My Feeding Technique

Madness420 · 07-31-14, 06:37 AM

hey guys i was looking to get some opinions on my way of feeding my baby corn snakes, and the ball python i just got which i will feed the first time in 3 days. i feed f/t so after the mouse is warm i place it in a plastic container. then i wash my hands to remove the smell, and i remove the snake from the enclosure. after holding the snake for a minute or so, saying my goodbyes for the next 36hrs, i lower the snake towards the mouse, manuevering them so their head touches the mouse's head. it almost allways takes less than 5seconds for them to slowly and non violently open wide and start to consume the mouse. afterwards i allow the snake to crawl out slightly and i pick them up and return them home. i do this because i feel like it speeds things up, and i am introducing the snake to the mouse, not the other way around. my goal in all of this is to create very docile snakes that are not easily confused when it comes to food vs people. let me know what you think

BIGT FROM F.B. · 07-31-14, 06:56 AM

Everyone has their own ways and opinions. Whatever you and the snakes are comfortable with. Hope the bombardment doesn't start now.

Stewjoe · 07-31-14, 07:24 AM

Place mouse in cage- done.

MDT · 07-31-14, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewjoe

Place mouse in cage- done.

This.....don't over think it...

if you feel there is a "docile" issue, a cage hook is a good option to give a light touch to "let them know" its not feeding time and not to expect a mouse in the cage...

smy_749 · 07-31-14, 08:04 AM

weird.......

Jim Smith · 07-31-14, 08:05 AM

I have been feeding my snakes in tubs outside their cages for the past year or so for all my snakes except one who is a very shy eater. I feed her in her cage and she eats just fine. In fact, I think I'm going to start feeding all of them in their cages. Since I thaw my mice in warm water before feeding still wet them to the snakes, I place a plastic container lid or coaster in the cage to place the mouse on. This just allows the snake(s) to get the mouse without picking up the Aspen bedding I use in their cages.

That said, it's like Big T said, whatever works well for you and make you comfortable is what you should do.

**EL Ziggy** · 07-31-14, 08:35 AM

Different strokes for different folks. Do whatever works best for you. I feed my snakes from tongs in their enclosures. If they don't strike I drop the prey in the enclosure and let the snakes do what they do. So far it's working pretty good.

BIGT FROM F.B. · 07-31-14, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewjoe

Place mouse in cage- done.

Forgot to mention, me too.

Teal · 07-31-14, 09:47 AM

If that's how you like doing it and your snakes handle it well, then it doesn't matter how other people feel about it (:

BIGT FROM F.B. · 07-31-14, 09:49 AM

IMO, you will also see different snakes that act different when feeding time. My Florida Brooks King is the most aggressive snake I've ever seen when he eats. He knows when the mice are near. I don't even have the screen top open and he's already stretched out zooming his head around the screen, looking. He hasn't bitten my hand, (yet), but as soon as I drop the mouse in, he strikes before it hits the bedding.

I may have to tong feed him before long because of this. He even leaps completely in the air giving chase if the mouse escapes the first time. My neighbors ask me to tell them when I feed so they can watch the show.

**millertime89** · 07-31-14, 10:21 AM

Feeding outside of the snake's primary enclosure is unnecessary and based on an outdated idea. All it does is add extra stress to the animal.

Madness420 · 07-31-14, 03:13 PM

thanks for all the comments. i fell like the general concensis is, do what works, feeding in cage is fine, anything else is just added work. i personally enjoy the way i do it, and the whole process takes about 5min so it doesnt bother me as far as added work. and like i said, i like to hold them a bit before i bring them to the food because i know i'll be waiting at least 24hrs to hold them again. i am a bit obsessed with holding them, good thing i have 4 otherwise i might be handling one too much. i do plan to breed one day and i'm sure when i have like 6 adults and 50 babies to feed, i'll probably be tank feeding.

Stewjoe · 07-31-14, 05:14 PM

The problems start with aggressive feeders. My Carpets wouldn't simply crawl out of the feeding bin and let me pick them up. Nearly every one would still be in feeding mode and attacking anything that moves, there's no easy way to get them back into their cage. Also they can smell the rats thawing in the kitchen so even getting them out of their cages would be trouble. Even the ones normally placid will be nipping at the doors as soon as I walk in. Out of my 15 ravenous pythons all but one will snap out of feeding mode with a quick tap of my hook. He is just as nuts inside of his cage as he is after I get him out so I don't see that as an association with feeding in the cage.

IMHO you are more likely to get bitten tub feeding. I tried it when I got my first snake and it resulted in the only two times I have been bitten by my most tame Carpet who now gets fed in his cage and I has never made a move on me since.

And one last point, if you are ever transporting the snake in a tub or placing it in a tub for temporary holding expect it to be looking for food when you go to take it out. Your hand will look as tasty as any mouse. They will associate the tub with food.

Madness420 · 07-31-14, 05:37 PM

i do house my corn snakes together so it would be hard to cage feed. i plan to do my ball pythons in pairs too i just happen to only have one right now.

**millertime89** · 07-31-14, 06:01 PM

You shouldn't house corn snakes together. That's just asking for one to make a meal out of another.