As you've figured from the responses you've received, it's all about conditioning. My boa cage has a top door for feeding and a front door that opens wide. However, he's getting a new AP cage, so that will all change. When I first got my Burm at 11ft, I fed him outside because we were soaking him for mites, cleaning his cage, he hadn't been fed in a month, and we didn't have a plan for feeding him anyway. Funny story, but not a good experience. It's not fun to get an 11ft snake back into his enclosure after eating. My husband and I ended up wrapping him in a comforter. (slapping forehead) I use the same hook method on him that I use on my boa...hooks are for handling not feeding. My little gator is clicker trained and he knows what feeding time is...saves fingers. We condition our tegus as well. The only snake I feed in a separate box are my corn snakes because they are small and easy to handle.

[ Show Entire Thread ]