Feeding in seperate enclosure

[Sweetooth710]

I am a happy owner of a new Butter Motley. I've had him for almost a week and he seems to be doing great! I fed him the day after I got him no problem.. I placed him in a tupperware container because i'm using aspen as my substrate, and don't want him to ingest it. Then after he ate I was wondering if I should leave him alone in the tupperware for a bit, so not to disturb him, or should I put him back in the enclosure? After about 30 min I sat the container inside his viv, and thought he would leave for one of the hides. He stayed in the tupperware for a while, I think the sides were sort of tall for him to get out. I then gently slid him out and he slithered of into his hide on the warm side. I also thought abought laying a small piece of cardboard and laying the pinkie on top to prevent him ingesting the aspen, and so I wouldn't have to handle him right after he ate. Any suggestions?

 

[Nanci]

I feed in a separate container because it gives me a chance to do a thorough cleaning of the viv, scrub the water bowl, etc. Take the snake out and weigh it! I put mine back as soon as the meal hits the stomach, by carrying them in their container to the viv and tipping them out if babies, or by gently carrying them if adults. It won't hurt him to be handled for the short time it takes to carry him gently to his viv.

 

[COerriccaRN]

I do the same thing as Nanci. I made some really cute personal feeding boxes that are secure and dark for them. PM me for the link, I'm not sure of it right now.

 

[pwargcm]

i feed in cage. i have never had an impaction but i make sure that the mouse isnt all wet so that it doesnt stick to it. i have put down a piece of newspaper over the substrate before to keep the mouse over to feed and it works well but now i just feed right on the substrate. just keep a close eye on things and youll be good.

 

[Criosphynx]

I have always fed in the cage as well... unless I need to change the whole bin...but for water changes and spot cleaning...they get to eat at home

 

[COerriccaRN]

I think either way is fine...Its just personal preference.

 

[ceduke]

I feed in bins, but I don't feel strongly about it one way or the other. It works for me.

 

[bitsy]

Agree with ceduke - whatever works best for you and your snake. I feed in a separate tub for the same reasons as Nanci, but plenty of folks feed in the enclosure and have no problems. If that's the way you choose, just make sure no substrate gets stuck to the food as he swallows.

 

[Sweetooth710]

Thanks everyone for your input. Since hes a little hatchling I wanted to make sure I wasn't risking harm either way. I will probably continue to feed him separately so I can clean his tank, as a couple of you stated. Its been almost a week so i'm going to try for his second feed with me today, wish me luck!

 

[sweet~nichole~marie]

I also recommend feeding in a separate enclosure so that they do not associate your hand coming into their tank as possible food. Most people who have snakes that bite them (that I know) feed them in their tank so as soon as they open the top, their snakes go into feeding mode. Since mine go in feeding bins, they only associate those with eating.

I either lift my adult snakes gently out, holding either before or behind the lump, and place them in their tank or just gently slide the babies into their bins from the feeding enclosure. Usually if I tilt it a little and wiggle it gently, they will crawl out on their own.