Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a question about feeding ettiquette. I was told to make sure to feed snakes in a separate feeding box so that they don't associate hands in their enclosure with a feeding strike response. I have used feeding boxes with my corns and bps, but that was before I switched to racks and I now have a much larger collection. It's a pain in the butt to feed with boxes! So my question is this: is it ok to feed in their tubs? Ideally, this is what I would like to do, so I hope the answer is yes. Thanks for any input.
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2.2 Beardies:
0.1 german giant X
1.0 sandfire X
1.1 hypopastel clear nail het leuc., poss. het trans.

2.1 Cornsnakes:
1.0 anery stripe motley
0.1 anery
1.0 ghost

4.5.1 Ball Pythons:
0.4.1 normal
2.0 pastel
0.1 spider
1.0 mojave
1.0 het caramel albino

2.2 Other Pets:
Simon, Cooper--chihuahuas
Cleo--DSH cat
Piper--cockatiel

I have a couple racks and feed in them. ive never had a problem what so ever. I do have one BP that is insane. She is the devil! As soon as the drawer opens she trys to eat your face. im sure its funny as hell to watch me back up because of a BP but she is nuts. Thats just her though. Every thing else in my collecion curls up in a ball when i open the tubs so feeding in the enclosure has never been an issue. for me at least.
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Dave

www.DNReptiles.com
Myspace/DNReptiles
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I think it is just preference. I feed mine in a seperate feeding bin. I do this just to excite them more-cause they know its lunch time and so they won't accidently injest aspen bedding. I don't think all pythons will bite the hand that feeds if you feed them in their tub.
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1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Bearded Dragon
0.1 Midnight Blizard Leopard Gecko
2.1 Corn Snakes (2 Blood Red, 1 Orange Amelanistic)
2.1 Ball Python (2 Normal, 1 Lemon Pastel)

I totaly agree wiyh salemserpent on this point ,with Balls Pythons and some others that arn't prone to bitting and the issue with them eating the subtrate is the maen reason for feeding with a seperate tube or box . Good post . David

IF you move balls half of them may not eat due to being disturbed.....

I feed everything in their tubs.....have done so for 15 years.....

the only snake I ever taught the difference between opening cage to eat and to handle or clean was a big burmese.....that way she knew food was coming or to not attack.......

all I did for this was to open cage when I wanted to handle her and to tap on corner of cage at feeding time....

when opening cage she was usually cool......taps on the cage top at the one end sent her into feed mode.....rabbits would not hit the cage flor......she'd catch them mid-air.......

still had to be careful....they make mistakes and are hungry always........at 12 foot plus snakes tend to hurt a little ....

balls.......when I have been bitten on a feed responce (many times).......I have never had a ball hold on.......they just bite and realize right away to let go........it's not food....

........

,,,,,,,,,,,feed in tubs........faster too
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................................................it's a buyer's market......
......................................too bad I'm sellin'.......

well........

Agreed!...(did hell just freeze over? )

Don't move them before feeding...this may work for alot of snakes(outside feed boxes that is),but not BPs.

Besides,would not feeding an animal outside the cage actually promote aggressive behavior when you don't want it?...Think about it.
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Charles

I agree...don't like to disturb them on feeding day. If you're worried about getting bit...you're more likely to get bit moving them if you've been handling rodents. When I'm feeding I just slip a rat thru a crack...when I'm cleaning I go ahead and take the lid alway off or slide the tub alway out...they're pretty darn smart, they know the difference.
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Dale....dgoins222@yahoo.com

Dude, out of everyone that posts here, I like reading your posts the best. I'm not totally sure why? I read your stuff even when I dont even like the topic.

Keep up the good work!!

Lol..thanks, I think! You're making me blush here. I guess that I'll have to post more often then! (I am afterall still a newbie, and learning is fun!!)
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2.2 Beardies:
0.1 german giant X
1.0 sandfire X
1.1 hypopastel clear nail het leuc., poss. het trans.

2.1 Cornsnakes:
1.0 anery stripe motley
0.1 anery
1.0 ghost

6.9.1 Ball Pythons:
0.7.1 normal
2.0 pastel
0.1 spider
1.0 mojave
1.0 het caramel albino
1.1 66% het pied
1.0 "labyrinth"

2.2 Other Pets:
Simon, Cooper--chihuahuas
Cleo--DSH cat
Piper--cockatiel

Uhh...Actually, I was talking about the guy with the run on sentences. But yours are real good too.

Lol, well I wasn't 100% sure, but hey, you gotta take a chance, right? I guess now I'm red from embarrasment! Hehe.
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2.2 Beardies:
0.1 german giant X
1.0 sandfire X
1.1 hypopastel clear nail het leuc., poss. het trans.

2.1 Cornsnakes:
1.0 anery stripe motley
0.1 anery
1.0 ghost

6.9.1 Ball Pythons:
0.7.1 normal
2.0 pastel
0.1 spider
1.0 mojave
1.0 het caramel albino
1.1 66% het pied
1.0 "labyrinth"

2.2 Other Pets:
Simon, Cooper--chihuahuas
Cleo--DSH cat
Piper--cockatiel

funny.......actually......90% of the time I get yelled at and harrased in here only..and the people that like a post email to me they like it....they never say it in public.....

anyways.......balls suck if you disturb them.......move them....take them to a show.......actually I have 2 that stop eating for a month at least when they travel......yet....you can take a non-feeding baby to shows and get them to start eating from the bumpy travel......balls are wierd.....

........balls like to be left alone in a smaller enclosure with slightly moist substrate and thrown a food item twice a week......and never handled.......yet bred from time to time throughout the winter months...*(males like to breed alot more often).....

...good luck
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................................................it's a buyer's market......
......................................too bad I'm sellin'.......

well........

I like reading your posts as well.. normally cracks me up.
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Morph Evolutions
www.morphevolutions.com

I had the same issue and your right its a pain in a large collection to feed in seperate tubs. What works for me is this.........I feed most of my balls frozen thawed and aspen can be a problem. I put the frozen in a papersack and leave in the fridge overnight to thaw . Then I leave them for a half hour on the heat tape. This eliminates moisture for the aspen to stick to. Then I place a paper towen in the tub for them to feed on. Most of the time they stay on the towel .

I agree it is way too crazy to pull your snakes to feed outside of the cages. And i also dont agree with moving balls before being fed. They can develop a feeding response, certain snakes will act different ways. I normally get bit about 2-3 times a week when feeding or cleaning but i am also careless now, b.c i have grown use to it... i guess you get numb..lol.. But i have never had a problem with feeding in cages, besides i think 90% of my balls are just plain mean without the whole feeding response thing added in...
Good luck with your growing collection...