Suggestions?

[kahaj]

I went to feed Martok last night & as I was opening his feedbox, he lashed out at me. I've been thinking and figured out that I had gotten too lax and probably brought this on myself. For one, I usually put supper in the warm water for twenty minutes and get Martok out to handle him during this. Before I put the rat in hot water, I put him in his feedbox to acclimate for that five minutes. Last night, I was busy and just got him out the five that his food was in the hot water, dropped him into the feedbox, and returned not two minutes later with supper. As I started to open the box, he saw me & came forth (at me, the food, whatever).

Now he's the type of guy who likes to stalk for a while before just starting to munch. So we usually end up leaving him in the feedbox overnight & by morning he's normally eaten. (which was the case last night) In order to keep him warm overnight, I always put the feedbox back into his normal enclosure, push the top to & put his nightlight back atop. I started thinking: With it being in his enclosure (but actually inside a sterolite) could it be problematic that he's in a clear sterolite? Should it be a colored one? I've always used the clear ones so that I know when my snake(s) have eaten & are ready to go home. So, what's everyone's thoughts?

[SaKSTa]

Re: Suggestions?

I would use a colored one

[ClayEnglish]

Re: Suggestions?

Well, I noticed right away that my boas became conditioned to associate the feeding containers with "Where's my rat?"

After that point, I am just very careful at feeding time. They really do seem to get ready once they are placed in the feeding box.

Maybe just having everything ready, like you were saying, and try to feed the item immediately after you have placed him in the feeding box. That is normally how I do it. There is no doubt that they can smell/taste the rat that is in the same room. My boas know it is feeding time when I bring that big bucket of warm thawed rats in the building.

[kahaj]

Re: Suggestions?

Clay, do you think a colored container would be better than the clear I've been using? And, since he stays in his feedbox all night, is there something I can do besides putting it into this enclosure to ensure his staying warm?

[ClayEnglish]

Re: Suggestions?

Yes... I have always fed in colored containers, just because I am in the same room with them and I think it is somewhat distracting to them with me walking around them while they are trying to eat, and the colored ones block all that out. If you feed in clear ones just do so in another room, where you can feed and leave them alone for an hour or so.

Also the best way to heat outside of the enclosure is to use a human heat pad, available at any walmart, kmart, target for 14 or 15 bucks. You can lay the rubbermaid type container directly on the heat pad, turned on low heat and it will be perfect.

My snake building is kept at an optimal 80 degrees, so when I have the boas out, they are in a near perfect temp anyway so I do not provide any external heat source during feeding.

Hope this helps

[king_ding_a_ling]

Re: Suggestions?

Everytime I feed my Python and Boa,I dont leave them in there feed box all night.Is this wrong?They usually eat and 30 minutes later I put them back in there cage....

[Josh]

Re: Suggestions?

You only need to leave them in their feeding tub for about a hour or so after it eats. After you but it back in its normal enclosure I would not mess with him or her for about 48hrs.


Josh

[kahaj]

Re: Suggestions?

Alright, I'll pick up a colored one before his next feeding. Just out of curiosity, when I pick up the lid to see if he's eaten or not, how apt is he to let me know right quick if he's still busy?

[Josh]

Re: Suggestions?

If the snake is busy eating it will not try to get you with a rat in its mouth. 99% of the time when a snake is bites someone it has mistaking you for its food. Wash your hand well after you place its meal in the tub and its not going to get you.

[JUGGALOFWB]

Re: Suggestions?

Remember, depending on what kind of rubbermaid/serilite ext..... container you use, some do need air holes (a dremel works great ) If your feeding larger herps in larger rubbermaids (30-40 gallon or larger) another way of keeping herps warm all night is cutting a hole in the top (again a dremel will cut work load in half) and screening it with 1/2" galvinized screening. The easiest and safest way I've found to attach the screen to the lid is zipties, you don't have to fool with any hazardous adhesives that can be detremental to your snake, and zipties are fast and easy. then you have a screened hole in the top you can use a heat lamp in. remember if your using it for overnight use a night bulb, not a day. -Juggalo