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Shinslayer19
New Member

USA
71 Posts

Posted - 31/07/2011 :  15:56:31  Show Profile  Send Shinslayer19 an AOL message  Send Shinslayer19 a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
Ok I would like to open this up to debate. I don't want any yelling or mud slinging or anything like that.

Some people remove snakes from their enclosure and put them into a feeding tub when they feed them. Others do not. I would just like to know why you choose to do what you do when feeding time comes around. I guess I will start it off.

I do not put my snakes into a separate tub. I feed them in their enclosures by hand. No tongs. I watch them closes for any sign of consuming the substrate. on a different point i have never had my snake mistake my hand for a rodent when I am reaching in to get them out of their tanks. I believe snakes are very intelligent when it comes to food and know that my hand is different. However I wouldn't try this with a reticulated python by any means just on the off chance of a mistake strike. What is everyone else's view. (btw Hi to everyone who is new here. I have not been on in a long time.

gmac
Grumpy Scots Admin

United Kingdom
710 Posts

Posted - 31/07/2011 :  17:07:37  Show Profile  Send gmac an AOL message  Send gmac a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
pfft i enjoy mudsling and yelling not fair

Some of mine are fed in viv and some not. The ones that are viv fed are only fed in the viv as they wont feed anywhere else. The ones I remove from the housing and feed in tubs is just to make sure they are doing ok so they get a quick lookover then placed into tub for feeding and also makes it easier to photo them when i feel like it.

My boa is fed out of his house but qhen he is a big grown lad he will be fed in house as here is no way im fighting with a large boa to try and get him home, is bad enough just now lol.

GMac
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CDN_Blood
Rainbow oddball

Canada
489 Posts

Posted - 31/07/2011 :  17:41:13  Show Profile  Visit CDN_Blood's Homepage  Send CDN_Blood a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
Mine are all fed in-tank. I used to do the separate container for some, but haven't done that for years and years now.

I *never* recommend hand-feeding, it's just not wise. It can also teach a snake that when a hand approaches, it's likely got food and one fine day that *will* have a price tag attached to it, I guarantee it. The price won't be too bad when dealing with small species like Rainbow Boas, but it's still just pain unwise and bad practice if you ask me.

I would also not consider snakes to be intelligent creatures, they've very primitive and run on 90% instinct, but hey, what do I know

TODD
25 Years of Commitment and Responsibility in Private Herpetoculture
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gmac
Grumpy Scots Admin

United Kingdom
710 Posts

Posted - 31/07/2011 :  18:45:59  Show Profile  Send gmac an AOL message  Send gmac a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
i meant to add tongs for me, never hand feed any of mine

GMac
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Snakesitter
Rainbow Master

USA
2718 Posts

Posted - 02/08/2011 :  00:07:17  Show Profile  Visit Snakesitter's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Well said, guys. I feed in viv (the time cost to move each snake is enormous), and always use tongs. Much safer, espeically with larger animals.

Cliff Earle
Living Gems Reptiles

Premium Brazilian Rainbow Boas from a disease-tested facility
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Shinslayer19
New Member

USA
71 Posts

Posted - 02/08/2011 :  02:56:24  Show Profile  Send Shinslayer19 an AOL message  Send Shinslayer19 a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
I agree that larger ones should be fed with tongs. Just the risk of getting tagged by a large snake sucks. I have been hit by a 7 foot burmese and it was not fun. He also just hit and let go, lucky for me. however, snakes know the diff between a hand and food. if you rub a rat with your hand and then try and pick up a snake you should have your head examined. but if your hand is moving towards them and touches them on the side, I seriously doubt they will get it confused with a rat dangling and levitating in front of them. (but what do I know)

Also, if you are getting a snake out every time to feed it. I would think it would connect some one picking it up to food. It knows it has to get picked up to get food. Who says it wouldn't just think it is getting fed and pop you when you pick it up to handle it. This one I am not too sure of just a thought.

Edited by - Shinslayer19 on 02/08/2011 02:59:22
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gmac
Grumpy Scots Admin

United Kingdom
710 Posts

Posted - 02/08/2011 :  09:29:36  Show Profile  Send gmac an AOL message  Send gmac a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Shinslayer19



Also, if you are getting a snake out every time to feed it. I would think it would connect some one picking it up to food. It knows it has to get picked up to get food. Who says it wouldn't just think it is getting fed and pop you when you pick it up to handle it. This one I am not too sure of just a thought.



Never had any issues handling any of our snakes we feed in tubs out of the housing, apart from our gmac hating we corn girl yearling but shes always hated me. Our Royals do seem to understand feeding night though they are more alert and they actually move in the housing, im assuming they sense rats warming up for them, however they have never went to strike at me when lifting out of the house and then when they are placed in the tub the assume the strike position.

GMac
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Shinslayer19
New Member

USA
71 Posts

Posted - 02/08/2011 :  13:12:19  Show Profile  Send Shinslayer19 an AOL message  Send Shinslayer19 a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
That is what I was hoping for Gmac. I feed in viv and never in tubs and i have never had one even take striking position at me when I went to get them out for handling.
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Kehhlyr
The Resident Loon

United Kingdom
284 Posts

Posted - 06/08/2011 :  03:08:07  Show Profile  Visit Kehhlyr's Homepage  Click to see Kehhlyr's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
I feed all mine in tubs at the moment, with tongs (even when giving pinkys to the hoggies).
I do this for multiple reasons:
a) less chance of ingestion of substrate
b) I can also get better feeding pics
c) gives a few mins to double check the vivs/fauns/rubs for any debris that I might've missed
d) I quite often turn the webcam onto feeding times and broadcast it.

-=Kehhlyr - The Resident Loon
SOME OF MY ANIMALS

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Shinslayer19
New Member

USA
71 Posts

Posted - 07/08/2011 :  01:00:54  Show Profile  Send Shinslayer19 an AOL message  Send Shinslayer19 a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
I am not a huge picture taker much any more.......if you all haven't noticed with my terrible lack of pictures haha. The substrate is a good point. I have had one of my ball pythons get a single piece in her mouth when eating and she is so calm i reached in a pulled it out while she was eating and she didn't even budge.
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newbie
Hatchling

184 Posts

Posted - 08/08/2011 :  16:35:52  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I try to feed mine in seperate tubs because of substrate swallowing concerns, as said above, it gives a cleaning opportunity to!

I did rather foolishly allow my brb to eat off a plastic plate I was holding in my hand as she appeared terrified of the tongs, literally running away every time I dangled the fluf, but she's recovered from these initial nerves now, so no more holding while feeding! Not intentional and rather daft, but luckily no harm done

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CDN_Blood
Rainbow oddball

Canada
489 Posts

Posted - 08/08/2011 :  18:22:45  Show Profile  Visit CDN_Blood's Homepage  Send CDN_Blood a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Kehhlyr
...I quite often turn the webcam onto feeding times and broadcast it.



I'm curious as to why people post feeding pics or broadcast a snake feeding. Seeing as it's part of the 'feeding debate', I thought I'd ask what the logic is behind it. What can I say, I'm a curious kinda fella

TODD
25 Years of Commitment and Responsibility in Private Herpetoculture
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Snakesitter
Rainbow Master

USA
2718 Posts

Posted - 08/08/2011 :  20:49:36  Show Profile  Visit Snakesitter's Homepage  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by CDN_Blood

I'm curious as to why people post feeding pics or broadcast a snake feeding.

I'm leery of that myself. On the other hand, it's kind of sad we have to be: if it was puppy or kitten eating, everyone would be all gushy and warm. But post a baby snake and there are those who run....

:-(

Cliff Earle
Living Gems Reptiles

Premium Brazilian Rainbow Boas from a disease-tested facility
Website, Facebook
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gmac
Grumpy Scots Admin

United Kingdom
710 Posts

Posted - 08/08/2011 :  21:19:31  Show Profile  Send gmac an AOL message  Send gmac a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
I have broadcast the feeding once I think, It is generally good for folks that maybe have a corn or boa to see the feeding process and response for other types of snake in a controlled environment and not just hoping to google a feeding video.


GMac
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CDN_Blood
Rainbow oddball

Canada
489 Posts

Posted - 08/08/2011 :  21:57:13  Show Profile  Visit CDN_Blood's Homepage  Send CDN_Blood a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
Interesting. This was actually the topic of my very first Rant on my own site and like to get other people's feedback. Like I said, I'm a curious kinda guy

TODD
25 Years of Commitment and Responsibility in Private Herpetoculture
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Shinslayer19
New Member

USA
71 Posts

Posted - 09/08/2011 :  04:17:45  Show Profile  Send Shinslayer19 an AOL message  Send Shinslayer19 a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
I have video taped my snake feeding once and posted it on google video just to keep for myself. No one else saw it.
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