Should I use a feedbox or not? Opinions???

jakesnake · #1 (**permalink**) 05-04-2002, 10:31 PM

Hi I currently don't use a feedbox for my 2 snakes. I have a 4 foot Burm and a Ball python. I just give them fresh killed food. I have some frozen mice on the way from RodentPro, so I'am working on coverting them over to frozen. When I feed them now I leave the room, they usually, make their way back to their hide boxes on their own. As my Burm gets bigger a feedbox looks like a good idea. Does it matter? Just wondering what everyone here does about this. Thanks
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#2 (**permalink**) 05-04-2002, 10:37 PM

Hi There;

WELCOME TO REDTAILBOA.NET!!!

If you look through the threads you will notice that not only do we feed dead prey to our snakes BUT we also use feeding totes when feeding them too. [ There are a few that don't I think though] I myself use feeding totes and feed them outside their cages. There are many reasons for doing such, some being ... feeding responce strikes when opening the cage and ingestion of substrate. Others will be along and expand more on this for you shortly.
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LdyDrgn · #3 (**permalink**) 05-05-2002, 12:36 AM

I am one of those that doesn't use a seperate feed box. Most of my snakes are kept on turf, so the loose substrate/impaction issue is moot. As far as getting feed responses when opening their enclosures, as of yet I have not experienced this. I am in their enclosures cleaning, moving stuff, misting and handling (of course!) so often that they are used to the 'invasion' by me. Feeding happens once every so many days, so it isn't as imprinted on them. I do have 2 male bci I use separate feed totes for and that is because they live in the same enclosure (that will be remedied soon, I hope). They get fed and then a quick rinse in some warm water to wash off any rodent scent before going back home. Usually when sticking my hand in, they will either come up and sniff or completely ignore me. If they want attention, they will proceed to climb up my arm. If they don't want to be bothered then they will slither off to a hide. I have not been bitten yet by my snakes, although I have an Amazon Tree Boa coming, so all that might change....hehehehe [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

Good luck with yours and whetever technique you choose. Keep one thing in mind, however. The burm will get to a point where it will be too large to use a separate feed tote. You may want to spend extra time with him/her in order to let him/her know that when you are in the enclosure it doesn't mean 'feeding time'. I can understand why some prefer the totes, like Lori. She has such a large number of snakes that in order to spend time with ALL of them like I do mine, she would never have time for anything else. Lori is a very busy woman and still manages to take great care of her animals (HOW DO YOU DO IT???) I'm home all day and at present have 6 snakes, soon to be 9, but still a small enough amount for me to spend time with each and be able to feed in their enclosures. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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#4 (**permalink**) 05-05-2002, 12:45 AM

Ldy...I'm not the only one here who works with my reptiles. remember that ALL my kids do as well..just depends on what it is though. They don't work with the huge ones but they do the others. Some of my kids even have already learned how to hand feed snakes hehe My niece does very well at such even. She is the one who feeds the Northern Pine snake . My 4 year old does the same thing with a ball python, and my 2 brb's [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] [ these are lil baby snakes ]Taught correctly, it's not a problem at all. 2 of the kids even know exactly what needs to be defrosted and how to do such also for the snakes that eat f/t. All I have to do is tell em that tomm is feeding day for that to be done. Each person here has specific reptiles that they help or fully take care of and I oversee what they are doing also. Cage cleaning as well as feeding are a shared thing here by all. Least till they figure out that it falls under the heading of chores lmao. In this household we ALL work together [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
I've got 2 kids here that can even do mics on reptiles also. they know how to get a sample, cure it , and assess it too. they are usually not wrong either when they find soemthing that needs to be tended to.
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LdyDrgn · #5 (**permalink**) 05-05-2002, 01:23 AM

WOW...Lori, that is VERY cool. I doubt I could get my son's attention for more than 5 minutes to show him...hehehe. But then, he doesn't live with me (he will be moving to Idaho as soon as school lets out, dad is there already) and his father's g/f doens't like snakes!! I was planning on teaching him and giving him some of the babies after I started breeding, but now I can't. His father likes snakes, but g/f has ALREADY said no. hrmf...she don't know what she's missin'......
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#6 (**permalink**) 05-05-2002, 04:34 AM

Nope she doesn't have a clue apparently [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img] MAybe your son will be able to get "dad" to "open" his eyes a bit in such areas....
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cb76 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-05-2002, 04:50 AM

i also use totes and bucket type things to feed.
this is a must if you have snakes that are housed together.

is it really an issue, no, not if you handle your animals frequently- then they wont associate with cage opening with feedings.

there are arguments saying both- so its what you decide to do.

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#8 (**permalink**) 05-05-2002, 05:01 AM

Yeah I can also see that too CB. Gotta keep in mind though that the snake will also have some say in what you do too. We had an issue here awhile back that required 2 of our snakes to wind up with some rats to feed on in their cage. They had ALWAYS been fed outside cage in a tote and after we had to let em have rats in their cage....EVERY TIME WE OPENED THAT CAGE..WE LEARNED TO EXPECT A STRIKE FROM THEM BOTH...ARGHH
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JuliusSqueezer · #9 (**permalink**) 05-05-2002, 08:59 AM

There are of course exceptions to every rule. Most of my snakes are fed in totes because I use loose substrate. I have thick skin and really could care less about most snake bites as long as venom isn't involved...I have seen very little difference in the occurance of feeding response from ADULT snakes fed in or out of the cages of most species....but have noticed that neonates seem to associate things differently than adults.

Some snakes that I recomend feeding in the cage they live in are the arboreals. ESPECIALY Corallus and Chondros. they feed from the branches anyway and like to dangle upside down and swallow upwards. Placing these snakes in feed totes seems to really stress them out and they seem more concerned with finding something to anchor to than to feed. Then of course handling such a delicate stressed out snake to put him back in the cage could provoke a regurge and we all know how that sucks. Any snake that I have that dwells in the trees and will eat there without moving to the ground is fed in the cage.
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#10 (**permalink**) 05-05-2002, 10:39 PM

YUP...I would consider such an exception to the rule like you have set forth Juls np [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] Would only make sense [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]
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Dr.Strangepork · #11 (**permalink**) 05-06-2002, 09:47 PM

I don't use a tote. My 7 year old redtail is on indoor/outdoor carpet. When I'm ready to feed her I'll pull out her hide box and water dish. This leaves the tank bare. By now she seems to understand that when it is just her in the tank - it's go time. I feed her freshly killed rats a few hours after I empty the tank. She can smell the food during that time so 18" tongs are a plus as it is sometimes tricky getting the door open and introducing the food to her.
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Karen · #12 (**permalink**) 05-06-2002, 10:06 PM

Everyone has their own way so ya just have to see which is best for you. I prefer to feed in their cages. Mainly cuz it makes it easier on me. haha Mine stay in feeding mode usually till the next day and I know I would hate to have to move a large snake into his cage after eating. I have all my snakes conditioned to know when its food time by knocking on their cages and I use tongs to make the dead rats look alive. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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cb76 · #13 (**permalink**) 05-06-2002, 10:25 PM

yep!

dr.strangepork- i love that name!!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]
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travis66 · #14 (**permalink**) 05-06-2002, 10:42 PM

I like to feed mine in there cage also.mine have never struck i think its because they like to see the rat dance.lol.
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Karen · #15 (**permalink**) 05-06-2002, 10:49 PM

UHHH Travis, they strike now bay-buh hahaha, aghhhhh see what happens when ya leave em with me? haha just kiddin. its only cuz I fed them off tongs. lol
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travis66 · #16 (**permalink**) 05-07-2002, 08:00 PM

Oh did i say they dont strike at anybody?They dont strike at me i mean.lol they think i am to cute to strike at.lol
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Karen · #17 (**permalink**) 05-07-2002, 08:17 PM

oh , no they havent struck at me only their food. haha i misunderstood ya I thought ya meant they dont even strike at their food. hahahaha
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Squirgle · #18 (**permalink**) 05-09-2002, 11:50 PM

About feeding Chondros in their own cage...I don't!
I take my GTP out of her cage and place her on a special branch thing that I have set up on top of her cage. Once she settles into a spot (usually the same place) I feed her, give her half an hour after she has completelly swallowed the mouse and then place her back in her cage. Never regurged, never bitten (well, never bitten Me) no problems at all really.
Not to be the devils advocate or anything, I'm just saying its not impossible to feed them in separate locations, kinda like saying its impossible to have a holdable GTP....Mine is! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] she loves me, curls right up and snoozes right in my hand....
*crosses fingers and hopes that he didn't confuse Chondros with something else*
[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]
Squirgle
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slaponte · #19 (**permalink**) 05-12-2002, 10:55 PM

And then, maybe I waited too long...

I feed mine in their "tanks". Chica (Female, BCI, 1YO+) and Angus (M, BCI, almost 1YO) have separate tanks (40L, 20L). Neither has ever bit or striked at me. That said...

This last feeding was quite rare. I do believe now they know brown bags when they see them. The vendor here places my (live) large and medium rats in brown bags. I take advantage of this to kill them (by "wacking" the bag on concrete) right before feeding. As I approach the cages, the snakes see me approach and perk up. But this only happens on brown bag days. All other times they mostly ignore me. I pick them up with no problem. As usual, they don't want to leave, then they don't want to get back... [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

As I open the cage for Chica and I move around the brown bag to get her large rat out, Angus on the next cage gets EXTREMELY excited. He coils up like a rattler, "S" shaped most of the front of his body off the ground, and starts hissing, no, not hissing, more like a growl! He strikes the glass three times towards the bag. I keep going and open Chica's tank. She looks up, I offer the fresh-killed rat, she takes it right away. Even if the rat is dead she strikes and coils. Anyway, put cover back on.

At this time Angus is still VERY #$%^&#$%^&#$%^&#$%^&#$%^&#$%^&. He continues to growl laudly. Please note that in one year is the very first time he ever shows this behaviour. He shed a few days ago, but I waited on the feeding to keep his schedule. Maybe the wrong choice.

He is sooo upset I am not sure if I want to offer him food at this time. I decided he is just sooo hungry, so I partially open the top and offer him his rat. He doesn't go for it. Intead, he keeps growling, and strikes twice more towards the glass and brown bag. I drop the rat in next to him. Close the top.

I walk away, taking the bags with me. Angus was particular when younger to only eat alone in the room. He would ignore he's food until you walked out, and even prefered the lights off. So I moved away, close by where I can see him. It took him 10 to 15 minutes to calm down, sniff around, find the rat, and start eating. By this time Chica was done with her, coiled up on her hide.

This was two or three days ago. I haven't hold him yet since I do not disturb them for a few days after eating. We will see if calms down.

Inprint on brown bags. Ever heard of that?! But this is interesting because it would seem they CAN remember from one feeding to the next, and the fact that the brown bags are there at those times. This is more memory than I expected. I have to do some experiments by bringing in brwon bags netween feedings to see if they react...
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jakesnake · #20 (**permalink**) 05-14-2002, 08:31 PM

Wow! I feed my Burm out of a brown bag. She hasn't done that yet. I think they do recognize feeding time though. They may not be on the brain level of a Chimp, but they are not totally dumb either. Thats what I think anyway.
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