Reptile & Amphibian Forums

since you guys are the feeding response experts...

does feeding in a separate enclosure really discourage feeding response in a snake's main enclosure?

i don't have any drys yet (on a waiting list, hopefully next summer!) but i have a taiwan beauty that is growing like a damn weed and has a strong feeding response.

he's been cool in his cage so far, but it's getting to the point where he doesn't fit in the tub that i feed him in, so before i buy a big rubbermaid box that i'll only use a couple times a week at most, i wanted to find out if this really helps.

i've also heard that if you always use a hook to get the snake out for handling or cleaning they will associate and know that the hook means they're not getting fed.

I feed all of my snakes in their main enclosures. In my experience, I have noticed no difference between feeding in a seperate enclosure and feeding in the main enclosure.
I would think that if the snake did respond with aggression when you reach in the cage, you could always use a hook and that behavior would probably cease one the snake was out of the cage.
Still, I'm by no means an expert on here. That's just my experience. I do hope it helps.
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Roy Blodgett
Green Man Herpetoculture
royreptile@yahoo.com

1.1 Drymarchon corais
1.1 Pseustes sulphureus
1.1 Masticophis taeniatus taeniatus
0.0.1 Coluber mormon
1.1 Lampropeltis getula californiae (desert phase)
1.0 Boiga dendrophila dendrophila
1.1 Corytophanes cristatus
1.2 Varanus acanthurus brachyurus (Mt.Isa)
2.3 Pogona vitticeps (snow and red/gold)
1.0 Iguana iguana

“All men lie enveloped in whale-lines. All are born with halters round their necks; but it is only when caught in the swift, sudden turn of death, that mortals realize the silent, subtle, ever-present perils of life.”- Herman Melville

thanks. this is one of those things i've heard since i was a kid but never really thought about it or heard about any systematic test.
it's kind of a pain in the neck to transfer him to a box every time cause he's long and spry and very active.

I always feed in the main enclosure. I always use a hook to get the snakes out. I don't ever get bit. Whatever works best for you and your herps.

Doug T