Feeding Regime

[Scotty]

Hi Guys,

just wanted to get a feeding regime sorted out with my new diamond, and was after some thoughts.

Do you think it's best to feed in a seperate click clack instead of the Viv so he doesn't associate his Viv with food?

Should I feed in the daytime or night?

Should I hook him out when food time, and use hand when handling or vice versa to establish a routine?

Cheers in advance for your help.

[SnakeWrangler]

I feed all my snakes in their enclosures and they only go into feed mode when they can smell the food, otherwise they mostly try and get away from me if I am reaching in to get them out.

Feed them whenever it suits you, mine get fed at random times of the day when it is feed day.

If you are going to feed in a seperate feeding box and you have the food with you when getting them out then I would say definately use a hook cause once they smell the food they will most likely munch your hands.

I personally don't think snakes are capable of getting into too much of a routine, maybe basic things like getting moved into a seperate feeding box, but I doubt they would notice the time of the day. Of course I couldn't say for sure, just my opinion.

[Elfling]

This topic is a matter of opinion.

However i feed my childreni in a click clack. I usually get the mouse out to defrost with some tongs and put it in tepid water. I then get my snake out and put her in her click clack and put the lid on, puting the click clack near the defrosting food. Once it is defrosted i Open one corner, shove the mouse in with tongs and wait till she bites. After this point i take the lid off and watch her. Once she is done it is just a matter of putting her away.

The main reason i do this for is so that shed doesn't associate her cage with food. I have a friend that fed his diamond in it's enclosure and went to get it out later on. Unforutunatley the cage still smelt of mouse and the snake went for his hand thinking it was prey. Feeding i a click clack avoids this issue.

I generally feed at night because childreni are nocturnal and i figure it is logical to feed them when they are active.

As for whether to use your hand or a hook. It is up to you. I always use my hands (too pov to buy a hook) and just make sure that my other hand is no where near by when i put her into the click clack. It is probably safer with a hook though.

Gavin

[Scotty]

Thanks guys

[Julie-anne]

I was recently advised to feed in a seperate enclosure to prevent having your hand mistook as food but was unsure about how to return her without risking regurgitation. Mine has never regurgitated for any reason so i have no idea how easily it can happen?
When feeding out of the enclosure how do you get your snake back into it's enclosure? Is it ok to handle after a feed (as long its only returning them to their usual enclosure) or use a hook?

[Lurk]

I have Diamonds and I remove them out of the there enclosure and place them in there feed tubs for feeding...I use to feed in the enclosure but my Diamonds attitude did change after 18 months,every time I opened the door my male would fly at me with mouth open and this was so not like him...He is almost 4 now and has a nice big feed tub and he does not know he is being fed until I put him in it..My female DP and My BH are fed in the same way along with my babie Coastals.

I might add that this is how I feed and not every one is the same so you may find another way that you are comfortable with...Some ppl have bigger collections and do not have time to take snakes out of enclosures to feed.
Cheers Kylie