Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Whats the opinions on feeding out of the cage?

Im just now concerned as I am trying out Aspen bedding(previously on newspaper) as its more convenient for the current housing im using, it looks good, absorbs well and I previously got the impression it was less likly to cause a problem with feeding on it..

So, is there still a high risk of impaction with Aspen ? I know alot of people use it, do you all feed out of the tank ? and if so what are the best methods

Thanks for help, opinions etc..
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0.1 Royal Python
0.1 Bearded Dragon
1.0 African Grey (Parrot)
1.1 Love Birds
0.0.2 Gold Fish

if you have one ball python you keep as a pet....always feed outside. The snake wont associate your hand being food, and it wont strike at you when it gets smarter. (hand open cage = food)

When I thaw my rodents, I leave them out by the heater for a while. They feel and look a lot better than when soaked in water and don't really stick to the aspen. No problems yet, and hopefully, ever!

I have spoken to many people about feeding in or out of the cage. This is an ongoing debate for many individuals. On one side people feel that snakes will develop a pavlovian response during feeding. As stated before open cage-food-strike. And this is a valid case.

Then there are those that feel that the snake does not develop this because the cage is opened and closed so frequently (during cleaning, handling, feeding) that the snake does not associate one opening with another.

I feed within in the cage itself. I have done this the entire time I have kept snake, albeit it has not been as long as others but I have not had any problems. I keep Colombian boas, ball pythons, hogg island boas, and GTP. I have never been bitten during feeding, handling, or cleaning. I feed on sani-chips and it works well for me.

No matter what you decide to do, I'm sure it will be fine.

Good luck,

Steven Aguilar
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My personal experience with feeding goes a little like this. When I started off with snakes several years ago, (with a few Kings) I would feed inside the tank. In that reguardless of if I hand fed or left the mouse on the ground, after a short while, everytime I opened the tank, they all came to me expecting to be fed. A few times they even struck at me thinking my hand was the food. And these were all very calm snakes.

It is more common and practical snake keeping to feed outside of the cage. Especially when concerning larger snakes such as the large pythons and boas. Wouldnt want to take a hit from one of those. The good news in all of this is that even if a bad habbit of biting the hand that feeds occurs, it CAN be reversed. Just start feeding them outside of the tank. Good luck.

~Nick

Is a shy B/Python likly not not eat in a sperate tank coz shes to scared though ?

Mine is still new, and she wasnt in nice conditions from where I got her.. she has eaten f/t ok tho in her enclosure.
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0.1 Royal Python
0.1 Bearded Dragon
1.0 African Grey (Parrot)
1.1 Love Birds
0.0.2 Gold Fish

I have two 03s that have always fed inside the cage. When I got my pastel, he had only seen live prey. By offering him f/t dangled and wiggled outside his hide, I immediately got him on f/t.
I think it is more comfortable and natural to baby ball pythins especially to take prey from the comfort of their own space. An indicator I have noticed about a couple of my balls is they will never take prey if they are out and about in the cage. They seem to be more comfortable taking it from a hiding spot.
This is just my experience and I only have 4 balls, but one has NEVER taken prey outside her hide and I doubt she'd take any in a separate container.
Also, I have never been bitten by my ball pythons or JCP, but my corn snakes have tagged me. I can't say if it is because they thought I was food or not, because theyt've tagged me outside their enclosures, too! Good thing their teeth are so little!

I was mainly worried about the aspect of feeding on Aspen so if thats not a problem i'll still feed her in her enclosure. Main reason is she is alittle timmid still, and im sure she'll feel more comfortable feeding there at home

Cheers!

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0.1 Royal Python
0.1 Bearded Dragon
1.0 African Grey (Parrot)
1.1 Love Birds
0.0.2 Gold Fish

i have since the day that i got my little girl and little boy feed them outside of their cages, and they were both very timid when i first got them. they are still babies but have calmed down and settled in no problem. i feed outside of the cage because i don't want to have that problem of them thinking my hand is food.

however about the aspen, i have read that if you are going to feed in the cage and that is the substrate you are using, or any loose substrate for that matter, you may want to put newspaper or something like that under them when they feed so that they don't get a piece of aspen in their mouth, because it could cause them injury to their mouths.

~dana~
1.1 ball python (hailex and roxy)
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~dana~

0.2 ball pythons (roxy and haileigh)
0.1 albino cornsnake (avery)
1.0 cat (whiskers)
1.1 russian hamsters (peanut and tj)

or, more importantly- impaction.

with over 125 ball pythons you feed inside the cage........by the time you got them all fed outside the cage youd be back to feeding the first one again.......whatever works

I've been feeding my guy in his cage for the entire eight years I've had him. As long as you're handling your snake and have your hands in the enclosure on a daily basis, you shouldn't have a problem. I've also kept my snake on CareFresh for his entire life, no problems with that either.

I've alway fed my ball python outside of the cage. It was a shy feeder when small but as soon as I put it in a box outside the cage it started eating with no problem. I would be concerned about any loose substrate that the snake could ingest. I agree it could cause impaction or other problems.

dave and tracy barker. its the snakes cage, its territory, its ok if it expects food when the cage opens. one thing i didnt see anyone bring up tho, putting the snake back in its cage. weve all heard the regurg concerns, but, what about the strong feeding response most snakes have after a good meal? i know if i were to reach into any of my snakes cages, ball, carpets, scrubs or bloods, after they ate i would almost certainly take a hit. but thats not their fault. i personally feed in the cage, its less stress on me and the snake. plus you have just as much to worry about from a snake protecting its territory, and it will, as do you from a snake looking for food.

Jaymz
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Jaymz
"got a bowlin ball in my stomache, got a desert in my mouth. figures that my courage would choose to sell out now..."