Feed in or out of enclosure?

Pia · 07-22-03, 02:41 PM

I've always fed my bp in her enclosure because at first I didn't know any different. I have since been told it can make snakes more likely to strike at you when you put your hand in and that you should always feed in a separate container. I've had her for 1 1/2 yrs with no problem but should I change the way I do it? Thanks for any input.

Oliverian · 07-22-03, 03:02 PM

I think if its been working for you and you havn't had any problems with it, why change? As long as you don't smell like food when you reach in there, you should be fine. If you change the way you feed now after so long, the snake might be stressed by the change, and it might even stop eating. (though I doubt it.) Hope this helps.
~TR~

burmer · 07-22-03, 03:41 PM

I feed all mine in the enclosure. I've never had a problem with doing it this way. The idea of moving a 13' burm to another spot and then moving her back when she is 10-12 lbs heavier doesn't appeal to me. Some people will say that if you feed in the enclosure they associate you opening it with eating. But in the same respect if you take them out to feed them they will associate picking them up with food. If it's working for you don't change it.

Lisa · 07-22-03, 04:16 PM

we do both, and i do notice some of our snakes are more likely to strike in their enclosure and some don't in regards to the feeding in a seperate cage, except for one snake the rest are housed together and feeding seperatly is to prevent accidents not a feeding responce. but when i do put them in the feeding tubs (each one has their own tub with their name on it) they do go into "feeding mode" and get far more aggressive.
it also depends on the kind of snake. our corns don't go into feeding mode, it's only seen in our boids, the corns just sort of mosey up and eat their prey (heaven for bid they ever had to kill something). the boids (except one) all snatch the prey out of our tongs, don't forget to count your fingers afterwards.

drewlowe · 07-22-03, 04:21 PM

i feed mine out of their cage. But do what works for you.

Pia · 07-22-03, 07:07 PM

Thanks for your help, all. I'll just keep doing what I have been then. Just wanted to make sure I wouldn't create a monster:-)!!!

Invictus · 07-23-03, 03:05 PM

I feed most of mine out of their cage. My BCC is getting a little big and a little scary to be handling after feeding, so I feed him in his enclosure. He's still totally calm when we take him out, so I don't think they associate anything.

SCReptiles · 07-23-03, 03:22 PM

Feeding in and empty box with no litter is a good idea. Does two things, reduces likelihood of a food strike form the cage and prevents the snake from swallowing anything other then the prey. You can buy a locking rubber maid box at wal mart for about $5.

lordkovacs · 07-23-03, 03:27 PM

actually, take a look at my post in the carpet python forum "some thoughts" or something like that. the jist of it is that 5 months ago i did the same thing you did in your forum...ask where to feed the snake. basically, I found that my new Irian Jaya Carpet Python did strike (though never bit) when i put my hand in when it wasn't feeding time. Since, I now have a seperate feed tank (I also do this with my corns). I haven't had any strikes since. hope that helps...
cheers, MIKE

fatboy · 07-23-03, 03:28 PM

Totally up to you if you change your method. I try to feed out of the enclosure because I don't like getting bit. For a while everytime I opened my Red Tail's enclosure he was in strike position, now that I have changed my method he has never appeared aggresive.

reticguy · 07-24-03, 09:19 AM

If a snake can start to associate the opening of their cage door with feeding time, they can also associate being handled with feeding time. After all, large snakes must be handled to get them into the feeding container and handling a large snake when it may get confused differentiating between feeding time and handling time can be anything but safe. I've owned giant constrictors for over a decade now and let's just say that I used to move my big boys out of their home during feedings, but will no longer do so. Emergency rooms and stitches are only so fun. :-(

How do they know it's not feeding time when they live, feed and sleep all at home? Simply tapping their nose lightly with tongs signals to them that it's not feeding time when I open their cage door. The sensation of cold steel sure seems to snap them out of what could be developing into a feeding response. That has worked FAR better than putting myself up close and personal with a large, hungry snake in order to move to a feeding enclosure.

Nathan

RaVeNo888o · 07-24-03, 09:28 AM

wouldnt the smell of prey trigger a feeding response and not the opening of the cage? my cal king is never aggressive when i open the cage, and at times it even takes him a min to realize i have put a mouse in or and dangling one.

Teana · 07-24-03, 07:39 PM

I have 4 adult snakes that I feed while in their enclosure. I have been doing this for 4 years and have never had a problem with getting bit or even getting struck at. When we feed our large Burm we slide the rabbit into her side. When we reach into her enclosure we lightly smack her body. We've been doing this for the 2 years we've had her and have had no problems. Believe me, if she wanted to she could cause a lot of problems.

Colonel SB · 07-24-03, 08:09 PM

I have done both and find no real difference between the two methods. They both work well if done properly but also both can be hazerdous if done incorrectly. I currently feed in cage but with 12" long hemostats.