Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We don't feed our snakes in their enclosures, and it's time to upgrade to a bigger feed tank. We are currently using a plastic storage container, the largest one we were able to find. But it's no longer big enough. We are having problems finding something size wise to accommodate a 7ft snake. We were thinking about one of the Christmas Tree storage boxes, but not sure if that's going to do the job either.

Anyone have any suggestions, other than building one? Has anyone gotten creative and can share the idea? Thanks.

don't use feed tanks

That's left over advice from the old days! Feed 'em in the cage, UNLESS... you house multiple boas in one cage. Even then, they should be separated for a few days afterward so you'd need a separate cage for them anyway. So, put them in their usual cage, then feed.

jb
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What's written above is purely my opinion. In fact, MOST of what you read on the internet is someone's opinion. Don't take it too seriously

Jonathan Brady
DeviantConstrictors.com
Deviant Constrictors picturetrail

Feeding in another cage makes no sense.
The reasoning behind it used to be that the snake would associate your hand going in the cage with food.

It makes no sense cause you eventually need to move the snake from the feeding enclosure back to its home. So why would he not associate your hand than with another meal especially after just eating. Not to mention the undue stress you are causing your snake by moving it with a full stomach each time, even if it is briefly.

As long as you are constantly in the enclosure for not only feedings, but water changes, handling, photos, spot cleaning, misting or just plain observing they will not associate every cage opening with a meal
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www.BetterBoa.com

40 Bci's
3.3 Corn snakes

I have to agree with JB on this one. Its old advice that ive found is not needed. good luck

Thanks everyone for the advise. We prefer to feed outside of the enclosure, while it may be outdated, it has worked for us for many years and would prefer to stay that way as long as we have no problems. In six or seven years, we've had no bites during feeding and only one regurgitate.

The biggest thing is, while our boa is fed prekill, I'm mostly searching for the feed tank for our snakes that still eat live. Yes, we know, we know. We take all the proper precautions to limit injury to the snake. They are never left alone. But some of our snakes are up in years and won't convert.

Certainly do what's best for you.

I've always found bites to be more likely when moving a boa back into its enclosure after a meal. The smell is still in the air and they are DEFINITELY in "prey mode". A warm hand can easily be mistaken for a warm meal.

Like someone else mentioned, I use something to snap my boas out of food mode if they have that posture when it's not feeding time. I just reach in with a snake hook and touch them on the head with it. That usually works. If not, I use the hook to push their body back and that gets them crawling around and we're good to go. I'm sure you know, but always pick up the boa from the back of the body, at about the 2/3 mark of the body, drag that part out of the cage and when you get to the front 1/3 mark, use the other hand to support. I've yet to receive a bite, a strike, or even a hiss in over 10 years of keeping boas using that method.

As for those that won't convert to p/k, it's a RARE boa that won't. Based on the words in your paragraph, it seems you have 1 boa, and a group of other snakes, is that right? And some in the group won't convert? If that's not the case and they are boas, don't hesitate to let them go several meals, even months without live food (especially as sub-adults or adults). They'll eventually take f/t. The most I ever had to go was 4 weeks and they were ready to strike and wrap ANYTHING that moved! Many snakes are opportunistic feeders in nature, and will eat prey items that are recently dead and not rotting. Much like the feed tank, the idea that boas won't convert to F/T or p/k is left over from the old mentality in herpetoculture.

Also, how often are you feeding? Sometimes, boas will refuse food, especially f/t if they are fed too often. But if it's live, they feel they have to kill it to protect themselves and then the natural drive to consume it kicks in. This isn't often the case as most boas will literally eat themselves to death - but it is sometimes.

jb
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What's written above is purely my opinion. In fact, MOST of what you read on the internet is someone's opinion. Don't take it too seriously

Jonathan Brady
DeviantConstrictors.com
Deviant Constrictors picturetrail

Thanks Jonathan, I'm sure some of those tips will come in handy as he gets older. He's only about a little over a year old (I assume), so when he gets bigger we will keep those tips in mind.

It's not just a matter of what works for us, its what works for our snakes. What keeps them healthy, happy and active. Most of our snakes came to us malnourished, sick and mite infested. We struggled with each of those snakes, trying to help increase their chances of survival.

Yes, the feed tank search is really for our jcp x diamond, but I double posted in the carpet python forum and here, to double my chances on advise. But eventually the boa will need it as well.

We do keep multiple species. We have seven balls (three of which hatched in September and I need to find forever homes for), one jcp x diamond python, a redtail (supposedly anyway) and just added a month old Brazilian rainbow boa.

One of balls is around ten years old and she has no interest in prekill. And with her bad history of eating, we won't take the chance of holding out live prey in hopes she'll eat something else. Two of our other balls are the same way, they are six and seven and will not mess with prekill. Nor will our jcp, but for him I think he just likes the hunt way too much. After he's done, he'll search the feed tank for more before he'll eat.

The boa is already on prekill. He was a rescue, and so weak when we got him we had to kill the fuzzies so he could eat them. He didn't have the strength to do it himself. So as time when on, we stuck with it. The baby balls and the brb are on fuzzies, but as the meals get bigger we'll probably go to prekill.

My husband does a similar thing with our jcp x diamond. Any slight hesitation when dealing with him earns my husband a bite when it comes to being removed from his enclosure. He's extremely territorial as most of them are. Now, when he opens his enclosure, he immediately puts his hand, palm out in the snakes face, letting him know that he's going to pick him up. Since my husband has begun using this method, he has not been bit.

separate feeding tanks?

Kelly

I'm assuming you're asking if we feed our snakes separately. We use the same feed tank, but don't put them in together at once. That would just be stupid, lol. Each snake gets their own time in the feed tank.

If you are feeding in a separate cage, you may very well have issues converting from live to pre-killed prey with some of your snakes. Most snakes will take pre-killed more readily if fed in their primary cages. The movement to another feeding unit can many times interfere with or disengage their feeding response to the point that only live prey is enough to re-stimulate the feeding response. This obviously does not occur with all snakes, but does commonly occur with more shy species such as ball pythons, blood pythons, and anacondas. Neonates of these species and some others are the most prone to this, but it does occur with other age specimens on occasion as well.

Kelly

Kelly has a really good point here...... Believe it or not... many snake DONT like to take prekilled rodents off the tongs... nor have it presented to them a la "dangle". I have several boas that want the rodent left in the cage... and they wont even attempt to start eating it until people are out of the room and there is no movement....THis is a pretty common behaviour.... snakes like this will NEVER feel secure enough to eat in a separate feeding enclosure that they were just plopped into before hanging a rat in front of their face.... If I used this practice 1/3 of my boas would probably start to death

Feeding in a separate enclosure has NO benefit what so ever. In fact there are many negatives associated with this practice....

I'm kind of confused what you are trying to get out of this thread.... You have been offered alot of good advice... but you basically seem like you know that your way is better... so ??????
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Marc Duhon
Lafayette, Louisiana
SURINAMBOAS.COM
kaiyudsai@SURINAMBOAS.COM

I was just asking if anyone knew where to find a larger container, that's what I was trying to get out of this. It snowballed into this. Yes, I have been offered a lot of excellent advise, but very few answers to the question I posted. And this advise has been taken into consideration and is up for discussion in my household.

But no matter. I see that may people agree that there is no benefit to feeding them outside of the enclosure. That is fine.

Thanks to everyone that passed out recommendation. I do much appreciate it, don't think that I don't. Mark, I'm not saying that my way is the right way. We will do what works best for our snakes. If they preferred their food cooked and sauteed with onions, that's what I would do as long as my snakes are happy, healthy eaters.

NP
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...three years ago it was just another snake cult...
The Retic is King.
Anacondas-the other Dark Side.
Afrocks-the dark side of the Dark Side.

I agree with these guys.. However, it is possible to get into a situation where every time you open the cage, they think it's feeding time and are likely to respond in kind. It's best to have routine approaches to different situations. One for feeding and one for handling/cleaning etc. For example, when I handle my boas, I open the door, make sure they are aware of me, and then slowly offer my hand to them to smell, palm upward. They quickly realize there are no rats coming and are mellow. When feeding, I open the door and place a piece of newspaper on top of the bedding, before offering a rat, so the aspen doesn't stick to the rat and get swallowed. As soon as I lay down the newspaper, they are cocked and ready! Years ago, I used to rap my knuckles on the top of their cage before offering a rat, but not when handling. That worked too.

These are just my routines/techniques. They work for me. I imagine any number of techniques could be used successfully.

Have fun!
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Jason Dowell

i thought i would share my experience of using a tent inside my house as a way to offer my boas a place to exercise while keeping them safely enclosed in a space. I feed my boas inside their cages, but it seems this could work for feeding as well.

I have a few tents - some of them cost no more then $20 from Walmart or K-mart - but they have screen windows to let the natural light in, you can zip them up - the one I use the most is about 8 ft X 6 ft so it's much more space then they get inside their normal cage. the material is easy to clean if needed - although I have never had a boa deficate inside - but you could even line the bottom inside of the tent with newspaper for feeding??

just an idea.

@pato, lmao! I have to say, that is one original and great idea. I won't tell you what my initial reaction was when I saw the title in my inbox.

Wow! Cool idea.

I might use that for my big Olive Python. Out of the cage he'd be knocking things over and getting into everything. I'd have to watch him like a toddler and he's quick. But in a tent--nice and safe.

Thanks for that very original idea.

Bill