feeding time

[JBLAZE725]

I see everyone here all follows the same rule of don't feed the snake in it's viv, feed in an empty container outside the viv. Exactly why is this? Also my snake rarely ever wants to leave it's hide so would I have to put him in the other container with his hide and all?

 

[princess]

I'm guessing your snake is young. The small ones are easily intimidated and spend a fair bit of their time hiding. Also, if there's a lot of traffic past the viv, they'll be a little less 'out-there'.

We feed our snakes in a different container to reduce the risk of the snake eating the substrate and ending up with impaction problems and also so the snake doesn't learn to associate the cage opening and a hand coming in, with a reason to strike. If the snake is always fed in a particular box, they'll think of it as the only place they eat, which might save you getting snapped at someday!

 

[MegF.]

I feed seperately more for the substrate issue, than the striking issue. I've fed a couple of my more nervous snakes in their viv on paper towel, and never had a problem with being bitten. I think if the only time you opened the viv was to feed them, you would have a biting issue, but I open it everyday to handle the snakes without feeding, so they really never know if you're going to feed them or hold them.

 

[Arkwright]

Hate to be the odd one out but I have always fed my corns in their viv.

I present their food on a dish to avoid the 'swallowing substrate' issue as best I can and as yet have never had any problems.

Neither of my snakes strike for the food when I put it in their respective vivs, they simply watch with interest as I put the dish in and then seem to stalk their 'prey' for a little while before devouring it.

I don't feed them in their viv for any other reason than the breeder I bought them from told me that's how he had fed them for the first year of their lives and being a complete novice, I just took his advice.

I must add that I never touch the mice with my hands, so my snakes have ever scented food on my skin when I handle them.

I can see the point of feeding them seperately and I guess I would be supporting that method if thats what I had been told to do when I got my first snake.

Not sure this answers your question, just gives you and alternative view I guess.

 

[TrpnBils]

It's also a convenient time to do a thorough cleaning of the viv itself. You can do a lot more when you don't have a snake in there trying to eat in peace or one hanging off of your arm trying to get into everything that they shouldn't get into.

 

[mbdorfer]

My main reason is the substrate ingestion issue.
My other reason is, having limited time to spend with my snakes, this forces me to take them out of the viv and keep them "manageable".
About the only time they get much handling is on feeding day.

 

[Bandit]

The primary reason is not the "substrate" issue, but the accidental biting of the owner by the snake. This is not as much of an issue with Corn snakes as it is with other snakes, especially the boids which grow much larger and can give nasty bites. Corns in general are much more docile snakes and I have fed fussy eaters directly out of my hands on several occasions. With Corn snakes you can certainly get away with feeding them in their vivarium but just keep in mind that if you haven't fed your snake for a couple of weeks and you've handled a mouse recently, there is the chance that the snake will think that nice pink and warm finger is a treat coming it's way. LOL

 

[princess]

It's also a convenient time to do a thorough cleaning of the viv itself.

So true,

I pop the snake into the feeding tub, dump the newspaper into the bin (for my tub-kept snakes) and take the tub into the bathroom to blast it with the shower hose and give it a scrub down. Then I use an old towel to give it a dry, put in new paper, clean the water bowl and hide and pop it all back in place. By the time I've done all this, snakie had finished swallowing and is ready to go home again. I generally clean everything out totally every 2nd feed (and spot clean when I can) and this keeps everything nice and clean.

 

[DinoNeill]

Eep, I've always fed my corn in her tank because I was told to never bother your snake during/after eating for a few days...hence I figured feeding her outside of the tank and then moving her back in would be "bothering" her. She doesn't seem to associate my hand with being food, she just slowly smells me whenever I try to get her out...and she has never attempted to tag me. (aside from one time when i tapped the glass after she just ate...rather stupid on my part)

 

[Sappingtont]

I feed inside the viv, I'm using towels as a substrate. I haven't had any problems with biting yet...Knock on wood. I usually have a pair of Tweezers or whatever they are called to hold the mouse and I dangle it in front of my snake, so i think that may be why he doesn't assosiate my hand with food.

 

[colinmcc]

Always fed out of the viv:

a) To avoid the hand = food association
b) To avoid them eating substrate (especially when I was using repti-bark)
c) To clean out the poop and change the water with minimum hassle
d) So I know they've eaten it! In a large tank it can sometimes be ignored and if it's f/t it goes off and gets stinky pretty quickly.

 

[Energi2er]

I have fed in a seperate container sometimes, and in the viv other times, sometimes he eats from my hand. IMO it doesnt matter where you feed as long as you make sure no substrait is ingested, the associate open viv = feed time only applys to a snake that never gets handled, and the only time the viv gets open is feed time. So as long as you handle the snake regularly this shouldnt be a problem. Also when I clean the viv I usually have someone else handle my snake if he is not eating in another container. So what ever method works for you is fine.

 

[TrpnBils]

I figured feeding her outside of the tank and then moving her back in would be "bothering" her.

Moving them back into the viv right after eating isn't a problem. Actually, as far as the "48 hour rule" goes, it all depends on the snake. Some people here will tell you (especially with well-adjusted adults) that they can be handled as soon as you want after feeding with no problems. It's all about how comfortable the snake feels with you. One word of advice though, whenever you're putting the snake back in the viv after eating, try not to grab right where the mouse is.

 

[ashleynicole]

I was just told to feed in a different container but common sense led me to my method of feeding, becuase i don't ever ever want my snake to associat my hand, or the opening of the lid with feeding.
Therefore i feed him in a separate "critter keeper" (he lives in a glass aquarium) with No substrate, no decor, no anything.
1. First i put the thawed pinky in the container
2. Then i Wash my hands thoroughly
3. I take my snake out of his aquarium and then i put him IN the container with the pinky, i introduce him to the pinky, not the pinky to him. that way he doesn't associate me or the lid opening with food. Then i close the lid so i can safetly watch him eat.. and if i walk away for a minute i don't have to worry about him getting loose.
When he's finished eating i give him a few minutes to let the mouse/mice get into his belly good, and then i gently pick him up and put him back in his home (without touching the lump) Put the lid on and he's good to go until i see him out and about again. I have handled mine 24 hours after feeding the last two feedings without a problem becuase he was out and about and there was no lump
And then i always wash out his feeding contaner with bleach and water to get the smell out.
I know that corn snakes are more docile, their bites don't hurt, etc etc etc.. but i still don't want to risk associating my fingers with food or the lid opening. So i will continue to feed in this manner... and of course i plan on having more snakes in the future, so its good practice to start.

 

[Lennycorn]

I was just told to feed in a different container but common sense led me to my method of feeding, becuase i don't ever ever want my snake to associat my hand, or the opening of the lid with feeding.
Therefore i feed him in a separate "critter keeper" (he lives in a glass aquarium) with No substrate, no decor, no anything.

Isn't that a little boring ? And don't you think a little decoration, branches leaves, etc will help him feel more secure. I could see if you were a breeder with 300 hatchling and I bet they even have there "show cases" .
Whats the point then.

 

[princess]

I'm quite sur she means that the snake is fed in a critter keeper without any superfluous accesories. Read the sentence out loud without the part in brackets and you'll see what I mean.

Ash...sounds like you're doing a very thorough job! It's all very honourable...but try keeping it up if/when you have 20+ to feed!!!

 

[colinmcc]

At peak hatchling point this year I had 30 hatchlings and 5 adults on the go.

For me, that was too many. Feeding and cleaning up took ages (all in separate tubs/tanks apart from 3 adult females).

God only knows how you guys with 100's of hatchlings on the go manage to keep up with them ..... :bowdown:

 

[princess]

Or those who are in the thousands!

I've said to myself (although it could change) that I want to breed a maximum of 6 females a year. I figure that should give me about 80-100 hatchlings to deal with and I think I can manage that. As a hobbyist I think it's a bit crazy to just breed, breed, breed and worry about what to do with all the leftovers later.

I figure with 80-100 I can sell 50-70 and then offload the rest as bulk...

 

[ashleynicole]

I was just told to feed in a different container but common sense led me to my method of feeding, becuase i don't ever ever want my snake to associat my hand, or the opening of the lid with feeding.
Therefore i feed him in a separate "critter keeper" (he lives in a glass aquarium) with No substrate, no decor, no anything.

Isn't that a little boring ? And don't you think a little decoration, branches leaves, etc will help him feel more secure. I could see if you were a breeder with 300 hatchling and I bet they even have there "show cases" .
Whats the point then.

ha ha ha ha... his home is very decorated.. LOL.. and im working on getting new stuff for it, i was talking about his feeding containter.. it is bare... sorry about the confusion.