Feeding in cage? ya or na

[kirkje]

this is my perdicament....I have had my baby rtb for about 6 weeks my first one i had died that i got from petco it had runny poop everytime went and got dehydrated. anyways being kinda gun shy the first 2 feedings i feed in cage so it would be less stress till he got used to inviroment. the 3rd feeding i took him out feed and then placed him back in 50 hours or so he regurged....no i did not touch him during that time...temps where all good. so i waited two weeks to feed again, this time feed him again in cage and 5 days later went poop all fine. so my question is should i keep feeding him for a while in cage till he gets older. his substrate is artificial grass.. or should i take him out.....he never seems agressive when i take him out or jumpy matter of facts trys climbing back up arm when i put him back in...when feeding i use ONLY tongs to place prey in so not to confuse him with my hand....what should i do i am open to suggestions....i just wnat what is best for him. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif[/img]
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[Dr.Oviparous]

some people have different ideas on this, but I've always felt like feeding out of the cage is better. all my guys eat outside the cage, even the tegus. with snakes I wait about 30 min after they close their mouth to put them back in the cage. with your substrate it's not a matter of the snake eating the substrate, but it might be a problem with the snake connecting the cage opening with food. I know some people feed in the cage here, and it works for them, but I've always feed out of the cage. my 2 cents -Juggalo
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[captainmorgan]

first off...the one that died. It didn't die of dehydration because it had runny poop. 10 - 1 odds tell me it had parasites and that's what killed it. just like this one. maybe it has parasites. get a fecal exam done by a vet to look for internal parasites. Second, how far apart are you feeding your snake? You do know you can over feed a snake right? once a week is a good fair base to feed baby snakes. Is your snake nippy? Could've felt nervous when you put it back in. do you feed live or dead? just had to ask. let me know so I can help you some more....
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[Seany]

I know most people are against it, but I feed all my snakes in their tanks as well. I would recomend putting the food in with tongs, just to be on the safe side.
But, as long as you handle them on a dailey basis, I see no reason for them to strike as they will be used to the cage being opened.
Just my opinion.
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[kirkje]

capt. the first one did die of dehydration i took him to the vet nd he died the next morning, second it didn't have parisites had the fecal done by the vet all was good...as far as feeding i feed 1 f/t fuzzie every 7-9 days. nippy question: no he is good natured the only time i see him being nippy is directly after feeding till 30-40 min then his posture is relaxed. thanks for any help you can give me i appreciate the advice. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.

[Dr.Oviparous]

He might be nippy becase the fuzzy is too small, and he's still hungry after eating. most baby BCI should eat hopper mice. IMO. My 2 neonate babies are POUNDING hoppers as we speak.

I'm really sorry to hear about your first snake, I'm sure this time it will be better. what his/her name BTW? -Juggalo
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"Well, it didn't look like a one horse town, but try finding a decent hair jelly!" -Eulisses E McGill

	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

	In My Opinon IMO = In My Opinion and IMHO = In My Honest Opinion

I wouldn't venture to say that the snake regurged due to where you fed it ..ie inside cage or outside of it ..at all. What I would do is get a fecal done on this snake to make sure there are no underlying issues that may have caused the snake to regurge on ya. [ Ya did say the one that died had a fecal but not this one right ?] Also what exactly are your temps and humidity set at in the cage for this snake ?

Personally, I would feed outside the cage myself and look for the cause of the regurge elsewhere [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]
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	regurgitate Throw up. Reptiles will regurge when they feel they are in danger or if they have some sort of health issue. If your reptile has regurgitated his/her food please seek help!

[BWSmith]

I have certain snakes that are too finicky of eaters to remove them from ther cage for feeding. Of course those are primarily hots. So i am not too concerned about a feeding response [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] With a group oc copperheads, I generally do the opposite. I remove all but one snake and feed that one. Then each day, I rotate the snakes until they are all fed. The reason for this is that (in the cage) they are such intense feeders, that they try to eat the same mouse and I have to get them apart, not fun! Any snakes that are nonvenomous and in a group, I feed outside the cage. This also goes for snakes that are used in educational programs, as i don't want to increase a feeding response. For me, it all depends on the snake and the general setup. With a large collection, you have to judge on an individual basis. But as a general rule in nonvenomous species, I think that feeding outside the cage is the best way to go if they are good feeders.
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	Venomous Reptile A term commonly used to refer to a venomous reptile. Most commonly used in reference to venomous snakes.

[kirkje]

lori no i have not got one done on this one it was the other one. so far though i have had two succesfull feedings...i am going to have a vet visit within the next couple of weeks though anyways just to be safe. the next feeding i am going to take and feed outside.. i would rather do that. oh btw his name is zack and lori the temps are at a consistant hot(85-8 and the cool(78-81) and the humidity is between 55-63% i am trying to keep it up a little higher because he has not sheed since i got him and i expect him to soon it has been approx. 6 weeks and he eats on a regular 7 days reutine. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] oh btw i think i might have found the regurge problem,i was out of town before that feeding and the weather here had a temp drop and so did his cage and then 2 days later i feed him...i don't know possible maby, but going to have the fecal done for sure.
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	regurgitate Throw up. Reptiles will regurge when they feel they are in danger or if they have some sort of health issue. If your reptile has regurgitated his/her food please seek help!

Ahh That is prolly it then. A drop in temp can cause them to regurge. It also can cause them to not feed also. Your temps/humidity sound fine to me.
Let us know how it goes with the next feeding then [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]
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	regurgitate Throw up. Reptiles will regurge when they feel they are in danger or if they have some sort of health issue. If your reptile has regurgitated his/her food please seek help!

[Constrictor_BO]

I prefer feeding my snakes outside of their enclosures mainly because I have noticed a difference in attitudes with my snakes when fed in them. One of my females in particular will strike at anything that moves for days after being fed in her tank, She does not do this when fed in a feed tote. All the others seem to be less inquisitive while getting them out at feed time when fed in totes.
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[XzyluM]

I prefer feeding them outside of their cage. However, some snakes do refuse to eat outside of their enclosures and that is basically the only time I would prefer to feed them inside of their enclosure. Of course, Brian, venomous is a whole other story. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]
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