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Hand Feeding, okay?

L

LittlePrince

New member
I have fed my 3 month old creamsicle twice now since I have had it. Both times I fed the snake while it was still in the tank and I hand fed it by holding the tail of the pinky. My snake doesn't like to feed if I move the pinky around, as some people have suggested that I do, so I just hold it right in front of my snake's head for it to sense for a few seconds before it decides to latch on.

My snake has never struck at me or shown any signs of aggression toward me at all. In fact, if I pull the snake out and don't keep it out long enough it will try to clumb back out of the tank for more attention. If I have had it out of the tank for a long time with me, though, then when I put it back it will just go burrow into a hide.

As far as I can tell, my snake and I get along pretty well. I'm just wondering if I should use feeding tongs or something when I feed my snake? Oh, and I took a bunch of pictures of it eating today and it didn't seem to mind me watching it eat. It just hung there on the branch until it fully consumed the pinky that I held out for it.
 
You don't have to hand feed at all. Just put the snake and the pinky in the same tank - nature will take its course.
 
I don't really have any sort of separate container to feed my snake it. Maybe I should get one? Is it really that bad to hand feed my snake? I like doing it so long as my snake won't be any more aggressive by my doing so. So far the snake has no negative reactions to hand feeding.
 
It's not _bad_ to hand feed a pink to a baby. I do it all the time. I suspect, though, that as the snake becomes bigger and actually begins to strike, you might decide it's time to let the snake feed himself! As Bitsey says, you can just place the snake in a small container, with a lid, with holes, and let it feed. Don't EVER leave a snake in a feeding bin alone, uncovered, for even one moment. A couple advantages of feeding in a separate container are it gives you a chance to spot clean the viv and remove, wash and replace the water bowl while the snake is out. The snake won't ever accidentally ingest substrate. And if the mouse explodes, it's much easier to clean up later.
 
IMHO if you enjoy feeding this way then go ahead. Can't see how it could harm your pet. As long as you understand the increased risk of being mistaken for part of the meal and don't mind.
Most of the people in this forum are more experienced than I so maybe someone else has some advice as well?
 
Re: Hand Feeding....

I have only a couple of corns who seem to like hand. Left hand, right hand, they seem to have no preference. However, I am a staunch advocate for not feeding hands to snakes.
 
Nanci said:
And if the mouse explodes...
Click to expand...

OMG! I want one! Do you need a special BATF license for those? What kind of detonator do they need?

As far as hand feeding just realize there is always the risk of getting bitten. And if your family is like mine, good luck finding anyone to suck the venom out. LOL! I aint got no fancy feeding tongs either. Been using chopsticks and they work great.:crazy02:
 
I feed by hand. I had one baby corn I fed while in my hand, he is now older & I no longer do this. Corns can be so sweet!
 
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