Feed in the enclosure or out of it?

[Pogie]

I've read different opinions on if you should feed the snake in its home or out of it. What do you all do?

[metalcopper]

Feed in, no need to take them out, unless you're using a substrate that you're worried about them swallowing.

[EL Ziggy]

I feed all my snakes inside their enclosures. Never had any issues with aggression or ingested substrate.

[reptiledude987]

I agree. but even if substrate consumption is a concern you can put the food item on a plate or paper towel to prevent ingestion. moving them in and out of the enclosure just causes undue stress.

[Pogie]

Thank you for the replies. I just wanted someones opinion who I can actually ask and not read on the internet. I fed Tyrion his first mouse today since I got him and he ate like a champ! Makes mother so proud rotfl....I was worried about feeding f/t since the guy at the store was giving him live since he got him, but no problem in that area

[millertime89]

Originally Posted by Pogie

Thank you for the replies. I just wanted someones opinion who I can actually ask and not read on the internet. I fed Tyrion his first mouse today since I got him and he ate like a champ! Makes mother so proud rotfl....I was worried about feeding f/t since the guy at the store was giving him live since he got him, but no problem in that area

I'm happy for you.

As others have said, there's really no reason to not feed in his enclosure. I've fed every snake I've ever owned in their enclosure and have never once had a problem, even with substrate.

[RAD House]

There seems to be two very differing opinions about this topic and they seem to highly segregated by source. Almost all care guides I read suggest feeding in a separate container, but most if not all on forums seem to agree that feeding in the tank is best. I can't understand why there is such a difference of opinions and why the two sources seem so split. Initially due to the care guide advice and now due to my personal preference, I have always fed in a separate container.

[Nuxodom]

Originally Posted by MesoCorney

There seems to be two very differing opinions about this topic and they seem to highly segregated by source. Almost all care guides I read suggest feeding in a separate container, but most if not all on forums seem to agree that feeding in the tank is best. I can't understand why there is such a difference of opinions and why the two sources seem so split. Initially due to the care guide advice and now due to my personal preference, I have always fed in a separate container.

I used to feed in-tank, decades ago, but it did make my snakes aggressive when I took them out. Now I feed out of tank and have never had a regurgitation issue. The only issue is: they are aggressive when getting them out of the feeding bin, but if you just be patient and start to pick them up, they quickly learn it's you, not food, and become passive.

I'd rather them show the aggressive posture only when I take them out of the feeding bin rather than every time I take them out of their home enclosure; but, that's just my preference.

[millertime89]

Care guides are generally based on old info, put together by people that don't have much experience, and are never updated. Ask breeders who keep large numbers of the animals what they recommend. Aaron and Jerry (the snake man) are great sources here as they have tons of experience.

[Bluz Brotherz]

I feed all of my animals inside the enclosure except for my two female KSB's who I separate to avoid a potential vet visit and bloody hand. That's really the only true reason to feed in separate containers, to avoid tussles over food between communally-kept specimens.

[SSSSnakes]

Originally Posted by millertime89

Care guides are generally based on old info, put together by people that don't have much experience, and are never updated. Ask breeders who keep large numbers of the animals what they recommend. Aaron and Jerry (the snake man) are great sources here as they have tons of experience.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. As stated I always feed in their enclosures. It makes the snake feel more secure and less chance of you getting bit.

[RAD House]

Well I certainly hope they weigh in. I have a few specific concerns about this issue. I know people say they eat of the dirt in the wild and I agree, but just based on the likelihood of dirt causing impaction compared to wood shavings I don't see this as a valid point. Due to the particle size of aspen shavings compared to fine grains of dirt seem to suggest it would get impacted much more easily. Also I feel like there is some trust building associated in the process of taking them out to feed. I have noticed that since I started doing this that they are pretty keen when I am taking them out to feed compared to taking them out to "socialize" them. They tend to fuse a lot less on feeding day when being handled, probably a learned behavior as I feed them on the same day every week. Also after their meal they now more or less crawl onto my hand to get put back into their enclosure. Not once during this process has a regurg occurred. So if you are tong feeding and not touching the snake what so ever then do you earn as much trust? The last reason is just to be able to monitor their eating. My guys both trash around quite a bit before beginning to swallow, and if fact sometimes after this show they simply drop the mouse and seem to explore. I have gotten into the habit of getting them interested in the mouse again by wiggling it around with the tongs, which always seem to do the trick. Would it be more stressful for the snake for me to be tearing up its enclosure to make sure the mouse is eaten or gently handle it to and from its enclosure? Plus it is gives me peace of mind having no doubts. The last point may just be a personal one as I tend to obsess. I would like to hear your thoughts on this.

[RAD House]

Also I assume that both the old and new information came from personal experience of mainly breeders, so I am just curious as to why the new holds so much validity in forums.

[Pogie]

I always thought if you are suppose to feed them in a different area, and then your told not to handle them after they eat how do you get them back home? On the other hand I also understand if you didn't they got aggressive because they associated you opening the door with feeding time and would bite the hand that feeds them lol. Anyway that's what all the info that I have run into until I started reading this forum. I prefer to feed him in his own enclosure. That's pretty much why I joined so I could actually "talk" to people who have snakes and not just read about it

[millertime89]

Originally Posted by MesoCorney

Well I certainly hope they weigh in. I have a few specific concerns about this issue. I know people say they eat of the dirt in the wild and I agree, but just based on the likelihood of dirt causing impaction compared to wood shavings I don't see this as a valid point. Due to the particle size of aspen shavings compared to fine grains of dirt seem to suggest it would get impacted much more easily. Also I feel like there is some trust building associated in the process of taking them out to feed. I have noticed that since I started doing this that they are pretty keen when I am taking them out to feed compared to taking them out to "socialize" them. They tend to fuse a lot less on feeding day when being handled, probably a learned behavior as I feed them on the same day every week. Also after their meal they now more or less crawl onto my hand to get put back into their enclosure. Not once during this process has a regurg occurred. So if you are tong feeding and not touching the snake what so ever then do you earn as much trust? The last reason is just to be able to monitor their eating. My guys both trash around quite a bit before beginning to swallow, and if fact sometimes after this show they simply drop the mouse and seem to explore. I have gotten into the habit of getting them interested in the mouse again by wiggling it around with the tongs, which always seem to do the trick. Would it be more stressful for the snake for me to be tearing up its enclosure to make sure the mouse is eaten or gently handle it to and from its enclosure? Plus it is gives me peace of mind having no doubts. The last point may just be a personal one as I tend to obsess. I would like to hear your thoughts on this.

Jerry commented above, he's SSSSnakes, I couldn't remember his screen name earlier.

Dirt and other bedding doesn't pose a risk for impaction if the snake is healthy. Impaction is typically caused by too large of prey items, power feeding, or dehydration. If you use paper towels or newspaper or something similar for bedding then this risk is removed. If you're really worried about it then you can feed on a plate. I've done it in the past and it worked well for me and others here.

They're more alert when you take them out to feed because they can smell food. Just like you and I are more aware of food when we can smell it. Ever noticed how your mouth waters when you smell something you find appetizing? Same idea. They fuss more because they're fighting two instinctual urges, to get food and be safe while doing so.

I handle when they're not feeding. I don't want to stress them out any more. Snakes are mostly defenseless while eating. I won't start a discussion on "trust" here. if you want to do some more reading on that, it's in another thread. Don't start it here, this is a feeding discussion.

I certainly monitor my snakes while they eat. Being in or out of their enclosure doesn't change my ability to do that.

Originally Posted by MesoCorney

Also I assume that both the old and new information came from personal experience of mainly breeders, so I am just curious as to why the new holds so much validity in forums.

Not really. Most of the old info is based on assumptions about snakes. The newer info is based primarily on repeated experiences with the animals.

Originally Posted by Pogie

I always thought if you are suppose to feed them in a different area, and then your told not to handle them after they eat how do you get them back home? On the other hand I also understand if you didn't they got aggressive because they associated you opening the door with feeding time and would bite the hand that feeds them lol. Anyway that's what all the info that I have run into until I started reading this forum. I prefer to feed him in his own enclosure. That's pretty much why I joined so I could actually "talk" to people who have snakes and not just read about it

They can get food aggressive when being taken out for feeding time because they see the feeding tub and associate that with feeding time as well.