• Hello!

    Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.

    Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....

    Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.

    Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.

Feeding bins

Cattsy

Cattsy

New member
Okay, so common practice is to use a separate bin for feeding.

Des everyone have a separate bin PER SNAKE? or do you use the same bin for multiple snakes?

I have a small aquarium that I use for feeding the big guys, I just have to make sure to feed the king first otherwise she goes crazy lol. But thinking about the little guys.
 
Round here it feels like there's a 50:50 split between those who feed in-tank and those who feed in a separate bin.

I feed in a separate tank. I have five feeding tanks. I currently have 18 snakes and I feed several in an evening so the tanks are used for whatever snake needs them. I just spary them with a reptile-safe disinfectant and give them a quick wipe, between feeds.
 
Since I use Aspen, I feed in a separate bin - but that's not because i am afraid my snakes will associate my hand with food. I just don't want them eating Aspen.

I have no problem using the same bin for multiple snakes, but then you have to wait until one is finished eating before you feed the others.

If I kept on paper, I would feed in the tanks.
 
I have fewer feeding bins than I have snakes because not everyone eats on the same day. I have them clustered to keep risk of mite transmission down, and bins are not shared between clusters but are shared between snakes in the same cluster. I should mention I haven't had any mites or anything but I want to be safe. I wipe out feeding tubs after using with isopropyl alcohol because nobody else will eat in that tub for 24+ hours so there's plenty of time for it to dry. It does however fog the tubs.
 
I have been *and now we have been* feeding our snakes in their cages/racks for the last 3 years. I have not had any problems with aspen.
Huge breeders like BHB and others also feed in the cage.
Some people say it causes cage aggression or digestional problems. But I have seen no evidence of this in corns. I have even watched one corn spit and shake out a bigger flake of aspen.
In the wild they eat on dirt and leaf litter....their systems can handle a bit of debris.
If you prefer to feed in a bin, good for you....I just have some that won't feed if I move them and it would take HOURS and HOURS to do it that way.
I would get more than one bin only so you can have more than one eating at a time.
If you keep your snakes in a rack it really won't matter if you put them in the same bin...the parasites and germs are already spread. *shrugs*
 
I have a separate bin for every snake. It's kind of how I make sure I don't miss anyone. I have a feeding list, and set out bins for everyone on the list, and thaw the mice off the list, and make sure I fill every bin!!
 
Cattsy said:
Okay, so common practice is to use a separate bin for feeding.

Des everyone have a separate bin PER SNAKE? or do you use the same bin for multiple snakes?

I have a small aquarium that I use for feeding the big guys, I just have to make sure to feed the king first otherwise she goes crazy lol. But thinking about the little guys.
Click to expand...

I only have four snakes.
My two oldest snake get fed in the same "bin" with no "wipe out". It should be wipe out tho. My other two younger snake I feed in a shoe box and now....just started to but that box in the same feed bin because it has a locking snap on it.

If I had a lot of snake, I think I would feed in there cages on a paper plate or something to make the task go quicker.
 
whippet said:
I have been *and now we have been* feeding our snakes in their cages/racks for the last 3 years. I have not had any problems with aspen.
Huge breeders like BHB and others also feed in the cage.
Some people say it causes cage aggression or digestional problems. But I have seen no evidence of this in corns. I have even watched one corn spit and shake out a bigger flake of aspen.
In the wild they eat on dirt and leaf litter....their systems can handle a bit of debris.
If you prefer to feed in a bin, good for you....I just have some that won't feed if I move them and it would take HOURS and HOURS to do it that way.
I would get more than one bin only so you can have more than one eating at a time.
If you keep your snakes in a rack it really won't matter if you put them in the same bin...the parasites and germs are already spread. *shrugs*
Click to expand...


Mine are pretty good about being moved.. but it's a PITA. I would much rather feed them in their bins... Actually that's an interesting concept...

Has anyone ever had a snake die from ingesting too much aspen? Cause Tara you bring up a good point... the certainly wouldn't have their food handed to them all nice and clean in the wild...

Tara do you put their food on anything or just toss it in the bin?

The one thing I do like about having seperate bins is that you know for SURE who ate and who didn't, whereas I think feeding in their viv's sometimes you could miss a mouse that got dragged away but not eaten?
 
Nanci said:
I have a separate bin for every snake. It's kind of how I make sure I don't miss anyone. I have a feeding list, and set out bins for everyone on the list, and thaw the mice off the list, and make sure I fill every bin!!
Click to expand...

This gave me an idea....
I have been feeding the adults in their bins, in the rack, & all of the babies get fed in deli cups, until I know they're solid eaters. I'm sure it's not necessary, but I've done it with my yearlings too, just in larger deli's.

My idea, is to have enough rack bins, so that I can set up a clean bin, with fresh paper, & their food, so I can switch out the bins, put the snake in the clean bin & then set aside the other bins to clean & disinfect for the next cleaning or feeding.

While it is true that snakes in the wild can ingest dirt & such, being on a bed of shredded aspen is different, IMO. Smaller dirt particles are less likely to cause problems than pieces of shredded aspen. I would guess that some snakes do die in the wild from blockages, but who knows?

On that note, I do not fault anyone for chosing to feed on aspen, that is a personal choice.
 
THe other thing to consider too is that we feed thawed prey that (at least in my case) is soaking wet and has more stuff stick to it. In the wild a mouse wouldn't have soaking wet fur for the most part.

I'm leaning towards feeding in vivs on like, a paper plate or something... but my spooted python and my ball both strike and constrict sometimes rolling every which way.

I'm gonna have to experiment I think.
 
I feed in separate containers, until last night, my newest addition, the biggest corn I have fed in the same container as my first (Sonja). oh my she is so aggressive when feeding!
I think I'm going to get a bigger tub for her.
she grabbed the f/t mouse, then let go and started striking at the sides of the tub, she was looking at me!
she eventually went back to the mouse and ate.

so of the 4 snakes we have, I have 3 feeding tubs.
we might be getting 2 or 3 more (anery's) I will just feed them in the same containers most likely.
 
I have a couple corns, and all the kings, that go psycho when they get fed. So I make my list, set out the containers, and get out the kings and Cherry and Buzztail (Lily, too, during laying season!!). THEN thaw the mice. Putting them back is also exciting. I'll get bit if I pick them up with my hands, so I scoop up the upper half with a hook and then lift the lower half with my hand. Usually, once they are out of the bin, they are fine.
 
I feed in a glad contaner, but I also take the time to clean out the cage but i only have one for now
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top