View Full Version : Feeding tank or not?
Just a question to see what there's a majority of.
Just wondering how many people use a feeding tank for their snakes?
I use a feeding tank for my BP, In the hope that it will not allow my spots to be aggressive in his own home. Reason is my 5 1/2 year old daughter likes to get him out of his viv. (But only when I'm standing there.)
Thanks for all those who participate :)
Jimi
stephanbakir
10-18-11, 11:00 PM
I've bred and worked with everything from corns to retics and hots, ever once used a feeding tank, some of those snakes have been the most tolerant snakes in the world, some have been the nastiest.
No one I know uses a feeding tank.
SSSSnakes
10-18-11, 11:06 PM
I've bred and worked with everything from corns to retics and hots, ever once used a feeding tank, some of those snakes have been the most tolerant snakes in the world, some have been the nastiest.
No one I know uses a feeding tank.
Ditto, Feeding tanks have nothing to do with a snake being aggressive or not.
Strutter769
10-18-11, 11:09 PM
I have the same question, actually! The two feedings my new BRBhas had since bringing her home have been in a separate tub. I've read where people put prey on a plate to avoid ingestion of substrate, and the snake now reacts to the plate. Thought about trying that but her 10gal. is pretty restrictive.
SSSSnakes
10-18-11, 11:12 PM
I have the same question, actually! The two feedings my new BRBhas had since bringing her home have been in a separate tub. I've read where people put prey on a plate to avoid ingestion of substrate, and the snake now reacts to the plate. Thought about trying that but her 10gal. is pretty restrictive.
I fold a paper towel and out a pinkie or a fuzzie on it to feed some of my smaller snakes.
so what your say is if I all ready have a good tempered snake then I can just feed him in his viv? I guess even if he wasn't good tempered :D lol
the problem is every where you look there's so many different opinions. :confused:
I have read books saying to use them, I have also read books saying not to! Same with web information.
So now I don't know what to do :confused:
stephanbakir
10-18-11, 11:14 PM
Plates are fantastic, the only reason I don't use them for retics is because the sight of the plate sets them off on a feed mode, and I can't guarantee that when I do an educational show with them that there won't be a plate in the room.
[QUOTE=stephanbakir;639914]Plates are fantastic, the only reason I don't use them for retics is because the sight of the plate sets them off on a feed mode, and I can't guarantee that when I do an educational show with them that there won't be a plate in the room.[/QUOT
Well that's the idea i have heard about feeding in the viv, that every time you open the viv your snake will be thinking feeding time, and bam by accident you get bit.
So in conclusion I think I will stick to separate feed tub/tank.
Nismo89
10-18-11, 11:35 PM
Snakebytes tv actually did an experiment where they fed some in the enclosure and some in a different container and it doesn't really matter. If you think about it in the mindset of "if I feed in the cage it will think when I open it means feeding time" then wouldn't the same go for feeding out of the cage because when it is put that way then that would mean that when you pick the snake up and move it it thinks its feeding time. If that were the case I'd rather my snake be bitey before I grab it then once its in my hand it thinks food and wants to bite. Do you get what I'm saying? Oh and I feed both my BP and BRB in their enclosure and both are tame as can be. Even when I open the cage and they can see the mouse/rat I could still pick them up I just don't try to (why induce stress right before feeding). It's not until the prey is actually in the enclosure that they even care about it at all.
stephanbakir
10-18-11, 11:44 PM
[quote=stephanbakir;639914]Plates are fantastic, the only reason I don't use them for retics is because the sight of the plate sets them off on a feed mode, and I can't guarantee that when I do an educational show with them that there won't be a plate in the room.[/QUOT
Well that's the idea i have heard about feeding in the viv, that every time you open the viv your snake will be thinking feeding time, and bam by accident you get bit.
So in conclusion I think I will stick to separate feed tub/tank.
I may have explained that wrong, when I want to feed a snake, I just feed it, when I want to take it out, i break the feed response with hook training. The argument you made was "opening the viv will set off feed mode and get me bitten" the counter to that is "opening the viv and taking the snake out could set off a feed mode and get me bitten"
Learn to hook train your animals and you will never get feed response bitten again, the only 2 bite types left are aggressive (rare) and defensive (common, but often misunderstood and called aggressive)
I have never been bitten :) Thanks for clearing that up! My BP is supper tame :D I think I would have to try really hard to get him to bite me.
stephanbakir
10-19-11, 12:10 AM
The only time I've ever been bitten/struck at by bps was mothers on eggs and lil wee babies lol, even then its rare.
sassy_snake_lady
10-19-11, 12:42 AM
I feed all mine in their tanks (apart from my hognose who will only feed in a tub).
millertime89
10-19-11, 01:39 AM
first two feedings for my BRB were in separate tubs, haven't done it since, used the plate method last week and it worked great.
Lumin the retic
10-19-11, 02:21 AM
i used to feed my burm in a tub but then trying to put her back in the tank was a hard job. since i brought a retic ive started feeding all my snakes in there tanks and it the best way for me and when i go in to get them out they dont think im food there all very good snakes..
Lankyrob
10-19-11, 02:49 AM
[quote=stephanbakir;639914]Plates are fantastic, the only reason I don't use them for retics is because the sight of the plate sets them off on a feed mode, and I can't guarantee that when I do an educational show with them that there won't be a plate in the room.[/QUOT
Well that's the idea i have heard about feeding in the viv, that every time you open the viv your snake will be thinking feeding time, and bam by accident you get bit.
So in conclusion I think I will stick to separate feed tub/tank.
This "logic" is illogical. PLease read on
If you feed in the viv then ecerytime you open the viv the snake will think it is being fed and will be "aggressive"
If you feed in a tub then everytime you take the snake out of the viv it will think that it is being fed and be "aggressive"
The arguments cancel each other out.
What you need is a good routine, i use a plate, with no plate in my hand i can open any of my snakes viv (bar my psycho JCP) stick my hand in, and either spot clean or pick up the snake with NO ISSUES at all.
If i have a plate in my hand or have put a plate into the viv in preparation then all my snakes will be in feed mode and i will get bitten if i start poking around.
As long as i havent handled food prior to putting my hand in (i always rinse my hands first) and htere is no plate then i have no risk of biting.
ZARADOZIA
10-19-11, 04:38 AM
I can't speak for all snakes because I have not had hands on experience with many of the more exotic types. But I can speak for my ball. She does not like eating in her enclosure. I don't know why. I feed her after a good soak in the bathtub. (I feed her in the bathub)
Also keep in mind she was severely underfed when I got her and I had feeding problems when I got her. So I tried many different methods to see which would entice her the most. For Sasha, she was the most relaxed and most comfortable after a nice long soak.
I don't believe your BP will become aggressive if you feed him in his enclosure. As long as you feed him on schedule he shouldn't become aggressive just because you feed him inside his enclosure. He will know the difference between rat/mice smell and the smell of your daughter. As long as she hasn't handled any rats/mice before handling him.
Just be sure to teach her proper handling because not all snakes are as laid back as balls. She should learn to watch for aggressive behavior just in case he has a moody moment.
My personal opinion about feeding in separate environment is really between you and your ball. If he eats just fine where he is and you have not noticed any personality changes (aggression) when you handle him when it is not feeding time, then it's really up to what makes you feel the most comfortable.
If you are concerned he may act aggressively towards your daughter, then use a separate feeding area. Just know that he may or may not like feeding in a new environment.
infernalis
10-19-11, 05:08 AM
I do both, My solo snakes are fed in their cages.
My garter snake groups and the Dekayi girls must be split up at feeding time to prevent fighting.
For my bp, i feed in a tub because sometimes she likes to poop on friday night( i feed on saturday) so i just clean her cage while shes eating
red ink
10-19-11, 05:32 AM
Personally.... I have only ever used them as a newb and never again.
When I first started keeping snakes I moved my first snake into a feeding tank. This went on for months as a routine till one day the "stress" of being moved around after feeding (as they would naturally/instinctually retreat in to a hide after feeding) resulted in a stressed induced regurge.
The was the end of my feeding tub practices...
UwabamiReptiles
10-19-11, 06:38 AM
Personally.... I have only ever used them as a newb and never again.
When I first started keeping snakes I moved my first snake into a feeding tank. This went on for months as a routine till one day the "stress" of being moved around after feeding (as they would naturally/instinctually retreat in to a hide after feeding) resulted in a stressed induced regurge.
The was the end of my feeding tub practices...
Thats the reason I never liked the idea of feeding in a separate tub. Some snakes can still be in feeding mode for up to a day after they eat. I've always felt that would make you more likely to get bit when you have to put back in their. Then just like Red Ink said, you have to handle them right after they eat to get them back in their cage. Even though it won't happen everytime, the stress of handling right after they eat can cause a regurge. And from what I've experienced and read what other people have experienced, feeding in a separate tub has no effect on the snake's disposition.
alessia55
10-19-11, 07:13 AM
I feed both my ball pythons outside their cage. Every time I take him out, he does NOT think it's feeding time. He knows it's feeding time the moment he's in his feeding tub.. he get's "switched on". The container has a little trap door or whatever at the top of it and I put the prey through there (because the one time I didn't, he got my hand instead of the mouse by accident). I never get a feeding response from him just by taking him out, even if he's late to get a meal because I was out of town or whatever. Unlike using a plate, I know he is highly unlikely to encounter the same container I use with him outside of my apartment.
However!!!!!! During the summers and winters for the past 2 years, Kim (Will0W783) has taken care of him and he feeds him in his cage during that time. When I pick him up again, he is NOT more cage aggressive or anything like that. So, who knows! :p Maybe the method works, maybe it doesn't. While he's with ME, I play it safe (even if it's only in my head!) and I feed him in a separate container. To each his own I suppose :)
KrazyKat
10-19-11, 08:07 AM
I can't speak for all snakes because I have not had hands on experience with many of the more exotic types. But I can speak for my ball. She does not like eating in her enclosure. I don't know why. I feed her after a good soak in the bathtub. (I feed her in the bathub)
My personal opinion about feeding in separate environment is really between you and your ball. If he eats just fine where he is and you have not noticed any personality changes (aggression) when you handle him when it is not feeding time, then it's really up to what makes you feel the most comfortable.
Agreed. I also have a couple snakes who refuse to eat in their enclosures, and only get into feed mode once they enter their bins.
......No one I know uses a feeding tank.
You know ONE Steph :p
I do both, My solo snakes are fed in their cages.
My garter snake groups and the Dekayi girls must be split up at feeding time to prevent fighting.
I also have a few different girls housed together who MUST be split, and the tub method is the only way to accomplish this.
I feed both my ball pythons outside their cage. Every time I take him out, he does NOT think it's feeding time. He knows it's feeding time the moment he's in his feeding tub.. he get's "switched on". The container has a little trap door or whatever at the top of it and I put the prey through there (because the one time I didn't, he got my hand instead of the mouse by accident). I never get a feeding response from him just by taking him out, even if he's late to get a meal because I was out of town or whatever. Unlike using a plate, I know he is highly unlikely to encounter the same container I use with him outside of my apartment.
However!!!!!! During the summers and winters for the past 2 years, Kim (Will0W783) has taken care of him and he feeds him in his cage during that time. When I pick him up again, he is NOT more cage aggressive or anything like that. So, who knows! :p Maybe the method works, maybe it doesn't. While he's with ME, I play it safe (even if it's only in my head!) and I feed him in a separate container. To each his own I suppose :)
I couldn't agree more Alessia. I have come to realize that it depends on the snake. I have a couple snakes who will take prey items in their enclosures, a few that won't, and the rest have got in a regular bin-feeding routine that has not once resulted in regurge, or more aggression. In fact, we need not even handle them after feeding as our PVCs latch open, we just gently incline the tub at the opening and they slither back into their enclosures, often without needing encouragement. There are reasons why different experts recommend both feeding methods.
Just do what works best for you and your snake. In the end, only you can be the judge of that because it is you who will be carefully observing/monitoring your snake’s behavior, and not all snakes will react the same way to either method. I do not believe either way is "right or wrong" in theory, but either can be right or wrong for YOUR snake.
Coffee Black
10-19-11, 08:32 AM
My coastal girl is an EXTREMELY aggressive feeder and stays in feed mode a long time. The rule of thumb is generally to leave your snake alone for 2 days after feeding. I leave her alone for three. Two for her digestion and one to avoid holes in my hand. I feed her in her enclosure. I gave up on plates and such . She drags the prey back into her hide to swallow so I just check on her and make sure she has no substrate. When possible I try to get the prey to her when she is in her hide but my shy little girl has become quite the curious carpet and usually comes out to see what is going on as soon as the door opens.
I have done both. These days, I feed in their enclosure. If you don't have a fussy eater, it just doesn't make sense to feed outside the enclosure - unless you use that time for cleaning out the cage.
stephanbakir
10-19-11, 08:48 AM
You also need to think about, when you feed them in a tub, you need to "handle them" to get them back in the enclosure... thats never good.
KrazyKat
10-19-11, 08:58 AM
You also need to think about, when you feed them in a tub, you need to "handle them" to get them back in the enclosure... thats never good.
Read my post - you don't, necessarily. Mine crawl right back into their enclosures from their bins, often without any encouragement needed other than a slight incline of the bin at the opening of their enclosure. They've always seemed smart enough to recognize “home” and easily slither back into it with little to no hesitation.
alessia55
10-19-11, 09:13 AM
Read my post - you don't, necessarily. Mine crawl right back into their enclosures from their bins, often without any encouragement needed other than a slight incline of the bin at the opening of their enclosure. They've always seemed smart enough to recognize “home” and easily slither back into it with little to no hesitation.
Like I said previously, I also feed in a separate container, and this is exactly how I get them back into their enclosure. I gently tip the feeding container and they slither back into their enclosure. No handling takes place after feeding.
blindfireak40
10-19-11, 09:13 AM
You also need to think about, when you feed them in a tub, you need to "handle them" to get them back in the enclosure... thats never good.
A method I've used as well is a small hide box placed in the feeding tub. They eat, they crawl in, and you simply lift the hide box and put it back in the viv. That said, I'm going to be starting to feed Vermicelli in his viv most of the time...tried it last feed and it was SOOOOOO much easier lol.
lady_bug87
10-19-11, 10:04 AM
my BP will not take prey in his enclosure, he doesnt even bother but as soon as he gets placed in his feeding bin its game on, in his tank I have to remove him by hand to put him back in his viv because of his current set up i wait for him to start crawling around usually he comes out of his bin by himself and on to my hand and back into the viv he goes no feeding aggression, no regurge, perfect sheds, and poops 5-7 days after feeding without fail
my GTP gets fed in her viv for obvious reasons and she is a hardy eater (had her first double pink meal last week)
my boa I currently feed outside of her enclosure same as the BP no regurge poops just fine has not shed for me yet
millertime89
10-19-11, 10:49 AM
Like I said previously, I also feed in a separate container, and this is exactly how I get them back into their enclosure. I gently tip the feeding container and they slither back into their enclosure. No handling takes place after feeding.
this is what I did as well.
SkYyaMe1623
10-19-11, 11:00 AM
I feed in cage. A little tip however is to open the cage and poke around from time to time, even if you're not pulling the snake out. You just don't want the snakes expecting food every time they see/feel the cage open.
The worst scenario (I would think) would be a snake that expects food every time it's pulled out of the enclosure. This is why I find separate container feeding counter intuitive.
Lankyrob
10-19-11, 12:10 PM
IF, and its a big IF, the only times the viv is opened is to feed the snake (whether in the viv or in a tub), then the snake is going to assocaite teh doors opening with food. However, any decent keeper is opening the viv to spot clean and to change water so the snake should never have the opportunity make this association.
Coffee Black
10-19-11, 03:09 PM
Not having an exact schedule may also have an effect. I dont stick to a precise schedule. I switch it up. Sometimes it is 7 days or it will be 5 or 10. Keeps em on their "toes."
zigzag420
10-19-11, 03:59 PM
what rob said! feed it in the enclosure, i feed both my snakes in the enclosure and they dont associate opening the door with feeding time, and i rarely handle my snakes also. and i guess if you a sissy get a hook!
youngster
10-19-11, 04:08 PM
"toes."
:rolleyes::p
marvelfreak
10-19-11, 06:59 PM
I feed all 12 of my snakes in their cages. Like Coffee Black i which it up by a couple days even now and then. One thing i always do is give them fresh water the day before feed.
The only time my snakes are food aggressive is when i bring rats into the snake room. Then they smell it and fingers beware when opening cages. If they don't smell food they're fine.
Lumin the retic
10-20-11, 02:18 AM
so u only change there water once a week or longer ? i do the water every day. Every time i give them clean water there straight in it having a drink and theres 2 bowls in each of the big tanks i know some1 that trains there cobras with fresh water they love it
Jenn_06
10-20-11, 04:48 AM
most of my snakes are going to be big and its not safe to feed them anywhere else but there cages, my retics are in feeding mood for more then a few hours and so are my boas. i understand if you have a small snake like BP or corn but big ones to me should be feed in cages so nothing can happen to you or the snake. JMO
marvelfreak
10-20-11, 07:00 AM
so u only change there water once a week or longer ? i do the water every day. Every time i give them clean water there straight in it having a drink and theres 2 bowls in each of the big tanks i know some1 that trains there cobras with fresh water they love it
No i change their water every other day, but i make sure they have fresh water the day before. On feed day i never do anything in their cages, but drop a rat in.
alessia55
10-20-11, 07:10 AM
IF, and its a big IF, the only times the viv is opened is to feed the snake (whether in the viv or in a tub), then the snake is going to assocaite teh doors opening with food. However, any decent keeper is opening the viv to spot clean and to change water so the snake should never have the opportunity make this association.
I think this is key to avoiding cage opening/ food association. I only have 2 snakes, so it's easy for me to find time to open their cage for spot cleaning and taking them out for handling often (except for the 48hrs after eating during which they don't get bothered at all). However, I can see how some people who have lots of snakes might not have the time to give each and every one of them personal attention at the rate I do to mine.
shaunyboy
10-20-11, 08:46 AM
Well that's the idea i have heard about feeding in the viv, that every time you open the viv your snake will be thinking feeding time, and bam by accident you get bit.
So in conclusion I think I will stick to separate feed tub/tank.
if you apply the same logic to taking them out the tank,then surely everytime you take them out they would think its feeding time and bite ?
it always amazes me how folk only apply the logic to one part of the feeding scenario
1.feeding in tank = associating door opening with feeding,so bites everytime door opens
2.taking out the tank = associating taking out with feeding so bites everytime you take it out
imo it makes NO difference where you feed your snake as to whether it bites or not
cheers shaun
if you apply the same logic to taking them out the tank,then surely everytime you take them out they would think its feeding time and bite ?
it always amazes me how folk only apply the logic to one part of the feeding scenario
1.feeding in tank = associating door opening with feeding,so bites everytime door opens
2.taking out the tank = associating taking out with feeding so bites everytime you take it out
imo it makes NO difference where you feed your snake as to whether it bites or not
cheers shaun
Thanks Shaun
So I assume you feed in viv?That is very true i never thought of it the other way like that.
DeesBalls
10-20-11, 09:34 AM
all mine get fed in tanks/tubs... i just set it in the tub and my BP will eventually eat it, or not, but all my other snakes, i will have them bit one and constrict it eat it, then i just leave the other food in the tub/tank with them, then they will go eat it. ( i put it on their fake rock hides so they dont get aspen all over it.) been doing this way for 2 yrs now... never had any problems, only been bit 1 time by my baby BP and 1 time by a very hungery BRB. .... hope this helps.
the only connection i can think of with an "aggressive snake" and feeding in tank is that... a snake will only become aggressive with tank feedings ONLY IF THE SNAKES never get handled. over a year or so of just opening the tank and putting in food, then yes, the snake may become a little cage aggressiveness and stuff like that, but i think that is with a combination of poor ownership and pet responsibilities. (never handling, poor husbandry ect.. )
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