First snake (first herp!)

[SpiderJunkie]

they definatly are addictive, but i think its hard to stop buying T's because they require such little space, and little or no specialist equipment!

 

[Luminary]

It's a good idea to feed your snake away from his substrate. If he accidentally ingests it, he can develop a blockage and require surgery or if gone unnoticed he could die. Also if you feed him separate from his enclosure, it will keep him from associating
seeing your hand with food. Less chances of getting struck. I feed mine in a plastic container large enough for him to feed in
with some holes in the lid. I'm sure you've probably heard this, but just in case, make sure to wash your hands after handling
mice. Any food scent will get him excited, esp. with kingsnakes, they are ALWAYS ready to eat. Enjoy your new friend

 

[cmack91]

Man he looks fantastic! I gotta get me some more Lampro's.

It's a good idea to feed your snake away from his substrate. If he accidentally ingests it, he can develop a blockage and require surgery or if gone unnoticed he could die. Also if you feed him separate from his enclosure, it will keep him from associating
seeing your hand with food. Less chances of getting struck. I feed mine in a plastic container large enough for him to feed in
with some holes in the lid. I'm sure you've probably heard this, but just in case, make sure to wash your hands after handling
mice. Any food scent will get him excited, esp. with kingsnakes, they are ALWAYS ready to eat. Enjoy your new friend

I'm sorry, but apart from washing your hands after handling prey, none of that is necessary.

A little piece of of substrate being ingested is going to do nothing to harm the snake. There are a ton of people who have been feeding tens of thousands of snakes on loose substrate for decades with virtually no impactions. Brian from BHB for one (the largest breeder in the country) literally goes through 10,000+ snakes a year, all fed on loose substrate with zero impactions. Also, you can feed in the cage all you want, the snake is not going to associate your hand with food. As of now, that is 100% myth since there is not a single shred of evidence to support that statement. The reason some snakes act defensively when the cage is open is because you are invading their space making them feel threatened. Pet stores will tell you that you need a seperate cage for feeding because of this and that simply to try to extort 14 more dollars from an uninformed customer.

---------- Post added 03-08-2013 at 06:16 AM ----------

I think they're interchangable. If anybody can dispute this please let me know. Pitbulllady, where are you? You're a connoisseur of our southern snakes.

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl-guide/lampropeltisgfloridana.htm

Note the various synonyms. Ah, taxonomists. They make you pay attention.

According to ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System), the current valid name is Lampropeltis getula floridana.
http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=209249

 

[Bugmom]

I feed in separate containers any herp that has actual bedding vs paper towels. I always have and I always recommend it. I've had snakes that ended up with a mouthful of substrate when they missed striking or when substrate was stuck to thawed prey.

I just don't see the point in not erring on the side of caution that the snake not ingest bedding. Why risk it and be out the time and money you've put in when it just takes a minute to transfer into a feeding enclosure, let it eat, wait a bit then transfer back to the living enclosure? You're out all of two minutes and your snake is still fed with zero chance of being stressed out because it got a mouthful of substrate that YOU now have to fix, which is stressful for you and the snake.

Additionally, there is the school of thought that not feeding where the snake lives minimizes bites due to mistaking you for prey. Of course, if you're my sand boa, you strike at everything that moves... or doesn't move... anyway

As to that being myth, my one and only bite was due to being mistaken for food at feeding time. Snake smelled mouse, but saw my hand move. Strike.

Blame Tapatalk + "smart" phone for the typos kthnx

 

[3skulls]

Feeding your snake outside if its enclosure is not needed.

20+ years of keeping snakes, I have never seen a snake become cage aggressive or had a problem with substrate. I use Aspen and Reptibark. Have Kings, Carpets, BCI, BPs, BRB, Rats, Sand Boas, Dumeril's and feed them all in their home.

If anything, you have a greater chance of getting tagged moving a snake back a forth during feeding time. Some snakes will become stressed and go off feed.

The only Kings I have are Cal Kings but they are great eaters. Most of mine will eat in blue. They love to rattle and musk.

Some good info here.
http://www.kingsnake.com/rockymountain/RMHPages/RMHkingsand.htm

 

[cmack91]

because it got a mouthful of substrate that YOU now have to fix, which is stressful for you and the snake. heres what i do when a snake gets a mouthful of substrate, i let the gastrointestinal system of the snake take care of it. Its incredibly effective due to the fact that in the wild these snakes are constantly swollowing mouthfuls of substrate with no humans to put them all in a tank or little fairies to wisk away the dirt with a swish of a wand.

Additionally, there is the school of thought that not feeding where the snake lives minimizes bites due to mistaking you for prey. If you dont smell like prey, the snake wont act as if you are. All feeding response bites can be attributed to human error. Smelling like prey, having your hand too close to prey and the snake happens to miss, or being warmer than the prey etc.

As to that being myth, my one and only bite was due to being mistaken for food at feeding time. Snake smelled mouse, but saw my hand move. Strike. this also could easily have been avoided by using tongs.

Blame Tapatalk + "smart" phone for the typos kthnx

Please see red text.

Im not saying you cant feed in a seperate enclosure, im justsaying its completely unnecessary.

 

[ArachnidSentinl]

I'll admit, the whole feeding-in-the-enclosure-vs.-feeding-out-of-the-enclosure debate was the single greatest "unknown" for me. I poked around trying to find a good answer and, well, got about a 50/50 mix. I'm more inclined to believe that feeding outside the enclosure is unnecessary, however, based upon the arguments provided. I have a hunch that it's one of those things that's entirely dictated by personal experience. Thank you for all the input, though!