Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,
I am just curiose about what the benefits are about feeding in a seperate container??

STORY
Some of you may know that I just recently aquired a corn snake and know little about snakes in general. Well, the first time I fed him my GF did not see it (him eat). So I fed him tonight and he was kind of "slouching (sp) off". So I noticed that when I put the mouse in the cage I left his nose up against glass. So I moved the mouse off the glass with a spoon. Some thing told me that my hand did not want to do it ----- lol. My GF and I were amazed at how fast that snake moved and wraped himself around the mouse (frozen////thawed). We hold him alot since we have had him, and he has never let on he could move that fast. Anyway, since it was my GF first time seeing him eat, she was amazed by the fact that he downd a mouse the of his body (maybe a hair bigger) with his small head. she thought she would hate him when I inheretied it, but she held it and LOVED it.

Ok, so why a seperate feeding container????
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Mike
0.0.1 Green Iguana
0.0.1 Pac Man Frog
1.1.0 Albino African Clawed Frog
1.0.0 Corn Snake
1.0.0 BIG Golden Retriever 105 lbs

The issue is with the substrate mainly. A lot of substrates can be harmful if swallowed (gravel, bark) or even ingestible substrates can cause impaction (meaning the snake eats a bunch of it and chokes or something). Another issue is that sometimes if you feed the snake in the tank it will catch on that your hand = food. This is obviously not a desireable association.

All that being said, I've never personally heard of any problems with in-tank feeding, and a lot of articles will tell you different things. It seems to be the general consensus that feeding in a separate container is best, i mean why take the risk.

But it sounds like your snake is old? So if it's been eating in its cage its whole life and hasn't had a problem, I see no reason to switch. A lot of my animals are actually so unsettled from not being in their cage that they will not eat otherwise. I will try the separate container with my new baby corn.

I can tell you from my own experience, the first snake I ever had was a bull snake that my so called friend pawned off on me. It turned out that the snake was blind in one eye so he did a lot of things based on smell. He learned real quickly that I was the one who fed him and when I opened the cage he expected to be fed. He would coil and strike at my hand, but when my girlfriend (now my wife) would open the cage she could reach in and handle him. After dealing with him for about 6 months I learned to move my snakes to a feeding container. Also, if you feed fresh food the mess is easier to clean up. We do this with all our new snakes until we feel confident. The other reason to move a snake to a ‘feeding container’ is to help them eat. Some snakes will not eat out in the open. This is common with young king and milk snakes. The container makes them feel more secure and they will attempt to eat. When we have one of these we normally move them into the container and then put the container in a cabinet for darkness for about a day. The bull was traded away about 8 months after I got him. You live and learn.

There are a few reasons for feeding in a separate container.
one good reason is a problem or "slow" feeder will have the prey item right there with it.
A lot of times a person will just throw a mouse in the tank and leave it. Some snakes may not venture out of their hide to find it.
Another reason is to prevent the ingestion of substrate. If you feed in a separate container you don't have to worry about it.
One less thing to worry about.
You will definitely know if your snake has eaten or not.
I had one of my snakes drag a mouse under it's water bowl so I just assumed it ate.
Two dyas later I noticed a strong smell and found the mouse under the bowl uneaten.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

Thank you for the replies,
The substrate that i am using right now is newpaper. I am thinking about maybe using some of the other ones mentioned, but he seems vey happer going inbetween the sheetes of newspaper and hiding. It is weird, but he really has 2 hides one each side of the tank (one side heated, the other not), but instead prefers to hide inbetween the too sides between the layers (2-4) of newspaper.

Anyway, he I have had him about 2 weeks now and have feed him 3 times I think. He usually has no problem getting the food (f/t) but this time I was a little anxious so I moved it with the spoon...still amazes me how fast he moved when i moved the mouse.......I (we) loved it.

But when I want to hold him, I move the newspaper and pick him up. i do let him now that I am there, but he seems to now (recognize???????) before I let him now and he is a sweatheart.

Anyway, I amy go ahead and try the seperate feeding container especially if i change the substrate.

Thanks for all the input, I am sure I will be asking another question soom. Thank You.
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Mike
0.0.1 Green Iguana
0.0.1 Pac Man Frog
1.1.0 Albino African Clawed Frog
1.0.0 Corn Snake
1.0.0 BIG Golden Retriever 105 lbs