Aussie Pythons and Snakes

NRE-808 · #1 30-Jul-06, 05:12 PM

Hey Everyone.

a simple enough question that has been asked on here many a time before i am sure, the Pros and Cons of feeding in and outside the enclosure.
Feeding inside- i have read that this can make them more agro towards anything thas moving inside the enclosure, or at least, they think its automatically food... this accurate?
Feeding outside- i imagine it'd be a lot easier and less stressful to clean up etc, but is it stressful for the snake to be put back in its enclosure just after its eaten something?

any help and advice is appreciated

Ian

raptor · #2 30-Jul-06, 05:22 PM

I do both where there is more than one animal in the enclosure I seperate, the ones I feed in the enclosure I use tongs.

serpenttongue · #3 30-Jul-06, 05:24 PM

Yes, those that get fed indoors will get excited, expecting food whenever the enclosure door is opened. During this time they're more likely to strike at anything that moves, which in turn increases the chances of getting bitten. This isn't a major problem if only one python is in the enclosure as you can simply drop the dead rodent in and walk away. However, if you have 2 snakes in one enclosure and you need to part them for feeding it can be difficult to get one out as they tend to remain rooted to the spot (especially if on a branch)in anticipation of food and trying to get them out just excites them more.

Feeding outside is a lot easier. You can just put the python on the lawn and it will usually sit there waiting for the food. After feeding i give them 20 minutes to come out of feeding mode and then using a hook i place them back into their enclosure. I think the most difficult part of feeding on the lawn is actually getting them out of the enclosure to begin with.

glacey · #4 30-Jul-06, 05:27 PM

I've done both and haven't found that it makes much difference either way - I use newspaper as a substrate, so no concerns about eating sand etc.

I always remove snakes with a hook, so reduces the opportunity to bite.

Lost_in_the_Jungle · #5 30-Jul-06, 06:29 PM

I feed my jungles in a feed box and they will eat every time they are offered, i have also found that bathing them quickly after feeding them gets them out of hunting mode.

Julie-anne · #6 30-Jul-06, 06:50 PM

I've been wondering about the pro's and con's of this as well. I was going to start using a feeding tank for mine but the only thing i was unsure was when feeding outside of the enclosure does it stress the snake out to be moved around after they have eaten, when putting them back into their usual enclosure? can this cause regurgitation? or is it too quick to cause any trouble? (sorry for all the q's!)

serpenttongue · #7 30-Jul-06, 07:12 PM

Julie-anne, as long as you move the snake straight to it's enclosure from outside, then you wont have a problem. Most snakes are reluctant to regurgitate anyway and i quick bit of handling as you put it back in it's cage wont cause any harm. If anything, it will probably excite the snake more.

snakegal · #8 30-Jul-06, 07:32 PM

I've heard of ppl feeding in the bathtub. It means there is no association with anything else but the bath with food. I pull my 2 out and feed in cardboard box atm, then pull them out with my hand. If I get tagged no biggie, but I want them to learn to differentiate between my smell and that of a rat/mouse.

NRE-808 · #9 30-Jul-06, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snakegal

I want them to learn to differentiate between my smell and that of a rat/mouse

i wish you the best of luck with that

i am still a little new to this to be as blase with the idea of getting tagged

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lost_in_the_Jungle

i have also found that bathing them quickly after feeding them gets them out of hunting mode.

sorry to ask you to (as its probably fairly self explainitory to more experienced herps) but, could you go into a little more detail regarding the baths? that'd be helpful

DiamondAsh · #10 31-Jul-06, 12:25 PM

I feed Ash inside his enclosure. He has never bitten or even gone to bite. Most of the time he needs to be woken gently to eat, lol. If he moves into strike position we simply withdraw from the enclosure and shut the door. My girlfiend likes to let him strike the food out of her hand, (holding by the tail just above his head to be safe) and she hasn't been bitten or even close yet, he's only interested in the rat. Ash gets handled quite a lot and is pretty safe unless he's woken rudely in which case we let him have a move about before attempting to handle him. The only other thing is we never handle after he has eaten as he does tend to get a little snappy then.

Snow1369 · #11 31-Jul-06, 12:59 PM

i feed both mine out and neither of them strike after food! i can either just place the tub in the tank till they get out or pick them up and place them in both don't bother them or myself!

jeramie85 · #12 31-Jul-06, 01:49 PM

i am currently feeding in and out of the enclosure

i keep 2 atherton jungles in one (as the female wont eat unless she is housed with the male for some weird reason) but when feeding time comes i put the female into a lunch box sort of thing that slightly sits on the heatmat just for some warmth she eats then about 5 mins after she has finished eating she gets a warm bath
same goes with the male after the bath about half hour later they get placed back into enclosure

but my 2 jungles as they are still new get fed in there enclosure to try and keep stress of new house and everything else down (theyre kept in seperate enclosures) but will eventually be fed out of enclosure probably in there next feed or one after that

kwaka_80 · #13 31-Jul-06, 03:21 PM

my girlfriend was holding one of our spotted pythons the other day and the smell of mice must have come under the door anyway the snake constricted her hand making it swell up and i used my hook to hold its head away from any body parts... it ended up biting the hook and holding on to that for a good 5 - 10mins... it has nothing to do with the topic but its about feeding i supose

NRE-808 · #14 31-Jul-06, 08:57 PM

I have every intention to start breeding my own rats so i will need to make sure that she cannot get the scent from around me or off me

i dont fancy getting tagged just yet

i was once told by someone very wise

(Melissa and Steve) that there are no wrong answers, just a whole lot of right ones (in regards to this anyway)

A little curious (or dense) about the warm baths people are giving their snakes... i understand why but just not what it entails exactly

you will have to forgive my ignorance