Feeding in cage or in a separate enclosure?

[Tavia]

Just wondering how many people feed one way or the other? And if you want to mention the reason(s) you chose to feed whichever way you do, that would be great.

 

[AshWolFF]

I am a new Corn owner but I feed in a separate enclosure. I have a little Rubbermaid bin with a couple of paper towels that I use.

I found that my Corn was hissing/snapping at me even if just opened the enclosure. I had fed him in the viv at least two times.

I started feeding him in the bin then just gently brushing him back into the vivarium, I didn't know if that helped or constantly holding him but he doesn't snap anymore.

Personally I feel it's good to feed them in a separate area because now my Corn knows when I put him in the bin because he gets his 'hunter-mode' on and ready for the mouse. In the tank I think it trains him to think that anything that comes in the door is food.

Just my two cents.

 

[Nanci]

I voted in a separate enclosure, but I do have a couple exceptions. The kingsnakes get fed in their vivs, unless they launch themselves out, then they eat on the kitchen floor. Noah the BOA eats in her hide box, off tongs, after going through a very picky phase for no known reason, after I'd had her several years. And every once in a while I'll have a hatchling that wants to eat in its bin, on paper towels, for a limited amount of time till it gets with the program.

 

[MysticExotics]

I voted some of both. I primarily feed in enclosures. I do have a few exceptions, when I have a problem feeder and need to feed in a paperbag, small deli, etc.
Aside from a few special cases, I always feed in their enclosures.

 

[Guruofchem]

Both at the moment. I move my corn to a tub, and I have just gotten an Irian Jaya carpet I am switching to F/T mice from live, so with her I feed in the viv (which has paper towel substrate at the moment) to reduce stress until I get her switched over. At that point I will see what she likes and feed accordingly. I have a small number of reptiles, and I can afford to do what they like rather than what is most time-efficient.

 

[smigon]

I put dinner on a plastic lid and after exercising for a bit, they go back in their vivs and dinner is waiting. Gus automatically eats the second his head is by the lid, but Scarlett likes to hide for a while before eating. The plastic lids make sure that dinner never touches the aspen, and keeps it clean until she wants to eat.

 

[Justine66]

always in a separate container, but I only have the 2 so its easy and time efficient.

 

[zazoo31]

I was told it was better in a second container because they don't associate feeding with their viv so I have always just done it that way. Haven't had a problem and Berto eats immediately everytime.

 

[crotalis40741]

I just feed in the snakes tub. You don't have the empty tubs taking up space, is time saving, and cheaper since you don't have to buy extra tubs. lol

 

[Tavia]

I voted some of both. Most of ours are fed in separate enclosures but there are a few that get fed in their own enclosure. I personally don't think there is a 'right' way or a 'wrong' way to feed. I think it depends first on the species, some are just as a whole unsuited to being fed outside their cage. Second on your individual snake, some must be fed one way or another to eat well at all and some can become more aggressive depending on what method is used. Third, on whatever the keeper finds easiest, especially with the snakes that don't care one way or the other.

I was just a bit surprised that on another forum, for lots of different species of snakes, this question come up in a few different recent threads and the answer was overwhelmingly a negative on separate feeding, and rather derogatory of those that do. So I wanted to see how most corn keepers do things, as I think part of the attitude on that forum had a lot to do with the species being kept by those against it.

 

[spyderk]

The kingsnakes get fed in their vivs, unless they launch themselves out, then they eat on the kitchen floor.

That sounds hilarious!

I voted separate enclosure because I assume we are talking corn snakes. I feed my 4 corn snakes their own feeding bins and it works very well. We usually feed them on the same day lately, and the kids enjoy watching to see who "wins."

I feed the kings and milksnake in their enclosures because 1) Milkshake the milk is a spazzy freak and I don't want to upset him after he's eaten (I did start feeding him separately but I hated chasing him around his bin trying to move him back, and tipping him into it gently didn't work very well). 2) Sherlock my striped Cal king is a little spitfire when hungry, and I don't really want to get bitten even though he's tiny (now!), and 3) Elliot has been a problem feeder so I feed/trap him in a plastic container in his enclosure and do not even enter the room for a few hours.

I used to put the mice on a tiny platter (for the king and milk) but they drag it off anyway, so now I just make sure it's totally dry and just set it on the aspen.

 

[Justine66]

spyderk- your milk and king mixed together sound like my milk!
I still feed him in a container cause I don't need him biting me lol but yeah I would have to chase him around and I didn't like upsetting him and tipping his bin he would literally flop out! (no good either!)

soo I got a small snake hook! it works like a charm too!
now he just hops on after his meals done, holds on and he gets carried to his house!

lol and it doesn't take much longer to do!!

 

[dave partington]

I start off hatchlings by placing the snakelet and pinky in a deli cup and snapping the lid on. Usually by the third feeding, they are conditioned to know the deli cup means feeding time. After that, I place a pinky in an open deli cup, and then place the deli cup in their enclosure. Some individuals need a hand now and then to figure out they are supposed to stay in the deli cup while feeding. I continue feeding in deli cups until they are around 18 inches long. After that they move up to larger homes, and prey/food is placed in 6 qt sterilite tubs, in their enclosure. Again, some zealous individuals require some manipulation to stay in the feeding tub, but usually by the third time, they are conditioned to stay in the feeding tub while swallowing prey.

 

[spyderk]

spyderk- your milk and king mixed together sound like my milk!
I still feed him in a container cause I don't need him biting me lol but yeah I would have to chase him around and I didn't like upsetting him and tipping his bin he would literally flop out! (no good either!)

soo I got a small snake hook! it works like a charm too!
now he just hops on after his meals done, holds on and he gets carried to his house!

lol and it doesn't take much longer to do!!

That is exactly what happens to Milkshake. He would flop out, upside down, and then I felt so bad ... but he would not just GO out of his feeding bin!

 

[m1n054]

I feed my corn snake outside its tank but since she got mites and she's now on paper towel I feed her in its tank. My ball python hasn't eaten yet and I was planning on using a temporary tub to feed him but they told me it's better if i feed him in its tub.

 

[Mari]

I used to feed my corn, Rigby, in a separate tub, but he got very, very distressed when I did. He got very irritated and the only time he's ever hissed or false-strike'd me was when he was being fed out of the enclosure. When I feed in the enclosure, he eats, begs for more (lol) and then goes to hide in his warm hide.

That being said.... I take him out EVERY DAY for at least 10-30 minutes that he isn't digesting or shedding. He knows when the tank opens, it's probably just momma about to say hi to him. When I feed him, I don't put my hands in, it's only tongs & a plastic lid with the prey on it. He seems a lot less stressed this way.

HOWEVER - that's my snake's personality, I think. Others might get "cage-aggression" from being fed in their cage, but it seems to be fine for Rigby. He has never bitten me, never done the "fake strike" or even hissed while I'm taking him out.

I think both methods are valid but depend on the species and temperament of the particular animal.

 

[hypnoctopus]

I like to feed in a separate tub for my snakes, for many of the reasons already mentioned. But another reason I like to feed in a separate container is that it gives me the opportunity to check my snakes over and weigh them. Plus I just like to watch them eat.

 

[Alli_Draggy]

Wadjet was eating in her regular tank, with the food on a plastic lid, so we've continued to feed her that way. She isn't cage aggressive at all, so it doesn't seem to affect her-and she is fun to watch as she hunts and constricts her dead mouse .

 

[DuchessNeeka]

I feed in a separate enclosure for most of the reasons already mentioned. I can check Korben's weight, look him over, and get any cleaning done to his tank that's needed all while he eats. He likes to move quite a bit while eating now so using a deli cup (or any type of lid) in his regular tank wouldn't guarantee that the food would stay clear of aspen.

I just feel more comfortable and that he's safer in the separate bin.

 

[Chip]

I voted wrong! I feed strictly inside the enclosure, except for the first 6 or 8 weeks. Don't know why I clicked "separate," I really see no upside to the practice and several downsides.