feed my big boy in or out of tank

[marvelfreak]

Originally Posted by 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?

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.

[TeaNinja]

Originally Posted by 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?

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.

[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.

[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]

Originally Posted by 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

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]

Originally Posted by 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

Wow, what a sentence!!!

[presspirate]

Originally Posted by 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

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

[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.

[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.

[Ch^4]

Originally Posted by 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.

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)

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.