Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i fed wolfgang just now for the first time!

he was all hidden from me under newsprint when i opened the door to his cage. i slid in the mouse and waited...and SLAM!---right on the friggin head!! then he stuffed it down like Oprah and it was gone in no time!!
then he was looking around all tough afterward, like he could eat 10 more (like Oprah)

thanks for sharing the fun with us!

the pix came out too dark, so i cant show you guys...next time
-----
1.0 ball python "wolfgang"

That is wonderful to hear. It is a big stress reliever when a snake eats for the first time. Though I may suggest feeding him in a seperate feeding box. I just use a large tupperware container.

What happens the pythons get accustomed to feeding in these. If you feed them in their cages they will become accustomed to that. This can lead to problems handling the snake when they are larger and stronger.

Thats not necessarily true. If you also open the cage to clean and handle the snake, they wont just assume its always feeding time when it is opened. I feed everyone in their cage and until they smell mouse, they are rather indifferent.

ep
-----
Occupants not paying rent:
1.1. balls
1.1 corns
1 everglades rat
1 w. hognose
1 bearded dragon
2.1 cats

It is true that the snake won't always assume its feeding. Though it is good for a snake to learn when and where feeding time is. This isn't that big an issue with smaller snakes but can lead to issues with larger ones.

It is a good practice to have a seperate feeding tank. Not to mention it is more sanitary, as rodents often urinate or defacate while being constricted. Also it can lead to the snake being injured if a rodent is left in its cage too long and the snake is not interested at that time.

I was wondering if you thought that maybe Bob Clark should remove his snake "Fluffy" from it's cage before feeding and return him after feeding?

http://bobclark.com/news.asp?id=114

Jeff
-----
21.21 Ball Python
1.0 Het Piebald Ball Python
4.4 Jungle Carpet Python
1.1 Ivory Jungle Carpet Pythons
2.2 Centrilian Carpet Python
1.1 Irian Jaya Carpet Python
1.1.6 Jayapura Green Tree Python
1.1 Kofiau Island Green Tree Pythons
1.1 Columbian Boa
2.1 California Kingsnake
3.2 Cats
0.1 German Shepard
0.0.3 Eastern Painted Turtle
1.0 Mouse "He is our friend NOT FOOD"

LOL. Now that would be interesting. He would need an entire room. That would be fun to watch!

The idea that is a good idea to feed in a seperate enclosure is right up there with "balls require constant humidity in the 60% range" (among others). The fact is, this practice is just something someone somewhere thought was probably a good idea (and then passed on down the line). It is simply not borne out of any real science. Snake feeding is triggered by visual, odor and thermal cues (some data suggests CO2, vibration may also be cues in some species)...location is no issue whatsoever.

To the poster who advocates feeding in a seperate enclosure, that's fine...do what works for you. The fact is though, it certainly not necessary, and for many fussy feeding BPs, probably a bad idea. New environment = more stress = less likely to feed.

Finally, if you follow the logic....feeding in the enclosure = a feeding resonse every time the cage is opened. Well then, if you move the snake to feed, wouldn't it follow that you would get a feeding response every time you move it? (pausing as lightbulbs go off everywhere)

By guys....just hit my "feed in another enclosure" threshhold.

I see your point and it all makes good sense! Do you agree with the fact that feeding in a seperate container can cut down the chance that the snake can get substrate in him and cause impaction tho? Thats my biggest fear!
-----
Mike & Wendy

2.0.0 Siberian husky, Jackrussel/schitzu
0.0.1 Ball Python
1.0.1 Leopard Gecko
4.0.0 Beta's
3.1.0 Future Herper's

You are correct. If you feed in another enclosure with no substrate, you not only cut down on the chance of impaction, you get rid of it completely. Its not that its a bad idea or anything, its a personal choice. I just figure that balls in the wild arent getting their food served on a plate, and they have been around for millions of years. Since you only have one snake (im sure youll be getting more soon ) you could watch it to make sure that it doesnt get anything in its mouth. If some substrate gets in its mouth you could then pull it out. And lastly, from my own experience, I used to keep 2 balls together and would feed them in a seperate enlcosure so they wouldnt go after the same mouse. I noticed that once they ate they were in a feeding mode and were more aggressive (for a ball) when I went to put them back in their regular enclosure. Ultimately, its what you feel comfortable with. While we are on the subject of impaction, what do you keep your gecko on?

ep
-----
Occupants not paying rent:
1.1. balls
1.1 corns
1 everglades rat
1 w. hognose
1 bearded dragon
2.1 cats

Muahahah!!!! Your probablly right i will get one more possibly in the future but Im not really planning on it. They are awesome creatures and I have definitly fallen under the spell!

Our 2 leos are kept on 2 different subs right now. We have a sub-adult that is kept on slate tiles with rock formations and all kinds of fun stuff.
We also have a younger one, about 3 months old and he is kept on shelf liner as is our baby beardie. The two babies will soon be upgraded to slate tiles aswell, and a sand box in the future for the beardie.
-----
Mike & Wendy

2.0.0 Siberian husky, Jackrussel/schitzu
0.0.1 Ball Python
1.0.1 Leopard Gecko
4.0.0 Beta's
3.1.0 Future Herper's

Yeah, obviously that would remove the chance of getting any substrate inside the animal. What substrate are you using? I'm now exclusively on paper, but back when I had the entire collection on aspen I saw a ton of the stuff get eaten. It never caused an impaction. You figure if the snake can digest bone and hair, it can digest a little wood. What it did do (one of the many reasons I switched), was ocasionally get stuck in the mouth area. About once or twice a year I'd find myself tweezing out little bits of aspen from a python mouth. You gotta love newspaper. Its not the prettiest, but its easy, safe, and free....

could make you disappear right? And there is nothing you can do to stop it.
Remember when she said something about the cattle industry? And Texas got all up in arms and sued her. Remember the outcome. She won, and all those stupid bumper stickers that say "dont mess with Texas" now must legally say "dont mess with Oprah".

ep
-----
Occupants not paying rent:
1.1. balls
1.1 corns
1 everglades rat
1 w. hognose
1 bearded dragon
2.1 cats

So many views on where we should feed our pythons! lol I feed mine in a seperate container just for the impaction side of it. If you feed yours in its cage and you dont want to worry about getting struck when you reach in while you dont have a meal or even just in general when your reaching in to handle it etc, try putting on a pair of gloves. After you pick him up and you have him out of the cage take the gloves off and then handle him. Gloves take the heat factor away so less chance your snake will try and strike at you. Just a tip i picked up from proexotics. I dont practice it but hey it sounds like a good safe thing to try es[pically with bigger snakes!
-----
Mike & Wendy

2.0.0 Siberian husky, Jackrussel/schitzu
0.0.1 Ball Python
1.0.1 Leopard Gecko
4.0.0 Beta's
3.1.0 Future Herper's

yeah- i know, oprah RUNS the free world. i think thats why they make fun of her on south park so much...
-----
1.0 ball python "wolfgang"