My opinions on this subject vary and are a little paradoxical. While I completely agree with Rob that it is the best, safest, easiest and fastest to feed inside the cage,.... I also don't think that there aren't exceptions. I feel that in terms of advice for novice burmese keepers or "newbies" with their first burm or retic that this is certainly the most fitting, 'cookie cutter' answer to the oft asked question, "should I feed in or out of the cage." But I certainly would not email Dave Barker and tell him that he should only feed inside the cages. I would think that with his vast experience that he could probably safely feed his burms (if he still has any) anywhere he chose. So I do indeed feel that there are exceptions to this and that the main one is that there is a lot of leeway with more experience in the equation. I know that I can walk into any given python room right now and feed a big girl outside of the cage and do it safely and without any danger to myself or others. But I don't suggest that anyone with less than considerable experience do this.



Now, to answer your question and to try to lend a little insight into this particular subject: I don't think it was so much the "opening of the cage", so much as the actual process of removing the python to eat elsewhere. The snake may begin to associate being moved or held with being fed and in the heightened anticipation of a meal may inadvertently harm the keeper. Then there is also the simple fact that burms are often not completely satisfied with a single meal and may have additional feeding responses after having eaten when it is time to be returned to the cage. Some may say that the burm could get sick, but I don't think this is a consideration until the digestive process is well underway and there is some decomposition of the meal. And the most important con against feeding outside the cage is,.. why? Why even bother feeding somewhere else. Just keep it simple, feed in the cage and don't even take the additional risks associated with feeding outside.





>>Hi Rob...Im very interested in your reasoning as to why its better to feed inside the cage as opposed to feeding in a seperate enclosure to avoid the snake associating the cage opening with "feeding time".
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"If I had 365 enemies it would only take a year out of my life to settle all scores." Mia Miselfani

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