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Some Questions About Eating...

Kitten0Face

Kitten0Face

New member
Ok,

So I've had Larry for a month, and i'm waffling back and forth on how to feed him.

He's a baby, so I know he's still insecure and afraid of me. My last snake didn't show any signs of discomfort eating outside of his tank, and he was a baby too.

However, Larry seems really paranoid and nervous when I take him out to eat. So I tried feeding him in his tank, by luring him into a deli cup with the pinkie so he could eat somewhere he felt safe, but without risk of ingesting bedding. That was fine. But I am wondering if I should stay with that, since I imagine he will associate my hand with food.

Also, I did that again yesterday, and he went a little wild with it and dragged it onto the bedding. At that point it was half in his mouth, and I couldn't do anything about it. I'm not sure if he ingested and pieces or not...

So that's a concern. My other concern is that every time he's eaten so far he's made a huge mess. Is there anything I can do or should look out for to make sure he stays sanitary and healthy.

Thanks for any advice in advance!!:eats02:
 
What kind of mess? Like mouse blood? Spilled water? I only ask because theres never any mess when I feed Vera so I'm curious. A few drops of blood if she eats a slit or cut one, but not much.
 
JessKeen said:
What kind of mess? Like mouse blood? Spilled water? I only ask because theres never any mess when I feed Vera so I'm curious. A few drops of blood if she eats a slit or cut one, but not much.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I guess I should have specified! Yes, blood mostly. One time there was a tiny piece of something left over, but that was when I fed him outside of the tank so I knew exactly what was where. But yes, he'll get blood all over his face.
 
I think however you want to do it is fine, to be honest. I think that as long as you take him out (when he's comfortable and not digesting) and don't just put your hand in when feeding, s/he shouldn't associate you with food, I don't think.

I'd want to make sure your snake is eating regularly before you try feeding outside of the enclosure, as to not cause stress when it is not a good time. Not that any time is good to cause stress, but you know...

There are people who feed inside the tank, and those who feed outside (and those who do both). I used to feed outside but switch to inside, just because it was less work for me. Honestly, my corn does not associate me with food because I don't need to give the food to her in tweezers or anything like that. I put it in a clean ice cream container, and put her fake foliage around it so she can't drag out the mouse.

Best of luck!
 
Zeus my older boy will only eat a certain way, we have a small tank (the ones you house them in as babies!) he goes in there with his mouse lid goes on and the whole thing goes back into his Viv! It's very wierd but through a lot of trial and error this is obviously were he feels comfortable doing it so that's fine with me! Where as Murphy would eat anywhere lol


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The more you handle him, the more he will get used to you. This includes a routine of weighing and then feeding in a container.
 
If he eats & does not regurge when you move him to his feeding container, then he's fine. Yes, he may be nervous, but not so much it is having a significant negative effect on him. Over time, as he gets bigger and with handling, he'll settle down. It also helps to have a routine.
 
I feed in the tank. My corns have never mistaken my hand for food.

To keep bedding digestion down, I place a large piece of cardboard in the tank around where I think they'll eat. If you are feeding f/t or pinkies, they don't really move much.

On a side note, if your snake ever does bite you, it doesn't hurt. Don't jerk away either, you could end up hurting it. Snake bites from small corns feels like velcro. It should quickly figure out your not a mouse and let go.
 
Thanks everyone! I think i'll give the different container another go. What do you guys usually use? Just like a bowl, or another tiny tank?
 
I use a small cricket carrier I bought at Wal-Mart for about 5 bucks. I put Darth Maul in while I prepare the pinkie. He calms down and usually ways quickly. Once he is back to moving around I take the lid off and he crawls out and into his hide to digest.

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I went to the dollar store and bought a large plastic container with a lid, for $1! Maybe $2... but now I use it for carrying snakes for travel ;) so many ways you can do it.
 
I have a large clear tupperware container the size/shape of a shoebox with a lid that snaps on. I put Peaches in it with the lid on while I get the mouse ready. She knows what that bin means, once the lid is on she's looking all around for the mouse. I wait until she gets the whole mouse down and starts exploring the box again, and at that point I place the box inside her tank with the lid off and allow her to exit the feeding box as she pleases. Once she's out, I go back and clean everything and put it away. She eats great this way.

My only issue is now she's almost too big for the shoebox lmao, so I have to find something new.

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