Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was curious as to who feeds in the cage and who doesn't? Would you say the talk of pythons fed in cage will strike at everything entering the cage is a myth? I know it's certainly not true of balls but my new borneo will be arriving wednesday and Ideally I'd feed in enclosure but if anyone strongly suggests I dont please let me know, thanks

I feed my blood inside her cage because she likes to "play" around with her rat. Sometimes she will put it in her water dish and eat it while inside her waterdish. Others she will eat it while inside her hide. I feed felix outside his cage because i am trying to get him to eat FT and he needs a "little helping" (the mouse needs to be right infront of him, so it is easier to feed in a small plastic shoebox.
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0.1 "Tremper" looking Albino Leopard gecko (Lex)
0.0.1 tiger crested gecko (peachs)
0.1 Red blood python (Rhianon)
0.0.1 ball pythons (FELIX!!!!!)
1.1 Feral cats that we adopted (Fuzzy, and Bear)

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I have done both with my short tails. When I just had one I would always feed out of cage. He was alot calmer when trying to be picked up then, but he's gotten to be such an aggressive feeder that its hard to pick him up to put him back in his cage after feeding. And hes so large that the only place to do it is the bathtub.. and I cant leave him in there to get off feeding mode. Anyways I would say it doesnt really matter that much as long as you handle them frequently, you will probably be taking equal chances at being bitten. Tho the specific animal I'm talking about has never even struck at me aside from during feeding, and I've had him over three years.

Jordan
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"It's my snake, I trained it, so I'm going to eat it!" - Mad Max, The Road Warrior

I feed my borneo male outside his cage. I'm trying to get him switched over to FT though and he wont take it unless its still piping hot. He does seem to recognize that its feeding time when he goes in the feeding container. He does get confused sometimes though, since I use the same container for soaking him . I wouldn't think it would matter too much whether you feed inside or out of the cage.

I feed all of my snakes inside the cage which include bloods, boas, carpets, retics, burms, anacondas, and afrock. Feeding in the cage gives less stress on the snake as it does not have to be moved. Also I would sooner have the snake be conditioned that there is no food/feeding when outside the cage (handling time) then be worried about a strike inside the cage. Touch the snake with a hook every time you open the cage except when feeding and you should be ok. The only time I have ever been bitten by a blood python is years back when feeding out of the cage I would get struck and constricted trying to move the snake back into the cage. Hope this is helpful-Bill

I would have to agree my balls never lash out at in feeding response. My bloods do not either but occasionally their feeding response does seem to be hightend but never to that of say a burm or pituophis or Varaunas. Just my two sense in other words yes I feed my bloods in their enclosure. with the exception of when ever I have multiples together
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Kevin
I am lost w/o spell check
"Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself."-unknown

Mine lives alone and I feed him in his cage. He's pretty picky about what he goes after and based on his behavior I have a fairly good sense of what he's thinking. I've never allowed myself to be nailed by this guy, nor do I want to.