. However, many people feel strongly that their opinion is the only one that should matter.:crazy2:

I agree with you fully (again! lol). No matter how you feed, inside or outside of the cage, it is what works for you and more importantly, what keeps your pet healthy.

Life would be boring if there was only one school of thought. Innovation and breakthroughs are made by thinking outside the box...if we all did the exact same thing, how could we attempt to call ourselves individuals.

Bottom line: Do what works for you, and what keeps your pets happy and healthy! (IMHO) :D

[bighog85]

You may want to ask what these other keepers constitute as "experience" because I promise you that any good keeper that really knows what they are doing is not going to recommend taking a 15 or 20 foot snake in feeding mode and handling it before and after it is fed. This isn't just common sense, it could quite possibly be lifesaving advice. For most other species I have no problem leaving it up to personal preference, but when stupid feeding errors are the reason that people get killed by their snakes, I feel that I need to make my thoughts crystal clear to people that want to be "individuals". If anybody can give me a good reason why taking your life in your hands to feed your snakes is necessary, I will give them ten reasons why it is not.

[Ch^4]

You may want to ask what these other keepers constitute as "experience" because I promise you that any good keeper that really knows what they are doing is not going to recommend taking a 15 or 20 foot snake in feeding mode and handling it before and after it is fed. This isn't just common sense, it could quite possibly be lifesaving advice. For most other species I have no problem leaving it up to personal preference, but when stupid feeding errors are the reason that people get killed by their snakes, I feel that I need to make my thoughts crystal clear to people that want to be "individuals". If anybody can give me a good reason why taking your life in your hands to feed your snakes is necessary, I will give them ten reasons why it is not.

Just for clarification, my post was referring to smaller snakes that can easily be handled by one individual.

I have ZERO experience with the giants and do not intend on making any claims on husbandry nor feeding habits. It only seems logical to never attempt to feed a 15+ foot snake outside of its cage. Heck, even a 10+ foot snake is pushing it (IMO). I read your posts above and fully agree with your feeding tactics....I wouldn't be caught near a giant in feeding mode.

However, the smaller ones that do not pose a threat to your life, I would argue to do what you prefer (within reason of course).

And my apologies for the digression from the main topic.

[Damion930]

well I guess honestly it shouldn't have taken me this long perhaps but I believe I have made up my mind lol it does make since to me that it would be better to not have hands on activity with my big guy while in feeding mode and that even if he does become more aggressive by initiating a feeding response in his enclosure Ther are ways to midigate this danger. Seems Ther are more risks to him and my self by feeding him outside than
I saw at first it can be hard to pic apart the information we receive thanx for being patient with me and thanx fir ur help in guiding me to improving the care of my animal

[shaunyboy]

well I guess honestly it shouldn't have taken me this long perhaps but I believe I have made up my mind lol it does make since to me that it would be better to not have hands on activity with my big guy while in feeding mode and that even if he does become more aggressive by initiating a feeding response in his enclosure Ther are ways to midigate this danger. Seems Ther are more risks to him and my self by feeding him outside than
I saw at first it can be hard to pic apart the information we receive thanx for being patient with me and thanx fir ur help in guiding me to improving the care of my animal


its only carpets i work with and they have a savage feeding response

i feed all mine in the tank and none of them give me any problems biting or otherwise

i dont go in my tanks from early evening onwards as this is their natural hunting times

i definately dont go in the tanks if im defrosting rats anywhere in my house

they know...!!

and will hit anything with a heat signature

all the other days that are not feeding days i have no problem going in and taking my snakes out bare handed

i dont like using hooks,unless its an emergency.

such as they're hanging out the tank with a rat in their mouths

sometimes they get that excited they hit as soon as that door opens

not because they associate the door opening with food

but because they actually smell food and know its dinner time

any other day as said i open doors go right in and pull out which ever snake i'm working with at the time

just my way of doing things

cheers shaun

[Jenn_06]

well I guess honestly it shouldn't have taken me this long perhaps but I believe I have made up my mind lol it does make since to me that it would be better to not have hands on activity with my big guy while in feeding mode and that even if he does become more aggressive by initiating a feeding response in his enclosure Ther are ways to midigate this danger. Seems Ther are more risks to him and my self by feeding him outside than
I saw at first it can be hard to pic apart the information we receive thanx for being patient with me and thanx fir ur help in guiding me to improving the care of my animal


you should not really see any increase of aggression when you feed in the cage if you use a snake hook, my retic isis knows when i have the hook its not feeding time, she well be all up on the front of the cage thinking its feeding time but as soon as she sees the hook she moves back in the back of the cage and i can take her out with out a bite. good luck if you dont have a hook try a roll of paper towels or something thats long like a stick.

[Damion930]

Just an update I belive im up to three in enclosure feedings and ther is no change in his behavior I can still reach right in im a little more cautious about it a few days following the feed but no problems yet I was a little worried because I switched to eco earth recently but i just coverd the bottom so yeah feeding in and all is well

[presspirate]

Awesome! Great to hear ! Congrats to you!

[silvsupratt]

i do the feeding for my corns in a seperate container and keep it in the tank till they crawl out.. my jcp is usually up in his tree so i put the rat by his cave and he bites and coils it up to where he is, similar to how the snake in "anaconda" caught the guy when he jumped from the waterfall :)

[NennaMeerkat]

I have a baby Hognose and she is UBER picky about where she eats. If I take her out and put her anywhere else she will not eat. Period. And I also have to make sure she is active before feeding to or she won't eat. But I have to get her active without a lot of handling as well. So its in her home, has to be active, and little to no handling beforehand. Never met a snake so picky.

[Crikey4]

Just an update I belive im up to three in enclosure feedings and ther is no change in his behavior I can still reach right in im a little more cautious about it a few days following the feed but no problems yet I was a little worried because I switched to eco earth recently but i just coverd the bottom so yeah feeding in and all is well

Im not sure what type of "big boy" you have but if it is in fact a giant or even a giant species. I would recommend using newspaper as a substrate. With using the Eco Earth there is a chance that your snake could eat some on accident but it can also get stuck in between their scales and cause a much bigger problem. Not only that but most giants deficate in large quantities. And it is easier to take out a couple pieces of newspaper rather than having to scoop out all the bedding. So it would almost help make your life so much easier all round to switch to newspaper. That's just my suggestion.