Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Female Tiger Retic that wont refuse a rabbit Just took a pic and wanted to share.

~Ben

To much risk, not so much now but when he/she gets bigger!
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John Light
Pristine Pythons
ristinePythons@Hotmail.com" target="_blank">Contact Me

That pic makes me feel a little less crazy. i feed in the shower. He has learned to open the door now when he is ready for the next rat. I will find some other alternative when my burm gets bigger but for now a tub or shower is sooo easy to clean don't you think.
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1.0 Ball Python
1.0 Burmese Python

I do agree, it is very easy to clean, and when it becomes a hazard to feed in the tub, I wont do it anymore, but the snakes I feed in the tub are very notiable when being fed, meaning they always know it's me, they don't even jump at me when I go in to get them. As long as it's not a hazard now, I'm not too worried, but overtime, I will stop feeding in the tub.

~Ben

There is no mess to clean up when feeding a snake. Well I haven't had a problem. Anyways I honestly don't get people that thing it's better to feed outside their normal enclosure. The animal still is going to be alert and waiting for prey to walk by. When dealing with larger animals (monitors and larger snakes) It's just stupid to even try and do so. I've always fed inside the cage and don't see a slight difference with my friends animals who never feeds inside their enclosure. Stresses the animal more that for sure (feeding outside their normal enclosure). Anyways....that's my rant.
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John Light
Pristine Pythons
ristinePythons@Hotmail.com" target="_blank">Contact Me

I see what you are saying, and I will stop feeding in the bathtub. I'm not saying I don't hold my snakes enough because I do at least once a day, but sometimes, it would be better to feed in the tub if you don't get them out all the time, because if you don't, then whenever the cage is opened they will end up thinking it's time for food (unless your snake knows that it will be you pretty much). BUT lol, you haven't seen my retics eat, and to say they don't make a mess, well that can be very wrong

~Ben

I'm not comfortable AT ALL w/ feeding Ajah in her enclosure, for her safety and mine.

So, though it will cost me, i'm going to buy another (ideally used) enclosure to feed her in.

I don't have to deal w/ that now because shes a sub-adult. I currently feed her in a huge tub w/ a latching lid, and that works just fine.

When it comes to my safety, i'm willing to spend a little extra. And I know thousands of people get by just fine feeding in their enclosure, i'm just going to do it differently.

Ray

Safety... LOL... any retic is going to figure food is comming weather you feed them in their cage or not! Like I said I've never fed outside of the cage ever and I've been keeping reptiles for years! A friend of mine feeds outside their cage and you know what?! There is NO difference with the animals. Safety would be to leave the 10ft + retic in the same enclosure! Putting it back in after it eats just puts you at risk. Another cage would fix that problem but then again they are still going to see open door = food. Pointless to spend the extra money! Do you feed live?! If so that's your problem with the messy tub! Otherwise you need to learn another way to quickly kill the rabbits.
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John Light
Pristine Pythons
ristinePythons@Hotmail.com" target="_blank">Contact Me

No, I feed f/t rabbits, but it still seems to enjoy to rip it apart, but I'm going to start feeding it in the same enclosure, it wont be as big of a deal as long as it's handled enough and properly.

~Ben

Feeding anywhere but in the snakes enclosure puts one more link in the contact chain, it does indeed produce more risk to extract them, feed them, then have to put them back after feeding.

All of my snakes from my retic to my Bitis know when I am going to feed them. It has little to do with how mouch you handle them and everything to do with the suttle differences they notice at feeding times as compared to other times the cage opens up. If they get too excited and race right up to the door all of the time making feeding difficult then you need to counter your snakes learning.

Use an enclosure with a trap door, have a divided cage, there are plenty of ways to do it and it can ALWAYS BE DONE no matter how large the snake. Be creative. The snakes head can't be in two places at once.

The people who are killed at feeding time are the ones who allow it to happen. Ask that Lou Daddano guy, he knows really well about that. Its not an accident when you handle your snake in the act of feeding and get injured or killed, thats stupidity, and I make no apologies for saying that. Consider this: If you or someone else around you are ever killed b/c you are tubfeeding it's great fuel for antisnake legislation. In certain areas where large constictors have killed laws have been passed using that incident as the catalyst.

Responsiblity with an animal such as this goes far beyond your front door.