The Always Asked Question

[Poleock]

Ok on my Ball Python forum I asked this question and got a wide variety of answer well there is only 2 answers yes or no but I mean reasons. Do you feed your boas in there enclosure or in a seperate tank or tub ?

[Pandorasdad]

Re: The Always Asked Question

You're gonna get a lot of different answers here, too. Some do, some don't.

I used to feed in a separate tub. I don't anymore. I have not noticed and difference in the docility of my adult female boa. My rat snake has always been cantankerous, so that didn't change either. I have yet to feed my new BP, but I just got him.

[Death_ADDER]

Re: The Always Asked Question

I find it way easier to feed inside the cage when you have a big collection. I also have never had any snake mistake me for food.

Steve

[clsutt29]

Re: The Always Asked Question

I feed all my snakes in there own enclosure. For one when you get a big collection it is just too much work to use a seperate tub for feeding. I also dont think it serves any purpose other than to make extra work. I have seen more people get bit from a feeding response while moving there snakes to and from. If you handle your snakes enough and dont just open there cage to feed they will not expect food as soon as you open the cage.

[timct110]

Re: The Always Asked Question

Well here is my answer I feed all my snakes out of there tubs. The only reason why somebody should have to feed there snakes in there encloser's is if they have too many snakes to take the time and take each one out and put it in a box or something.

[dangles]

Re: The Always Asked Question

this is a fairly common question for newer keepers, and like sean said, you're gonna get both answers from alot of people.

the long and the short of it is,

if you have just a couple snakes, it's easy to feed out. no harm done. no real benefit gained.

but once your collection grows (more than about 6 snakes or so), feeding becomes a HUGE chore if you feed out. it's very impractical. think about all the people out there who breed and have 20, 30, 50, 100, 1000 snakes. think they feed out? they don't.

like sean, i began feeding out, then scrapped it when my collection grew beyond 6. i have noticed NO differences.

rather than feeding directly from tongs to mouth, many people will just set the rat on the ground (of the cage) and let the snake get to it when it comes across it. it's usually gone by morning, and you have almost 0 chance of getting tagged.

as long as you regularly interact with the snake in and out of its cage on non-feeding days, there will be no problems.

hope that helped

[dangles]

Re: The Always Asked Question

I also dont think it serves any purpose other than to make extra work. I have seen more people get bit from a feeding response while moving there snakes to and from.

very well put

in fact, that's one of the only times i've been tagged

[Fireproof]

Re: The Always Asked Question

Well here is my answer I feed all my snakes out of there tubs. The only reason why somebody should have to feed there snakes in there encloser's is if they have too many snakes to take the time and take each one out and put it in a box or something.

I disagree. A very valid reason to feed inside the enclosures is to avoid having to move them soon after feeding and when they are still in "feeding response" mode. Especially with large snakes (6-foot boas or large burms, etc) - it's a good way to get bit. It's also stressful for the snakes when they just want to be left alone to digest their food.

[Pandorasdad]

Re: The Always Asked Question

Well here is my answer I feed all my snakes out of there tubs. The only reason why somebody should have to feed there snakes in there encloser's is if they have too many snakes to take the time and take each one out and put it in a box or something.

I can't say a agree with that statement. I have three snakes. That is by no means a large collection. I don't feed in separate containers anymore because I can not discern any benefits from doing so. It has nothing to do with the number of snakes that I have. I have the time to do it, not the inclination.

At the end of the day, you alway do what works best for you and your snakes. It's real hard to make an absolute statement like that. Situations change.

[timct110]

Re: The Always Asked Question

Ok sorry I take back what I said about the ONLY REASON I believe that if you can take them out and feed them and give them time to rest and digest their food then you can be fine I am up to 7 snakes and I'm still able to take them out and feed them out of their tubs. But its up to you I have been thinking about switching to feeding them inside there tubs but I have yet to switch over to F/T I'm still knocking my rats out cause each time I feed F/T they squeeze too hard and pop the rat and it just looks disgusting and then I have to give them a bath after feeding and that's just more moving them after I feed them which I hate doing as it is. After reading what you guys wrote I believe I'm going to switch to feeding inside their tubs.

[Serpentes Inc.]

Re: The Always Asked Question

I think a lot of the decisions on this involves taking into account the substrate being used. I use aspen for my cages so, I feed my snakes in separate feeding tubs. To me, feeding them in the cage isn't worth the risk of impaction. I also use this time to clean cages and change the water. I'm sorry but, I also don't buy into the snakes being stressed out from being moved from one container to the other (unless your snake is mean tempered to begin with). I have never had a regurge from this. In truth, my snakes are more mellow after they eat. I do wait about 10 min after they finish eating to move them back into the cage to make sure the feeding frenzy is over. If you are using newspaper, then by all means feed them in the tub if you want. For aggressive snakes, newspaper and in cage feeding my be your best bet.

There are a lot of different opinions on this topic. Choose which option you think is best for you and your snake(s).

*My big girls pop there rats often too. I just get a damp paper towel and wipe them off as they are sliding back into their cages. (They slither in on their own once their head is in the cage.)

[pookiebuttons]

Re: The Always Asked Question

At the moment I only own 6 snakes so I feed them outside their tubs. I like to take them all out and put them on top of the tubs and feed them at the same time, it's fun! My boyfriend walks in the room and looks at me like I am crazy nut snake lady! But someday if I have a larger collection I'm sure I will change to feeding in the tubs. Feeding 6 snakes is even time consuming when done outside of the tubs. I don't do it for behavioral issues, I just do it because it's fun to watch them eat and take photos. If any behavioral issues were caused by feeding in the tubs I imagine it would depend on the snake, they all have different personalities.

[clsutt29]

Re: The Always Asked Question

At the moment I only own 6 snakes so I feed them outside their tubs. I like to take them all out and put them on top of the tubs and feed them at the same time, it's fun! My boyfriend walks in the room and looks at me like I am crazy nut snake lady!

Your snakes may be small enough to do that now but this is still a very dangerous scenario for you and your snakes. I do not recommend anyone do this. When they get large you are putting yourself and your other snakes in harms way.

[b3napoleon]

Re: The Always Asked Question

I have always fed my snakes in their normal enclosure. I know many people who have fed in a different tub, and I didn't see any benefit to it. They got bit multiple times trying to handle a snake while it was still in feeding mode, they made extra work for themselves and they ended up going back to feeding in the normal enclosure. IMO the only reason to feed in a seperate tub is if you use aspen and don't want the snake to swallow it.

[Pandorasdad]

Re: The Always Asked Question

I think a lot of the decisions on this involves taking into account the substrate being used. I use aspen for my cages so, I feed my snakes in separate feeding tubs. To me, feeding them in the cage isn't worth the risk of impaction.

I use aspen as well, but a finely shredded aspen. They don't seem to ever swallow it.