Feeding - in or out of vivarium

[user 24717]

Afternoon everyone, I'm after some more advice/opinions.

As I said on my previous thread, I've recently taken on a 2 year old corn snake, as the previous owner had lost interest and didn't want it. The previous owner rarely handled her and always fed her in her vivarium. I was told when I took her on that the last few times he had reached in she had tried to bite him.

I've had her for a couple of weeks now and she has not bitten me, although she has made a few defensive strikes (with her mouth closed) and she always seems defensive, even if I'm just reaching in to change her water.

I've just bought a new vivarium for her (she's 4ft long and the previous viv was 2.5ft long, 1ft deep) the viv I have just got is 4ft long and 18 inches deep. Before I feed her in there for the first time I was just wondering what people's opinions about whether to feed her in the vivarium, or take her out to feed her. I'm thinking of taking her out to feed her to see if it is the reason she is defensive of her old vivarium.

For those that do feed their snakes out of their vivarium, what kind of setup do you use? Large plastic tub? Seperate viv? If they're fed in a large tub, do you leave them in there once they've fed, or put them straight back into their vivarium?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Adam

 

[1stprincess]

hi adam... i use both methods.. with my md i generally handle her for an hr or so and then feed her. sometimes in a tub, others in enclosure. mabey if you use a tub, she will get used to it and know when shes put in there she is going to be fed.. that way when your getting her out or changing water etc, she will not associate that with a feed. if the other ppl only opened the enclosure to feed her, that is all she knows , therefore strikes as looking for food. try to handle alot, so she doesnt think its all about food.. this is only my opinion, i hope it gives you some idaes..

 

[user 24717]

Thanks for the quick response 1stprincess, that was my thinking as well, that she associates it all with feeding. That's why I was thinking of changing the routine once I put her into the new enclosure, new place, new routine.

When you use the tub, do you then pick them up and put them back in the enclosure once they've eaten, and how long after? Or do you leave them in the tub for a while, as I've been advised not to handle her for up to 2 days after feeding.

I'll put up a picture of her new enclosure once I've put her in it, although it might be next week now as I'm working 7am-7pm for the next 5 days. After that I'll have 4 days off to put the shelf up for the enclosure.

Adam

 

[1stprincess]

Thanks for the quick response 1stprincess, that was my thinking as well, that she associates it all with feeding. That's why I was thinking of changing the routine once I put her into the new enclosure, new place, new routine.

When you use the tub, do you then pick them up and put them back in the enclosure once they've eaten, and how long after? Or do you leave them in the tub for a while, as I've been advised not to handle her for up to 2 days after feeding.

I'll put up a picture of her new enclosure once I've put her in it, although it might be next week now as I'm working 7am-7pm for the next 5 days. After that I'll have 4 days off to put the shelf up for the enclosure.

Adam

i always wait till shes finnished and has the feed down to stomach then pop her back in enclosure. use the hook at this point, as she my think your offering more food and decide to bite you.. then i leave her for 24 hrs, ive been told as long as feed is digested then oits ok to handle them.. i have a friend who waits seven days to handle and feeds every 14. her snake is same as min (murray Darling ) and the same age.. i suppose you do whats right for you and your snake.. its like when you have a child.. use your gut instincts.. good luck..let me know how you go...

 

[1stprincess]

i always wait till shes finnished and has the feed down to stomach then pop her back in enclosure. use the hook at this point, as she my think your offering more food and decide to bite you.. then i leave her for 24 hrs, ive been told as long as feed is digested then oits ok to handle them.. i have a friend who waits seven days to handle and feeds every 14. her snake is same as min (murray Darling ) and the same age.. i suppose you do whats right for you and your snake.. its like when you have a child.. use your gut instincts.. good luck..let me know how you go...

oh btw, my name is Janine, Princess is the snake,, lol..

 

[user 24717]

Thanks Janine.

I'll give that a try, if all else fails I could always hold the tub up to the enclosure door and let her make her own way back in.

Adam