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Feeding in a Separate Tank - Yes or No, and Why?

chelzzer

chelzzer

New member
So I have seen this be debated all over the place, and I'm interested in hearing what you lovely herpers do personally. I guess this is more of a discussion than asking for advice.


Personally, I do feed my snake outside of her viv. When I got her, she was rather tank territorial, but a real sweetie once she was out; and by tank territorial, I mean she was quite flighty and very bitey inside her tank.

So besides daily handling to try and change the mean streak, I decided to start feeding her in a separate enclosure (a clean tupperware container, with lid, the size of a shoebox) as well. At first, this was an ordeal. My word, she was not a fan of change by any means haha. But she now feeds in that tupperware container with no issues.

She is also much calmer in her tank, like I was hoping for! I can now safely and confidently open her tank, lift the hide from on top of her, and pick her up without even a threat of striking. I think anyone that can sit back and say snakes aren't smart creatures, are only saying that because they've never really studied or paid attention to one.

Also, another reason I don't want to feed directly in her viv is because I'm so worried about her ingesting her aspen bedding along with the mouse. She's rather voracious when it comes to striking at and coiling around her dinner, and not only am I worried about her ingesting aspen, I think she would probably spill her entire water dish every time.

Not only is her 'viv attitude' better, she also recognizes her feeding box! I used it today to weigh her (without thinking:nope:) and she got visibly excited when I put her in the box! It actually took me a few minutes to wonder why she got so stalk-y all of a sudden hahah. She was fed a couple days ago, but she still obviously went into feeding mode when I put her in the box, and that somewhat astounded me. I knew she had a strong feeding response, but holy cow!


So, my question for you is:
feeding your snake/s - inside it's viv or in a separate enclosure? And why?
 
Yeah, I think snakes are smarter than I used to give them credit for. They seem to recognize me and become more tame over time. My snakes know the feeding bin. Charisma absolutely refused to go into the gallon size tub I was using for her. Now she has been upgraded and has no issues with that. When ever I open her viv, she checks me out and I swear her facial expression is one of...'Oh, it's you.' She used to be scared and attempt to flee or take up a defensive position. I feed all of mine in a separate viv.
 
I have several snakes and feed most in separate feeding bins.
One group I feed in their vivs. I often have individuals from that group nearly jumping out of there bins to get their dinner. Overall I prefer to feed in a separate feeding bin.
 
I feed in plastic bins. Sometimes I feed Rigby in the sink which I used to do when they were little, but he hasn't been eating lately so I just stick him in the bin with a mouse for awhile then take him out and put Marceline in instead to eat the mouse.
 
I feed Shelby in a separate container so she doesn't associate her house with food. My cousin had a corn snake that was fed in the tank and he was always mistaking fingers for mice.
 
I feed everyone in their enclosures. It's easier. I open the tub, spot clean the cage, give the snake their mouse, clean the water bowl. I've never had the issue of "cage aggression" because, generally, the cages are opening a lot more than the once every week or two for feeding. I do have one snake that is a little psycho, but as long as you start cleaning and moving things, she realizes it is not dinner time, and then can be picked up easily.
 
There was a thread about this exact subject like a month ago.

I don't think it really makes any difference which a person chooses to do. For me, I like to feed outside their enclosure, because with 10 snakes, I may not hold all of them between every feeding period. Taking them out allows me to give them a look (and feel) over, and it also allows me to clean their tank, refill their water, etc, while they are eating.

EDIT: Never mind, I guess I'm crazy. I cannot find that thread. Carry on...
 
hypnoctopus said:
There was a thread about this exact subject like a month ago.

EDIT: Never mind, I guess I'm crazy. I cannot find that thread. Carry on...
Click to expand...

Haw! I just looked for it too! There have been several polls done on this, I think it is about 50/50.

I feed inside the viv. I take them out, wrap them around my neck or wrist, spot clean and get the mouse on a plastic lid, change the water and put the lid in the viv. I weigh and check the snake over thoroughly and document everything in a notebook. Then the snake goes back in, nose to nose with the mouse, and the chomping begins.
 
Okay, weird. I tried searching for a thread about this but nothing much came up, though that could be because I'm using my mobile phone haha

Great answers though everybody! It

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My post from another thread about this topic:

IME the only time a snake gets "cage aggressive" is if that's the only time you open the viv is to feed. If you continue to open viv for other things ie handling, spot cleaning, changing water, checking teps with gun etc etc they really don't associate the opening of the viv with food. I probably open up my vivs 5-10 times for other reasons vs the 1 time for feeding. All the years I fed in the vivs I never had any tank aggression.

I don't feed in the vivs anymore as it works out better for me to have a mouse prepared and waiting in feed bin, then I get out whoever is eating, look them over, weigh them and then into the feeding bin. I don't feed everybody on the same day that way I almost always have one that can be handled!! I always do a quick check for blue before I prepare a mouse (don't want to waste one).
 
Feeding in or outside of the viv has minimal, if any effect on cage aggression. It isn't *bad* to do, but it doesn't lessen your chances of a feeding response bite. I would argue it increases them. If it works out for you and your snake to feed outside the viv, go for it. If it does not, don't. Here is my favorite article on the subject: http://arbreptiles.com/lastword/snakefeeding.shtml
 
I feed Agitprop in a separate container for two reasons: 1. she's still tiny, and I don't want her ingesting too much aspen and getting impacted; and 2. while she's in her feeding tub, I can clean and work in her viv without stressing her.


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I feed in their enclosures.

As mentioned, if the only time you are opening the enclosure is to feed, then yes, they will associate that with feeding.
Most keepers handle their snakes when they clean, weigh, inspect, etc, so "cage aggression" is not an issue.

To each their own. Neither way is right or wrong.
The only thing that is silly is the mindset that they will be "cage aggressive" if you feed in the enclosure.
 
We're new snake owners and have done a whopping 6 feedings so take this with that in mind...

The first two times we tried to take Popcorn out to feed, he freaked out and dove under the aspen so we let him be and just put his mice on a plastic lid in his viv. He never came out while we were watching, but they eventually disappeared.

The last few times we've fed him in his deli cup though and it's much better. We have a scale now so he's getting weighed and most importantly, we get to watch him eat which is very cool! It also gives DD time to do a proper poop patrol and change his water. Both of those get done at other times, but it's definitely easier to be thorough when he's not in there.

Obviously both ways work though.

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No, because I'm too lazy anymore...I fed in separate containers for years, then about two years ago I just gave up. I haven't noticed a difference.

Actually, lately I've been feeding Worm in a separate container because she's so spastic that she doesn't always notice the mouse in her tank. I put her in a shoebox bin with the mouse and she HAS to notice it eventually!
 
I feed Patrick in a separate container (a lidless tupperware much like you describe) and I have done it from the very beginning for the "don't eat the bedding" reason I saw expressed here and in the care book I got. However, I have found an additional benefit; he's trained to it.

Whenever he goes in his feeding tub, he's a totally different snake. He KNOWS that mouse is coming and he will sit and wait patiently for it. Not only is this adorable, like when he rests his chin on the rim of the tupperware waiting for me to dangle the mouse over his head, but it is very convenient because it is a predictable, consistent behavior. He knows that the tub means business and he won't get that mouse until he is entirely in the tub. It also makes for a nice difference from the "this is a handling event" experience and the "this is a feeding event" experience.
 
I feed my snake outside of her vivarium because I can hold her before she eats. I also feed outside the viv because I use aspen as a substrate and I don't want her ingesting any of that.
 
I used to feed in a feeding bin when I first got my snakes. But I keep them in a snake rack now and most of the time they are on newspaper, so I do not worry about them eating the substrate.

I've noticed no difference in their behavior. I feed each snake with feeding tongs and I make sure they are eating the mouse before I close the bin and move on to the next. If a snake refuses to take the mouse, I skip that snake and try again the next week. My males can be picky eaters in the spring.
 
WingedSweetheart said:
I used to feed in a feeding bin when I first got my snakes. But I keep them in a snake rack now and most of the time they are on newspaper, so I do not worry about them eating the substrate.

I've noticed no difference in their behavior. I feed each snake with feeding tongs and I make sure they are eating the mouse before I close the bin and move on to the next. If a snake refuses to take the mouse, I skip that snake and try again the next week. My males can be picky eaters in the spring.
Click to expand...

Have you tried leaving the mouse over night? I have a couple that won't eat as long as I am in the room. I have to leave the food, and once I am done offering food to everyone, I leave the room and shut off the light. Then they eat.
Some of them are just weird like that.
 
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