Feeding my juvie bredli?

[LadyJ]

Just curious as to HOW to feed my juvie bredli I should be getting within the next week... any suggestions on whether I should feed him in his enclosure or a seperate tub? I've never had a snake before... prepare for nooby questions.

EDIT: Could day old chicks be an option for feeding as well? Of course he will be getting rats/mice (whatever the breeder fed him on) but I know of a chook breeder and it might be easier to grab a chick if I can't get to a rat/mouse.

 

[redbellybite]

depends on you...how you would like to do it ...I feed all mine in their enclosures ..some people preffer to feed in a seperate tub .

 

[kkjkdt1]

I feed all mine in there encosures as well, totally up to you.
I would get your bredli onto rats a.s.a.p(if he already isnt).
Good luck

 

[LadyJ]

depends on you...how you would like to do it ...I feed all mine in their enclosures ..some people preffer to feed in a seperate tub .

Excellent, thank you. Have you ever had a problem doing it this way, do the snakes ever associate opening the enclosure with food? As I'm new to this I'm not sure how I'd like to do it, but would like to hear from how others prefer.

EDIT: Cheers kkjkdt1, mind if I ask you the same question as above? And just asked the breeder what he had him on - I'll stock on a few and move to rats (if not already) as soon as possible!

 

[Sock Puppet]

I have always fed my Bredl's pair in their enclosures since I first got them as hatchies. I have never been bitten by them (or any of my snakes for that matter). They've never associated me handling them or removing them to clean their enclosures, with food.

 

[zuesowns]

I feed my bredli rats and inside his enclosure.

 

[JAS101]

im the same as above , i feed my bredlis in there enclosures . the same go`s with all of my other snakes.

 

[J-A-X]

as said above, where to feed is up to you, one theory says that by feeding in the enclosure you will reinforce a 'door is opening, its feedtime' reaction from your snake, but i argue the point that when you open the door to remove the snake to feed, doesn't that also reinforce the same reaction, so if you remove the snake for a 'cuddle' why wouldn't it think it was getting fed.

when mine were small (after they had settled in for several weeks) i used to open the door once or twice a day, and just pick up things and put them down, remove the water bowl and put it back, just to let them know that an open door and hands didnt equal food, and i still do a similar thing now just less often, so now when they smell food their entire body language changes, because it only means one thing..... dinner..
and when they are removed from the enclosure, it means 'cuddles' and not food.

 

[LadyJ]

as said above, where to feed is up to you, one theory says that by feeding in the enclosure you will reinforce a 'door is opening, its feedtime' reaction from your snake, but i argue the point that when you open the door to remove the snake to feed, doesn't that also reinforce the same reaction, so if you remove the snake for a 'cuddle' why wouldn't it think it was getting fed.

when mine were small (after they had settled in for several weeks) i used to open the door once or twice a day, and just pick up things and put them down, remove the water bowl and put it back, just to let them know that an open door and hands didnt equal food, and i still do a similar thing now just less often, so now when they smell food their entire body language changes, because it only means one thing..... dinner..
and when they are removed from the enclosure, it means 'cuddles' and not food.

Thank you everyone, I found this post quite helpful and I'll certainly food in his enclosure... I don't want to stress him out too much with being juggled back and forth anyway. Thanks again!

 

[J-A-X]

Glad to be of help, just as a p.s. ..... when feeding in their enclosures make sure that the substrate (floor covering) can't be eaten, things like Kitty litter, bark, small pebbles etc can stick to the prey and be swallowed and cause impaction (constipation).. what is ideal substrate ? do a search on here, there are 1001 threads on it.

 

[LadyJ]

Glad to be of help, just as a p.s. ..... when feeding in their enclosures make sure that the substrate (floor covering) can't be eaten, things like Kitty litter, bark, small pebbles etc can stick to the prey and be swallowed and cause impaction (constipation).. what is ideal substrate ? do a search on here, there are 1001 threads on it.

Thank you - I currently use astro turf for all my reptiles and I've never had a problem. I feel safe having my baby beardie on it so I'm hoping it should all be good for the bredli (it's in his enclosure, all set up and ready to go!), I find that works for me.

 

[J-A-X]

turf will be fine, at least you'll know how to clean it

dont forget the pics as soon as it has settled in.

 

[LadyJ]

turf will be fine, at least you'll know how to clean it

dont forget the pics as soon as it has settled in.

Thank you!

Trust me, I won't be able to get pics up soon enough!

 

[Kristy_07]

I find paper towel is fine for hatchies and juvies - and easier & quicker to clean than turf. Just another option.

I feed out of enclosure. But quite honestly, I don't really think it makes a difference. Can't wait for pics

 

[Snakelove]

I don't understand how people who feed in seperate tubs say that it helps with their temperament. Feed in your enclosure, less stress for the animal. You wouldn't want to move either if your belly was full of food.

 

[Sock Puppet]

Glad to be of help, just as a p.s. ..... when feeding in their enclosures make sure that the substrate (floor covering) can't be eaten, things like Kitty litter, bark, small pebbles etc can stick to the prey and be swallowed and cause impaction (constipation).. what is ideal substrate ? do a search on here, there are 1001 threads on it.

My Bredl's & womas have all, on occasion, ingested some substrate. I use a coir product, which is organic. It either breaks down during digestion or is passed, but none of my snakes have suffered any ill effects of ingesting some substrate.

Naturally some substrates are better than others, a lot of people argue that newspaper is still the best in terms of cost, availability, ease of cleaning, no ingestion etc. Personally I'd rather a more natural looking substrate than newspaper, but each to their own.

 

[wiz-fiz]

I found that putting it in a different plastic tub didn't work. Because the plastic tub was cold I think.


Will

 

[J-A-X]

I'd like to try coir, but am having trouble sourcing one without water crystals or some sort of fertiliser in it, Coir is ok, cos it is fine to start with, I know some people use the KittyCrumble but i cant find an outlet in SA for it, i currently use marine carpet, and am looking at other flooring material like slate effect Lino for some of my display enclosures, Too many choices.... and Newspaper isn't one choice i would make, i'd rather butchers paper than newsprint.

 

[Sock Puppet]

I know some people use the KittyCrumble but i cant find an outlet in SA for it

That's what I use. Although it's now called Kritter's Crumble, comes in two grades, & has only just now been sent out to retailers. You could try their website to find an outlet.

 

[tahniandshae]

hey ladyJ, i feed all mine (bredli) in their enclosure. they only get fed at night which is a natural feeding time for the morelias. i have done this with all my critters and it works fine. during the day no cage opening relates to feeding so they are pussycats. night time, different story. my most placid snakes would probably tag me if i were to attempt a cuddle at nighttime. hope this helps. Clint