Feeding in another location...

[Foxrun402]

I am using the aspen bedding now and I am wondering if i should just stay on the safe side and put her in a separate terrarium on paper towels to feed... I am worried about her eating substrate but kinda wanted opinions since she will take food from a tray... She will attack the tray... and then sneak off with the food... leaving her vulnerable to eating substrate...

Thanks =)

[guidofatherof5]

If you don't want the possibility that the substrate will be ingested I would feed in a different container.

[Foxrun402]

Well since she tends to get upset easily... What would be a good time frame to leave her in there after she has eaten? 30 minutes then return her home? or should I try and put her back right away? I dont want to startle her and have her regurgitate her food lol

[guidofatherof5]

30 minutes sounds good or just set the container in the enclosure and let her get out on her own.

[Foxrun402]

Well thats the thing I don't have much room to put this in her enclosure... Its a pretty big area for her to feed I was going to feed her then wait 30 minutes and kinda help her to one side and lower it into her enclosure and let her climb out... Soon enough I will get her into a terrarium big enough to be a mansion for her but this is suitable for now with her size... I will go ahead and feed her and let her relax a bit before i put her back, and I will let you know how it goes! Hopefully she doesn't get so mad she wont eat when I move her... but she will have to just deal with it I guess ;)

[d_virginiana]

I got so paranoid about my snakes eating their bedding that I eventually switched them over to newspaper. If the feeding container isn't just insanely small, I don't see anything wrong with leaving her in there for thirty minutes or so.

[Foxrun402]

It worked and she ate a decent meal tonight... I got it in 1080p I will post a video update on this later =D

I got her back in her home approx 15 minutes after feeding... No problem!

[Foxrun402]

http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o774/foxrun402/th_FeedinginseperateTerrarium_zpsb58c129c.jpg (http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o774/foxrun402/FeedinginseperateTerrarium_zpsb58c129c.mp4)

[guidofatherof5]

Looks good. Thanks for posting the video.

[ConcinusMan]

it is something you want to avoid. I do often feed right in their tank (I use aspen shavings, not chips or shredded) but I use pieces that are small enough to swallow quickly, and make them climb up a plant or something and take it off of tongs/hemostats. Still, occasionally small pieces get ingested. I've never had a snake get impacted.

[Invisible Snake]

She's a beast! Cool video thanks for posting it.

I notice some of my snakes (garters and corns) are eating too that sort of back up and as if they want to wrap their tail around something to give them more leverage.

[ConcinusMan]

ALL of my snakes do that. Grab, go backwards. The also have an annoying habit of dragging their food through substrate as they do it, if given the chance.

[Steveo]

I have seen mine press their back half against something for leverage and even press the food against the side of the container to help it go down.

[RedSidedSPR]

ALL of my snakes do that. Grab, go backwards. The also have an annoying habit of dragging their food through substrate as they do it, if given the chance.

They feel the need to endanger their health like that every damn time.

I do it like Richard, but I use ReptiBark, it's too big to be accidentally swallowed easily.

[ConcinusMan]

Sometimes just a little spritz of water on the food as they are swallowing or right before they grab it, make it less sticky to substrate.;)

Feeding in the enclosure with substrate can be done, but never unattended.

[RedSidedSPR]

I think it helps that I feed with hemostats too, not in a dish. Usually forces them to come to the food, which is often in a "safer" spot. I have so many leaves and logs and stuff on the floor of the cage they rarely eat on the actual ground

[ConcinusMan]

Keep the pieces small. Here's a couple of demonstrations. Also, it seems that occasionally swallowing tiny pieces of aspen doesn't cause any problems but still it should be avoided.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-gvlk5l8a8


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yy_WN1SOok


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pun8hwUJnM


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8jCWNc_uqI

[guidofatherof5]

Hungry little creatures.