Feeding in seperate enclosure - Page 2

Darkbird · 11-19-13, 06:33 AM

If you never get them out and never interact except to feed they can become conditioned to go into feed mode anytime the door opens. Takes a long time to get this way though. My personal opinion is that it not worth the stress on the keeper or animal to try and handle them to get them back in the cage afterward.

exwizard · 11-19-13, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkbird

If you never get them out and never interact except to feed they can become conditioned to go into feed mode anytime the door opens. Takes a long time to get this way though. My personal opinion is that it not worth the stress on the keeper or animal to try and handle them to get them back in the cage afterward.

This exactly! The key to having tame snakes is to interact with them regularly, definitely more frequent than just feeding time. Feeding in the enclosure they consider home is easier on you and your snake.

drumcrush · 11-19-13, 07:22 AM

I only feed my king in a separate tub. My garters I feed in their enclosure.

marvelfreak · 11-19-13, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by formica

I have always used long tongs to feed, my hands do not enter the enclosures on feeding day, so there is no association to be made between me and the food

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terranaut

Same here ,20"tongs. My hand never enters unless handling.

Tongs the hell are those? lol I try tongs once the snake hit so hard it hurt itself on the tongs and i said forget that. I just crack the door and drop it in really fast. Why you think rats and mice have tail?

formica · 11-19-13, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marvelfreak

Tongs the hell are those? lol I try tongs once the snake hit so hard it hurt itself on the tongs and i said forget that. I just crack the door and drop it in really fast. Why you think rats and mice have tail?

they are called ''long reach tongs'', great for holding the rodent by its tail, I like to give my snakes a bit of a chase, these are a great way to do it, never had a snake strike at the tong itself

JWFugle · 11-19-13, 06:27 PM

i used to feed in separate tub and with tongs but some how the tongs got smaller during the first year of my baby retics life lol :P (16"to now 6ft) and now i just put the rat in a smaller tub and *very quickly* put the tub in her cage, and remove it once she is gone and resting.

best of both worlds IMO no worry of impaction in mini tub, and its still in her cage
my 2 cents

Chris72 · 11-20-13, 11:52 AM

Some guys like feeding in a different enclosure but it is not required.

On handling:
Kevin hit it on the head when he mentioned trying to handle animals in feeding mode. You have to respect that. It's not a puppy.

Since they are animals (not toys) some....of mine anyway....get into feeding mode if anything is near the tub so I pull those out with a big hook and things are ok from there.

Others need the smell of a rodent in the air to get into feeding mode.

I don't find that to be age / size dependent. I have animals under 1000g who will strike if I don't use a hook....also animals over 7lbs I can tap on the nose with my finger tip and they seem to know it's not chow time.

On feeding:
Know your animals and respect them as individuals, no need to add the extra step of a feeding enclosure. One of the senses used is "seeing" the heat signature of the prey item. If they are in feed mode you want the heat of your hand as far from your animal as Possable.

Most times.....a bite is handler error not an aggressive animal.

(Get a hook and some long hemostats and life will get better)

.

Chris72 · 11-20-13, 11:56 AM

(Edit - iPad cut out, then double posted)

HouseHerp · 11-20-13, 03:12 PM

I've seen more aggression from tub feeding than I have from in tank feeding- but I think that's namely because people that tub feed usually don't handle their snakes on a regular basis. I noticed that aggression in general seems to stem more from lack of interaction than the feeding itself.
Our ATB would bite any time a hand was in his cage, then only if he smelled food, now he wont bite even if I still smell like food and am cleaning his cage out. The main reason is because he gets handled almost every day (other than the day of and the day after feeding, and during shed). He no longer associates the tank opening with feeding. It's the same with all our animals- be they snakes, lizards, etc. Since we handle them a lot, we don't have to worry about being bit during the feeding frenzy.
Just my experience and opinion.

shaunyboy · 11-21-13, 02:39 PM

i only handle my Carpets when its 100% neccesary.....

i have found the calm ones remain calm their whole lives, and the biters remain bitey

that said,i have calmed nippy hatchlings down for other people by handling

cheers shaun