I have kept constrictors all my life including the big ones: True retail BCC, burms, retics, and green anacondas-all very tame and easy to handle. Early on I fed outside the cage and that was the period of my life when I got bit on a regular basis all the time. When I started feeding inside the cage the biting stopped. Think I have taken about 3 bites in the last 12 years and they were my fault.

Feeding outside the cage stresses the snake when moved. With large constrictors it is more than dangerous as they hold onto the feeding response for up to 2 days. Feeding a snake outside of the cage teaches a snake that it may eat every time it is taken out. I want my snakes to think they will NEVER eat when taken out. It does not make them more tame in outside feeding. Snakes are territorial and may just bite no matter where fed. Everytime I open the cage for anything but feeding I touch the snake on the nose with a snake hook except when feeding, then they never even see a hook. The snake soon learns the hook means"no food is coiming" and they can be easily taken out.

I think what happenend here is with the lights low and being taken out a little feeding response kicked in. Give feeding in the cage some serious thought. It is much better for you and the snakes and the more modern recommended method. Best of luck for the New Year. Bill
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...three years ago it was just another snake cult...
The Retic is King.
Anacondas-the other Dark Side.
Afrocks-the dark side of the Dark Side.

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