Feeding

AHardShaft · 08-07-15, 02:44 PM

I have been told to feed my sand boa out of his cage or she will start to bite anything that goes in it. If I am to do this, how long after eating can i pick her up and put her back in her cage? I am worried about making her throw up from movement after feeding

**Tsubaki** · 08-07-15, 03:38 PM

This is a urban legend, feed inside the cage. It also does not make sense, because it will mean she would also bite while trying to put her back. Try tap training in stead, touching the snake with a hook or other item before picking it up. Not when it gets food, it will learn it is not getting food when you touch it.

**millertime89** · 08-07-15, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsubaki

This is a urban legend, feed inside the cage. It also does not make sense, because it will mean she would also bite while trying to put her back. Try tap training in stead, touching the snake with a hook or other item before picking it up. Not when it gets food, it will learn it is not getting food when you touch it.

This. There's absolutely no reason to feed out of the enclosure IMO.

AlexCrazy · 08-09-15, 11:30 AM

read about Tap training.. it works with my snake.. i feel so much better taking him out with it

and feeding is much easier.. cos he knows when hes gonna eat..
Like Tsubaki seas.. tap him on the head or rub his neck wen you are going to take him out or anything to do with you there with your hands( i rub Hercules neck cos its gives him less of a fright than doing it on his head.. ha ha) then when im going to feed him i add the catch of placing a divider (so his food wont wonder of to far) and taping his tank.. (#note: i do the food thing.. most people just feed with out any signals but i think they need one

)

bigsnakegirl785 · 08-09-15, 07:09 PM

The only snake I use a hook on is the retic, all my snakes are perfectly capable of telling me from food. Even my retic, but I like her to make up her mind a little faster so I use a hook. Also because of the size she's going to attain.

The only time any of my snakes actually show signs of mistaking me for food is when I'm physically waving a rat/mouse in front of them. And even then I use a tong to feed them and I dangle it above them so all they see is the rat/mouse. Never had a feeding response bite in my life, although I've had a couple defensive bites.

The one thing I don't get when people say this is that apparently opening the enclosure if you feed them in it makes them think they're being fed, but somehow they don't mistake handling time as feeding time feeding out of it? Because you have to, one way or another, pick up the snake and put them in another container.

Then there's also the small chance of a regurge if you handle them right after a meal, which they can do because you're handling too roughly or because they're startled and throw it up to get away. Other snakes are just too shy to eat if they're being disturbed, so feeding out of the enclosure just gives you a snake unwilling to eat due to the stress of moving it. It's also unnecessary work added to the keeper to move the snake, watch it, give it time to lose a feeding response (which can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days), and then try move the snake back into the enclosure as gently as possible. It's way easier to just throw their food in, shut the door, and be done with it.

**Minkness** · 08-09-15, 08:00 PM

Honestly, it depends on the snake. It's false either way in regards to what makes a snake bite just as BSG stated. Could go either way. I don't tap any of mine. I just go in with confidence and they don't bother me. Even after handling my live mice and cleaning their litter I have picked up a snake no problem. I have some that almost seem to prefer eating out of their enclosure and some who wouldn't DREAM of it. The BOs deff get fed in their enclosures since they naturally stress easily, though my little ivor girl also takes meals out of her enclosure no problem while my big male won't even look at food if he's not in his enclosure. 3 of my 5 hoggies can and will eat outside, but 2 won't. One even makes laps of her enclosure hissing and threat displaying before circling back to her meal, then does it again after she eats. My MBKK doesn't care either way. If it's food and un striking distance, it's hers.

I don't believe in absolutes honestly. Every animal and personis different and handle differently. Do what works best for you and your snake. Just pay attention to the snake and read the body language and respect them as an individual.

psychocircus · 08-09-15, 08:14 PM

Agree with everything that has been said. Feed in the cage. When going to handle just give your animal an opportunity to realize you're not food.
Tap/hook training works well. If you can reach for your animal on the end away from the head this works as well. With my larger snakes, I like to feed consistently on one side of the enclosure, but when reaching in for any other reason, I access from the opposite end.

SnakeyJay · 08-10-15, 06:43 AM

Definitely feed inside the enclosure, far less stress for the snake that way..