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Separate feeding tubs?

H

heatherhead42

New member
I've noticed a lot of folks on here use a separate feeding tub for their snakes. I'd like to know more about the reasons and recommendations on this, and whether it is considered necessary.

Most ball python experts now seem to agree that for balls a separate feeding enclosure is not only not necessary, but may be detrimental. But of course corns are different, and so I'm just curious what the general feeling is on the matter.

Thanks,

Heather
 
Most people feed in seperate containers for the following reasons:
Most of us have some form of substrate in the cages. Feeding inside can result in substrate ingestion and impaction.
Some people feel that if you feed in the same enclosure that they live, you will create a feeding response and cause biting (I don't agree with this).
Ball pythons are a whole 'nuther ball (no pun intended) of wax. They are notorious for going off food at the slightest reason. Stress, that time of the year, whatever. There usually isn't that sort of issue with corns. A lot of them will eat in the middle of the freeway if there's a mouse!
 
there are a couple reasons that I feed in a tub:

- I have aspen in my cage, and I don't want to risk impaction

- I always take her out for a bit for a "last handling session" before I feed her, so she's usually out and about anyways. I don't want to put her back in the cage for the couple minutes it takes me to prepare her food ,only do dig her out again. Too much bother. So I just stick her in her little rubbermaid tank with the little holes punched in it to wait for her snack.

- I find watching her eat fascinating, and in a clear plastic tub on my coffee table is more conducive to viewing than in her cage.

- I can't help but believe it helps her associate coming out of her cage with being fed.

-I already had the tub so that I'd have somewhere to put her while i clean her cage, so why not make use of it? While she's eating in her separate tub, I can re-fill her water, clean out the stinky bits in her cage, and do any housekeeping necessary.
 
Number one reason for me is substrate impaction. I don't want the snakes swallowing aspen.

heatherhead42 said:
Most ball python experts now seem to agree that for balls a separate feeding enclosure is not only not necessary, but may be detrimental. But of course corns are different, and so I'm just curious what the general feeling is on the matter.
Click to expand...

I have always fed my BP in a seperate tub just like a corn, and when he goes in the tub he seems to recognise food is coming and gets quite excited. He has never refused a meal. While all snakes are individuals, personally I recommend the use of a feeding tub with any snake.
 
I can't really add anything to this, other then to say, that as you can see the general consensus is to feed in a separate tub for a multitude of reasons.
 
My reasons, FWIW
1. Insures against accidental substrate ingestion
2. Forces me to handle them at least weekly
3. Allows me to thoroughly clean the viv
4. Photo opportunities
5. Weighing

In no particular order.
Agreeing with Meg on this issue,
my snakes know when the lid of their viv opens, food is usually nearby, so I don't subscribe to the associating food with feeding in the viv theory. :cheers:
 
Okay, thanks guys! Husbandry culture is different on every board. The gentleman we bought our ball python from (a reputable wild animal trainer/breeder) recommended feeding in a separate enclosure for basically the reasons listed here, but we received SO much advice (from reputable owners/breeders) contrary to that on the BP board, that we decided to leave him in. We do place newspaper under the mouse, so substrate ingestion risk is minimized.

But since corns aren't as easily stressed, I can see how the separate enclosure would make absolute sense. :) Thanks for all the responses!

Heather
 
As well as all the other GOOD reasons listed here, one other reason I use seperate tubs is because of the association.

If I ALWAYS feed in a seperate tub, and the SAME tub for each snake, I believe that the snakes learn to associate "their tub" with food. I have seen my Florida king and my corn both start "hunting" when I put them in their feeding tub. Even though the tubs are smaller than their vivs, the minute I put them in the tubs, they start smelling around the edges, and smelling the air, hunting out their prey...they know it's around there somewhere ;), so they start looking for it. I believe that this helps to intensify the feeding response, which is an instinct I prefer to keep intact with my snakes. I LOVE an aggressive feeding response...I believe it is healthy for the snake.

Of course, the lowered risk of imnpaction is also key. Much like MegF. and MBDorfer, I feel that as long as you handle your snakes regularly, the risks of feeding becoming associated with the opening of the viv is minimal. However, in the few instances when this DOES become the only time the viv opens, it is certainly going to happen.
 
Like Mike says- it's a good time to clean the viv and take the water crock out and wash and refill. Also, with hatchlings, if you keep the deli cup they came in, it's like a small secure territory. Also, in a small container, they are stuck with the prey and know they are there to eat. Less chance of refusal by getting busy doing something else and forgetting about the mouse.

Nanci
 

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Basically you got all the good reasons to feed outside the viv :crazy02:

I do it for pretty much the same reasons as everyone else... When i had my snake for my first week, and first feed with him i fed him through his viv.. (without any knowledge of this site of course)

I placed the pinky in an open view, in the viv, for him to see.. And as i am watching the pinky i noticed the substrate sticking to it. I pretty much knew my corn would take some of the substrate along with his meal.

So with just common sense i removed it right away and got a plastic tub (with open-able [<- if this is even a word] top lid which make its perfect to feed him through. When i put him in the tub, like they say, is the perfect time to clean the tank out, refill water, or just re-arrange.

And from what i understand, if you would constantly feed it in the viv, than when you start to try to get in there regardless, your corn will think you are feeding him.. i may be wrong?

anyways, take care :wavey:
 
Hatchlings are the exception to my rule! Forgot about those. When I have new hatchlings, they are on paper in small deli cups. They are all fed in their deli cups without removing them. I think it cuts down on stress and it helps get the new babies eating more quickly. I can also more easily feed large numbers of hatchlings at one time when I just put the food in their cup, close the lid and return them to the rack. I check in the morning to see if they ate or not (that is if I don't observe them taking the mouse while I'm there).
 
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