Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am gathering as much information possible before bringing home our first snake (a milk snake). I haven't found much information about having a "feeding cage" as recommended by the pet store. Are they just trying to sell me another cage or is it really necessary? Also, if we use a feeding cage will it also need a heating pad? Last question, how long do we need to wait before transferring the snake back to its home cage after eating?

Yes you need a feeding cage, but no you don't need to buy anything. A feeding cage is simply a seperate place to feed your snake so they dont start to associate with you opening the cage to eating. This will lesson the chances of them striking thinking your hand is food. No you don't need to buy anything though, you can use something as simple as a cardboard box. I switch my snakes from their feeding box back to their normal cage about 5 minutes after they have finished eating. And don't handle them 24 hours after feeding.

Very helpful thank you.

>>I am gathering as much information possible before bringing home our first snake (a milk snake). I haven't found much information about having a "feeding cage" as recommended by the pet store. Are they just trying to sell me another cage or is it really necessary? Also, if we use a feeding cage will it also need a heating pad? Last question, how long do we need to wait before transferring the snake back to its home cage after eating?

I don't think you need a separate feeding cage. They're probably trying to sell something. I keep an average of ten species in set-ups like these...

With large snakes I empty the large water jug and drop the food in. With smaller snakes, like the one shown, I put the food in the smaller container. The snakes go right in and find their food when they're ready. Doesn't take long for them to learn. They never have to leave the cage. Of course, I only keep one snake to a cage.

If I have more than one snake in a cage, I take them out, one at a time, feed, and put them back in their main cage. I rarely use heating pads with my snakes.

TC

very interesting....I had a feeling the pet store was pushing merchandise. We are rescuing a snake that was turned in from a family who no longer wanted it so the snake isn't costing us anything. But we were told it would be about $350 for all the needed supplies - which I'm finding out is not true at all.

That's where the money is in the supplies, I guess. I would just get a ten gallon tank and throw a little aspen shavings in the bottom, start adding props, and bingo..a cheap, but functional terrarium...

I like this set-up because I can see the snakes a lot of the time and I can manipulate things like the feeding, spraying, etc. Good luck with your pet...

TC

I feed my Sinaloan in a rubbermaid shoe box and keep it there until it poops, that way i only clean the little box instead of the terrarium. I keep all the needs of the snake in the shoe box.
It's more comfortable.
-----
-Miki

1.0 Ball Python (Python Regius)
0.1 Brazilian Rainbow Boa (Epicrates Cenchria Cenchria)
0.0.1 Sinaloan Milksnake (Lampropeltis Triangulum Sinaloae)
0.0.1 Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus)
0.0.1 Albino Burmese Python (Python molurus bivittatus)
1.0 Veiled Chameleon (Chamaleo Calyptratus)
1.0 Emperor Scorpion (Pandinus Imperator)