having trouble feeding my coastal carpet

[kimmyhayward]

Hi there,
My boy is a 3 year old coastal carpet python. Hes very well handled and i have never had issues feeding him. Hes not snappy at all normally.
Ive been told to feed him in a seperate container so that he does not associate his enclosure with food which i was doing with no troubles for the last year and a half.
he is now over 2m long and has associated his feeding box with food and has started to get snappy when we try to get him in it.
He is fine until you try and put him in the box, he has bitten me and my partner now and im beginning to get scared of feeding him.
I make sure i wash the box so it doesnt smell like rats.

Can anyone help? how do you feed your pythons?
Is there a better way so that feed time is no drama?

Also his head seems really small for his size and age. is this normal?

Thanks,
Kimmie

 

[beeman]

This only enforces how the whole feeding a snake in a seperate tub is a big load of BS, As i have stated before its a myth perpetraited by people with little experience
with reptiles!

We feed ALL snakes in their enclosures alway have and always will, we dont have problems with snakes biting etc.
Just change your practice to feeding in enclosure and you should be able to break
this cycle your snake has developed!

 

[kimmyhayward]

is there a chance he will get snappy in his cage?
when he was younger i used to feed him in cage and he was cranky to touch when he was in there.

Also its a 2m tall enclosure that opens from the front. if i open it im in striking range, how should i feed him in there?
do i drop it in or get some feeding tongs and try keep away from him?

Is every 2 weeks fine to feed him? its getting cold now so im holding back a little.

 

[beeman]

Yes use a set of feeding tongs, open the door and offer the feed straight away, that way there is less chance of recieving a feed bite

 

[gemrock2hot]

We usually feed our snakes every Tuesday so that they know Tuesday is feed day n we only feed them in their enclosure n we try not to handle them on Tuesday or 2 days after to let their food settle n they seem fairly happy with. Hope that helps

 

[Sel]

I always feed in the enclosure too, if your worried use some feeding tongs.

The only animals i feed out of their tanks are my beardies, only because i dont like woodies/crickets running around their tanks.

 

[kimmyhayward]

thanks guys, ill invest in some feeding tongs and see how he goes.

 

[nahla2062]

Hi, i feed my Coastal in a seperate large tub, ive always done this and it gives me time to clean her enclosure while shes happily feeding, i only feed her once a week and she seems to know the routine now and seems very happy....good luck

 

[sookie]

I get all my snakes out for a play,put the food in the enclosure while they are out enjoying themselves.when i go to put them away sometimes they find food.......oh happy days then.it also makes putting them away after a handling a bit easier cos they never know.