The great feeding debate. Out or in the in Enclosure

[Derek1]

Curious on what y'all do and thinking about it. I was a out of enclosure feeder, but switched to feeding in for the most part, no real reason why. They just seem more comfortable and happy. Never been bit or thought as food yet, and I handle my snakes regularly.

What do y'all do?

[Shann]

I don't see any real benefit to feeding outside of the enclosure. I don't buy that a snake will become "aggressive" because they are fed in the enclosure. The only argument I can understand in favor of feeding outside is to avoid substrate ingestion. But if you're that concerned about it, it's easy to lay down a plastic placemat. And I have no desire to move a six foot boa in feeding mode to a separate enclosure and back. In fact that increases my chance of being bitten. Or making a more shy snake too stressed to eat. I just don't see the point, personally.

[NewHerp293]

I fed in a separate enclosure when i first got my snake because i had read so much about "tub association" with being fed. I realized it was much better to just feed in the enclosure when i started feeding 3+ pinkies and i went to take my little girl out of her feeding tub and she swung her head around towards my fingers....literally the only sign of "aggression" ever shown. Ive had a few feeds now within her enclosure and she is still never nippy when i go to take her out. So i am forever sold on feeding inside the enclosure!

[dave himself]

We feed in the viv as most of our snakes are pretty big. We've tap trained ours so they know when it's food coming into the viv or not

[David VB]

Inside. Faster, easier and more fun (in a natural setup). Even feed 2 snakes in one enclosure without problems (gtp).

[bigsnakegirl785]

I also see no benefit to feeding out of the enclosure. When I first got my boa constrictor, and when I first joined this forum, I was advised to feed separately. I did so for maybe a year and a half before I figured that maybe it was kinda pointless, and when some others pointed out the same thing I stopped.

Now I just thaw out the food, either set it in the enclosure or wave it in front of them, and then leave. Most of the time they drag their food into their hide to eat in privacy. It's a lot easier on me and on them, so I see no reason to begin separate feeding again.

I'm also worried about damaging their skeleton or internal organs by moving them with a meal in their stomach, and there's always the chance of a regurge which is really hard on their bodies.

[Tsubaki]

When i first started keeping snakes, back in 97' i think it was.. I fed outside the tub, this was the common practice all around the country back then. I was just a kid completely new to reptiles, i wasn't going to argue with people who had experience. I only did it for a while, then i started putting a plate with the food inside. I did not believe it would make them that much meaner, as i already had to touch them with something first to assure them i wasn't food.. So if they are already expecting food, why would it make a difference? Turned out i was right. The myth of food 'aggression' being caused by feeding inside a tub, is still a very popular myth around here though.

I used the plate because of the fear of substrate being eaten, was/is poured in your head by the community. Up unto the point where they had sticky warning topics about it, i personally think if substrate being eaten causes a problem the animal probably has some underlying issue (like dehydration). I would however be careful with unnaturally sharp beddings.. I did see a snake that had a piece of hemp stuck in his gums, that looked awfully painful!

Anyway i stopped using the plate when i watched a video of a retic in the wild, eating a not so very fresh carcass that was smeared with dirt, leaves, and .. well goo of sorts. I was like well, then why on earth would a bit of cocopeat matter? Hell why would anything matter if they can eat sh*t like that? Obviously not going to try feeding anything close to spoiled/rotten.. But i seriously don't think twice about refreezing 15,- feeder rabbits or whatever. Into the freezer they go, and then hope they don't thaw out too messy, bellies ripping open is very gross...

I did not have any snakes that were aggressive from being fed inside, i did own my fair share of *******'s though. But that had nothing to do with food, my heart just goes out to the bad boys (To the great frustration of my so He does Not like to handle nippy snakes, so i always have to handle the front ends) And i never had any problems with snakes eating substrate, i do always use natural substrates or newspaper for quarantine (papers wouldn't get eaten obviously)

[Jim Smith]

I also started by feeding my snakes outside their enclosure for the same reasons stated above. I have a couple of "shy" feeders who do not like feeding outside their enclosures so I started feeding them inside. I thaw my mice in warm water and feed them wet, so I place the mice on small dishes to keep them off of the substrate (sani-chips) since it sticks to the wet fur. The snakes started to eat more readily with much less stress with no change in temperament. I now feed all of my snakes inside the enclosure which is easier on both me and the snakes. No big debate here, just a preference based on what I've learned here on sSNAKESs and personal experience.

[Tsubaki]

If you do not want to feed them wet, you could always thaw them inside a small plastic bag thats what i do, but more because i don't like all the dripping.

[sharthun]

Originally Posted by Tsubaki

If you do not want to feed them wet, you could always thaw them inside a small plastic bag thats what i do, but more because i don't like all the dripping.

I use the plastic bag thawing technique as wel,l and feed inside the enclosures. I also use the smaller sani chips. No issues with substrate ingestion. Even if you place the prey on a plate they usually drag it all over anyway.

[reptiledude987]

I typically feed inside enclosure and always have. I've never had agression issuses due to it except for my Nile Monitor whos always a mean prick no matter what lol. The only time i remove an animal for a feeding is when I have multiple housed together just to avoid the possibility of one finishing quickly and deciding they want more. Has anyone ever had that problem with multiple animals together?

[Mad Max]

I feed inside my snake's carpeted enclosure. He only gets food aggressive when he smells rodent.

[amousley1]

All of our reptiles are fed in their enclosures. We've not had any aggression issues as the snakes are all hook trained and are relatively well behaved.

[Tsubaki]

Originally Posted by reptiledude987

I typically feed inside enclosure and always have. I've never had agression issuses due to it except for my Nile Monitor whos always a mean prick no matter what lol. The only time i remove an animal for a feeding is when I have multiple housed together just to avoid the possibility of one finishing quickly and deciding they want more. Has anyone ever had that problem with multiple animals together?

That is one of the many reasons i always advise against housing animals together

[amousley1]

Originally Posted by Tsubaki

That is one of the many reasons i always advise against housing animals together

Agreed. We also do not house or plan on housing any reptiles together (unless for breeding purposes).