Question about moving king snake after feeding

[ForeverTHC]

I've recently acquired a 19 inch California King Snake and I fed it a pinky for the first time since it's came into my care today. I've read plenty of information stating to never handle a snake for 48 hours after eating a meal however I remove the snake and place it into a plastic bin for feeding to avoid stomach impaction from accidentally consuming substrate. I will not leave my snake in an unheated empty plastic bin for 48 hours, so I moved it back into the terrarium once the bulge got about halfway down. No regurgitation occured however I wonder as so many others use this feeding method, is it only okay because handling is so brief (From bin to tank in under 10 seconds) ?

 

[Hellblazer]

It will be fine if you just gently put it back. I always just fed my snakes in their enclosures though. I used newspaper and shredded aspen substrate and never had any issues with impaction in 20 years.

 

[ForeverTHC]

I'm using eco earth because I was told by my brother and some other snake keepers that aspen attracts mites very consistently. (After I had already bought a bag)... And also because I have plenty of bricks of eco earth to spare

 

[Hellblazer]

I've never had a mite problem with aspen. The only way you would get mites is if you bring them in on a snake. I tried a lot of different things over the years and it's definitely my favorite substrate for most snakes.

 

[ForeverTHC]

I've never had a mite problem with aspen. The only way you would get mites is if you bring them in on a snake. I tried a lot of different things over the years and it's definitely my favorite substrate for most snakes.

Yeah, that seems to be how most people feel about aspen shavings. Most people don't have problems, but watching what my brother went through with his problem.. He went from newspaper for months with 0 issues, switched to aspen and had mites less than 2 weeks later. Another friend has similar problems so I'm almost wondering if it's the area I live in.

 

[basin79]

I used to feed my 2 retic girls on newspaper inside the viv. I was bothered about them ingesting aspen with their rabbits.

Solved the "problem".

 

[GatorWrestler303]

I don't feed any of mine in their cages but have 2 friends with 100's on a venom line and they all feed in cage. Mine I feed in a tub because I don't want them associating me opening their cage with getting fed. I feed mine give them a few minutes then gently get them back in their cage and have never had a regurge.

 

[basin79]

I don't feed any of mine in their cages but have 2 friends with 100's on a venom line and they all feed in cage. Mine I feed in a tub because I don't want them associating me opening their cage with getting fed. I feed mine give them a few minutes then gently get them back in their cage and have never had a regurge.

Tap training stops all of that. How do you go about water changes or spot cleaning?

 

[GatorWrestler303]

Remove from cage and clean. Never change water when snake is in cage. A coworker got tagged by a sidewinder when we was in a hurry once. He had to crofab but is fine.

 

[GatorWrestler303]

Tap training stops all of that. How do you go about water changes or spot cleaning?

LOL sorry though that was on the venomous one I just commented on.. If I spot clean I still take out. If water I just add.

 

[basin79]

LOL sorry though that was on the venomous one I just commented on.. If I spot clean I still take out. If water I just add.

Fair enough. I suppose it depends on the snake in question.

 

[soldierof4cheese]

I had a Florida king snake for 15 years, she was a pig. Its best to move them into another area or container for feeding, then after two hours or so, move back into their main home. If you feed them where they live, they tend to get nippy, thinking its feeding time every time the lid is opened..

 

[basin79]

I had a Florida king snake for 15 years, she was a pig. Its best to move them into another area or container for feeding, then after two hours or so, move back into their main home. If you feed them where they live, they tend to get nippy, thinking its feeding time every time the lid is opened..

Once again tap training stops this.

 

[soldierof4cheese]

Once again tap training stops this.

I have never heard of this.

 

[basin79]

I have never heard of this.

You just use a snake hook or something similar to gently stroke the snake everyone you enter the viv and you're not feeding. They soon learn and the "switch off" when you stroke them. It's fantastic.

 

[soldierof4cheese]

Sounds easy enough, I should use that on my two Chinese Shar-pei's when people come over..LOL they get overly excited..