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Instead of bucket feeding...

T

tradervic

New member
I used to feed my snakes outside of their vivariums, but I got lazy. So instead of putting them in a bucket and throwing a mouse in, I started putting the mouse into their vivariums, and tapping on the glass (real fast like a drum roll). They'd come out to see what the racket's all about, and they find the mouse and eat it.

In time, my snakes would associate my tapping on the glass like it's a dinner bell. So any other way, they'd know it's not feeding time, like when I stick my hand inside to pick them up.
 
Ummm... I sure hope you use paper towels for substrate! Substrate + food (can) = impaction.
 
Impaction? Never. I used to use newspaper...no impaction. Then a friend go me using finely ground walnut media from Petco...no impaction going on the 10th year in June '06.
 
From now on, tradervic shall be known as Pavlov.

What happens if you have all of your snakes out for a group photo, and a parade goes down your street at the same time? It would be greusome.
 
Okie... so there is a GREATER RISK of impaction with particle substrates. Most of us don't want to take that risk. Try doing a search for "impaction" and "substrate" =)
 
Who knew getting the snakes out every feeding and putting them in a clean viv was so much trouble. I'm sorry, but I think you're just asking for trouble. I feed in vivs occasionally, but I always put the food on a solid item (paper plate, large deli lid, lidless deli) to avoid substrate getting stuck to the food, which always happens with f/t or pre-killed that have urinated.

I used that crushed walnut shell substrate with my Bearded Dragon for all of one month. He had multiple sores in his mouth from eating a tad here and there and chomping down on it. It would also stick to his food he'd drag out of the bowl, and his defecations became painful as he'd have to strain to expel, compared to before.

He was miserable on it. And they called it Lizard Litter, pft. He was much happier when I went to wheat bran for a substrate.

Not to mention in a snake, that'd have to be uncomfortable if you were to get smaller pieces under a scale.

Imho, 10 years doesn't make an expert, just makes you lucky. Better find some wood to knock on after making such a claim. ;)

:-offtopic And there's no cause for your "implied" foul language. There are children on this forum who don't need to be reading such an attitude in regards to some innocent sarcasm and jesting.
 
Just thought I'd say HOORAY FOR ME!!!! I did the container feeding method last night for the first time with my corns! I was so worried that they would NOT be pleased about eating when they were out of their vivs. It took a little coaxing at first but they did it! They both ate two prey items! :)

As far as the debate over wether it is necessary to remove them or not... Well, I don't know where I stand on that issue. I watch a lot of nature shows and almost every time when you see a snake in the wild eating they pretty much always get a mouth full of leaves or at least some "litter". Now I know you can argue right back that the average lifespan of a snake in the wild is muuuuuuuuuuch less than a well cared for captive..... OH WELL

I am content to understand and agree with the fact that some people disagree! :) I have fed hundreds of times on substrate as well and never had a problem. I also know a large scale boid breeder who has WAY too many snakes to take each one out to feed it. I'm talking in the hundreds... He has authored a number of care articles and is know for his very high sucess rate... If he truly thought it was a risk I highly doubt he would continue this care method with all his babies some worth $25,000 and $30,000 EACH!! :0!

For now though, since the my snakes don't seem to have a problem eating in the container, I will be using that method :) Better photo ops that way anyway!

Rebecca
 
Congrats for the successes.

Yeah, I'll have a few that aren't quite sure why they're being removed to eat in a non-home container, when it'd been just fine for feeding in their home box for a couple of months. Mostly those hatchlings who are on paper towel for a while, and then I switch to aspen.

My adults will eat anywhere, so long as its a warm mouse. Oh to have no shame in eatin.
 
I do feed in the viv, but on big paper plates. Unfortunately, working full time does not allow for removing everybody every week while I have to take care of the rest of my "zoo". I did, however, have one case where my female butter mot ingested some aspen. The month following that she did not feed, though I narrowed it down to the fact she did not like her mice cut, still worried me to distraction. Not worth the worries IMO.
 
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