Reptile & Amphibian Forums

1.Is it best to take the snake out of the cage to feed it or feed it in the tank?
2.When you go to take them out of the cage with a sliding glass front is it best to use a snake hook or just reach in there?
Thanks Steve
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Owner of:
0.1 Red Tail Boa,
1.0 Red Tail Boa,
0.1 Reticulated Python,
0.1 Green Burmese Python,
1.0 Bearded Dragon,
0.1 Leopard Gecko

1) Feed in thh enclosure always. Handling after a meal can endanger a snake, especially as the prey gets larger. Intestines and stomach walls can be punctured. Also they don't always turn off their feeding response after feeding and you are placing yourself in a good position to be tagged and constricted.
2) Condition them to a hook by gently touching them beneath the chin when they are going to be handled. It is a way for them to learn not to expect food. You don't have to drag them out by a hook which they may not like. By simply reaching in without cueing them first with a hook, you are introducing both warmth and movement into the territory of a predator.
Hope that helps,
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Marcia Pimentel
Tango River Reptiles
GiantFeeders

You will get mixed responses, regarding your first question. I feed my snakes within their enclosures. I handle them on a regular basis, so they haven't associated my hand as food : )
I just find it a pain to feed in a separate enclosure if you have an extensive collection.

I normally use a hook for my larger pythons. For the babies, I carefully pick them up with my hands.

vj

If your talking about retics as I am assuming you are since this is in the retic forum, then definitely feed inside the enclosure. Once they reach adult size feeding outside of their enclosure can not only be a pain in the ass but also dangerous. Most retics feeding response's are insane and you don't want to have to deal with an adult retic in feeding mode outside of it's enclosure unless you absolutely have to.

It's a good practice (at least in my opinion) to hook train retics from babies. Whenever you get into the enclosure for any reason at all besides feeding touch the retic with a hook. When you go to feed him never let him see a hook. Soon he will recognize that when touched with a hook it is not feeding time.

This is what I do and it seems to work very well.
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Bill

I agree with the other posts so far.

1. Hooks before handling, establish a routine,
2. Feed in the cage for snake and handler safety. Much easier when dealing with large "turned on" adults.

Good luck,
Josh.