Feeding Enclosure

[renegade13]

Hello,

My wife and I had a cornsnake many years ago but decided to sell him when we started having children. Now that our kids are older, we'd like to get another one. One thing I never really liked was feeding the snake in a separate container. I know all the reasons for doing it, I just thought it was a hassle. So, this is what I would like to do.

In the 40 gallon aquarium, I would like to have a glass divider that would separate the aquarium into a separate "living" area and "feeding" area. The glass divider would have a sliding door on it. The snake would never be in the feeding area except at feeding time. When that time comes, I would place the mouse in the feeding area then open the divider and (hopefully) the snake would come in and eat. After eating the snake would be put back in the living area and the slider closed.

Would such a system work? Even if it would work, is it advisable to do it this way?

Thanks for all your help!!

 

[CAV]

Tecnically it would work, but it seems like a royal pain in the vent, IMO. Not to mention the snake would probably enjoy the extra room taken up by the feeding container. :shrugs:

 

[Hjorrdis]

wow.... are we seriously supposed to use separate feeding containers?

I haven't except for hatchlings. I basically make sure my snakes are on opposite sides of the cage when I feed (it's really big) so they don't interfere with eachother..... but if I only had one snake I'd not take it away from home....

What would be the reason?

 

[Energi2er]

I have a hatchling, and what I do is just put the pinky in a dish inside the viv, and he eats in the dish and stays there until he is done (hes a good boy and dont drag the pnky in the substrate). I was going to build a viv with a seperate feeding enclosure like you are talkin about. But like cav said it would take up some extra room that the snake would use. Basically you can feed in the viv as long as the snake doesnt ingest substrate.

 

[graffixcs]

Basically you can feed in the viv as long as the snake doesnt ingest substrate.

Exactly, the ONLY way you can guarantee that is to use either paper or astro turf as a substrate ...... Or feed in a separate container.

Sterilite tubs are inexpensive and easy to clean and store. There is nothing left to "chance" that way. You could just about get 10 tubs for what the divided tank would cost to remodel. Hmmmm, 10 tubs, 10 more snakes, lol I know which way I'd go. :sidestep:

IMO, give the snake the extra room, more room, greater thermal gradient leads to a happier , healthier animal. Spend $2 on a tub at Walmart.

 

[larryg]

wow.... are we seriously supposed to use separate feeding containers?

I haven't except for hatchlings. I basically make sure my snakes are on opposite sides of the cage when I feed (it's really big) so they don't interfere with eachother..... but if I only had one snake I'd not take it away from home....

What would be the reason?

There is no reason, unless you decide to use a substrate that is unsafe to feed on. It sounds counterproductive and stressful to remove a snake from its home, especially if the snake is already not eating readily. At least one of my snakes likes to strike from inside her hide, more or less. If I buy more hatchlings, I'll probably do what I've done with the last 3, which is keep them inside Kritter Keepers on paper towels and simply feed in there, usually throwing live pinkies under the paper towels where the snakes are hiding (don't try to keep hatchlings inside anything much bigger than a shoebox or you may have stress issues). I know some people like to clean the cages or have some other reason for feeding in separate containers, but don't confuse that with needing to feed in a separate container.

 

[CAV]

I know some people like to clean the cages or have some other reason for feeding in separate containers, but don't confuse that with needing to feed in a separate container.

And don't confuse that statement with good advice.

Contrary to Larry's opinion, there are actually several logical and valid reasons for feeding in a separate container. Of course it really comes down to the risk tolerance of the keeper. If you're willing to accept the hazards and possible outcomes associated with feeding in the snake's enclosure, then by all means knock yourself out. Just don't make the same mistake as Larry and misinterpret "like" versus "need".

 

[larryg]

And don't confuse that statement with good advice.

Contrary to Larry's opinion, there are actually several logical and valid reasons for feeding in a separate container. Of course it really comes down to the risk tolerance of the keeper. If you're willing to accept the hazards and possible outcomes associated with feeding in the snake's enclosure, then by all means knock yourself out. Just don't make the same mistake as Larry and misinterpret "like" versus "need".

One of the most important reasons to feed in a separate container is to give the 'forum experts' something else to be an expert on, at least in their own minds.

Seriously, I guess if I weighed 400 lbs., I might NEED SlimFast. Or if my bed had nails sticking out of it, I might NEED to sleep on the floor. As it is, I weigh under 200, my bed has no nails sticking out of it, and my snakes have a safe substrate and are house separately, in appropriately sized tanks. I am open to learning, if there truly is some danger to feeding on newspaper in the snake's own cage. I'm not holding my breath, obviously.

 

[BeckyG]

It sounds counterproductive and stressful to remove a snake from its home,

Does this mean you never handle your snakes at all? Or just not at feeding time? It is no more stressful to remove a snake from its home to feed it than it is to handle it at any other time.

And if you want to get that nit-picky about it, it is stressful to keep snakes in captivity at all.

 

[CAV]

Always sour grapes with you Larry

I am open to learning.

That would be a first for you on this site.

Just curious, are you upset because there are actually some experts on this forum or are you upset because you're not considered one of them? :shrugs:

 

[larryg]

Does this mean you never handle your snakes at all? Or just not at feeding time? It is no more stressful to remove a snake from its home to feed it than it is to handle it at any other time.

And if you want to get that nit-picky about it, it is stressful to keep snakes in captivity at all.

Please quote at least one full, complete sentence, if you truly wish a response and aren't just trying to be 'cute.'

I guess if I wanted to, I could make a little Disco Barbie feeding box, with a mini disco ball, a little dance floor, and maybe even some black velvet on the side walls.

After spending several minutes skimming The Cornsnake Manual, I came to the conclusion that feeding in a separate container must not be very important, otherwise it would have been mentioned at least ONCE in the entire book/manual. Instead, the author seems to presuppose that all feeding will take place in cages.

You are entitled to your opinions about what stresses snakes and what doesn't, where and how to feed, etc. However, I doubt you will be posting citations from published literature to support at least one of your opinions, as 'feeding Cornsnakes in a separate container' is mostly a phenomenon of this message board system, based on everything I've seen.

I would like to see what happens when you turn your Albino snakes free, to avoid the stress of captivity. I guess somebody jumped the gun on that one. By the way, the idea is to MINIMIZE stress, not treat it as some sort of all-or-nothing, black-or-white factor.

 

[CAV]

How fortunate we are to have you here. I'm intrigued by the wealth of your knowledge. Please describe "stress" and the common symptoms associated with it.

Most of the "forum experts" here don't need to be "posting citations from published literature to support at least one of (their) opinions" because they have actual experience upon which to rely. Kathy wrote a great book but it is only a reference guide, not the "be all, end all Cornsnake Bible" that you've made it out to be.

If you'd have simply stated that you feed in the container and haven't had any problems, I wouldn't be bustin' your chops. Unfortunately, your demeanor and the snide manner in which you respond to any post automatically removes whatever credibility you may have had regarding the subject at hand. It really isn't what you say that causes the problems Larry, it is the way you say it that kills ya.

Just my .02.......take it or leave it.

 

[princess]

Come-come Gary, you're not trying to turn into Joey are you?


To stay away from any other 'semantics' debates....


..I feed out of the vivs both for the snakes on a solid substrate (papertowels, butcher paper, etc) and those on beech chips. I find it easy to toss the snakes into tubs with their FT mouse and pop on a lid whilst I clean their vivs.

With my hatchlings that haven't eaten yet, I toss 5 or so mice in with 10 or so hatchlings and as one grabs a mouse and takes a couple of bites towards swallowing I gently lift it up and shift it to another tub or with some others I put them in individual tubs put lids on them, stack them up and come back in a few hours.

Both methods work for me.

The feeding enclosure within the viv system sounds like an inventive idea but not terribly practical.

 

[CAV]

Come-come Gary, you're not trying to turn into Joey are you?

You are officially off my list of "Things to see when in Sweden". :duck:

 

[larryg]

How fortunate we are to have you here. I'm intrigues by the wealth of your knowledge. Please describe "stress" and the common symptoms associated with it.

Most of the "forum experts" here don't need to be "posting citations from published literature to support at least one of your opinions" because they have actual experience. Kathy wrote a great book but it is a reference guide not the "be all, end all Cornsnake Bible".

If you'd have simply stated that you feed in the container and haven't had any problems, I wouldn't be bustin' your chops. Unfortunately, your demeanor and the snide manner in which you respond to any post automatically removes any credibility you may have had regarding the subject at hand. It really isn't what you say that causes the problems Larry, it is the way you say it kills ya.

Just my .02.......take it or leave it.

Anything that disturbs, bothers, or otherwise detracts from the 'natural, undisturbed routine' of the snake could be stressful. This includes any alterations to the natural light cycle, temperature variations, lack of water, anything the snake might see from its cage, or certainly handling/moving the snake around.

The people I have obtained my snakes from are additional sources of information, on top of Kathy's book. No, they are not people with names like CornBoy13 or RepTyleKid.

This leads me to my next question... Are you so young that you are ashamed to post your age, CAV?

I do not support a culture of demagogues and demagoguery. If a demagogue is bent out of shape and upset that I am questioning his "superior knowledge", then I don't care. Just as I don't care if some 14 year old boy in England feels it's WRONG to feed your snake more than once a week, because he read some care sheet way back when and he now considers himself part of the Powerfeeding Police.

 

[princess]

You are officially off my list of "Things to see when in Sweden". :duck:

So what's on your things to do list?

 

[princess]

This leads me to my next question... Are you so young that you are ashamed to post your age, CAV?

No...it's cos he's so old!!! :roflmao:

 

[princess]

Larry, seriously, you're digging yourself a really nice hole there...

 

[CAV]

No...it's cos he's so old!!!

Now you're just being mean! Speaking of things to do, I flew over Scandinavia last week and looked for ya, but I guess you were out. :shrugs:

Anything that disturbs, bothers, or otherwise detracts from the 'natural, undisturbed routine' of the snake could be stressful. This includes any alterations to the natural light cycle, temperature variations, lack of water, anything the snake might see from its cage, or certainly handling/moving the snake around.

Just thought I'd point out that you forgot hurricanes, mudslides, hyenas, three-toed sloths, and meteors; they "could" be stressful to cornsnakes as well.

Seriously, if you knew anything about this subject whatsoever, you'd already be aware that most North American colubrids DON'T STRESS, which is why they make great captive pets. (BTW, I'm assuming that you're aware of the fact that cornsnakes are a North American colubrid Larry.)

 

[larryg]

Now you're just being mean! Speaking of things to do, I flew over Scandinavia last week and looked for ya, but I guess you were out. :shrugs:



Just thought I'd point out that you forgot hurricanes, mudslides, hyenas, three-toed sloths, and meteors; they "could" be stressful to cornsnakes as well.

Seriously, if you knew anything about this subject whatsoever, you'd already be aware that most North American colubrids DON'T STRESS, which is why they make great captive pets. (BTW, I'm assuming that you're aware of the fact that cornsnakes are a North American colubrid Larry.)

Yeah, all those people making all those 'my snake won't eat' posts simply have overactive imaginations. :sidestep:

If Princess is still reading, I took the time to answer your PM several days ago. It's normally considered polite to offer some type of acknowledgement when someone replies to a PM, even if the reply doesn't pander to your image of Americans as stupid.