is it dumb to feed on repti-bark? - Page 2

DeesBalls · 07-14-11, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marionsclan

I can see both your points and like I said, my way works best for us. Mainly because I don't sit and watch them eat all the time. I make sure the head goes in first and then move on to other things, while checking occasionally. Once one snake is done, the tank gets cleaned and the next one gets to go.

I simply like to minimize the risks and because I can't control how my snakes eat and what they pick up along the way, I prefer to exclude additives. Of course when you see your snake ingest (not just pick up) something you can always jump in and get it with tweezers but that creates an awful lot of stress for all parties involved (me not wanting to do it and she not wanting to have it done). But we all do what we think is the best for the snake and that's what counts.

each person has their own way of doing things i suppose... whatever works for them is what is important..

KD35WIN.AS.ONE · 07-14-11, 11:24 PM

I feed in the snakes cage. Im not worried about impaction because i take steps to ensure that wont happen. It would be unnecessary handling to remove them from there comfortable environment to feed. Alot of people say they remove there snakes because they dont want to associate coming in the cage to get them; with food. Not an issue on my end lol. Like i said there's not really a right or wrong.

NennaMeerkat · 07-14-11, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KD35WIN.AS.ONE

I feed in the snakes cage. Im not worried about impaction because i take steps to ensure that wont happen. It would be unnecessary handling to remove them from there comfortable environment to feed. Alot of people say they remove there snakes because they dont want to associate coming in the cage to get them; with food. Not an issue on my end lol. Like i said there's not really a right or wrong.

You know it is funny I have to often nudge my snake into wakefulness to let her know it is chow time. If I didn't nudge her I think she would just miss dinner all together. Today in fact she came out and gave me the WTF look (at least that is how I perceived it) before she realized the smell of toad in her hide.

KD35WIN.AS.ONE · 07-14-11, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NennaMeerkat

You know it is funny I have to often nudge my snake into wakefulness to let her know it is chow time. If I didn't nudge her I think she would just miss dinner all together. Today in fact she came out and gave me the WTF look (at least that is how I perceived it) before she realized the smell of toad in her hide.

hahah not mine, there looking at me before i can even get there enclosure open LOL.

Toad?

NennaMeerkat · 07-14-11, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KD35WIN.AS.ONE

hahah not mine, there looking at me before i can even get there enclosure open LOL.

Toad?

Hognoses are toad eaters in the wild so it is often a way to get them to eat mice to scent them with toad. I got a couple of small toads I froze and I thaw them (not in the water just enough to get a bit of moisture off of them to use it) when I need them and rub them against the pinks. She attacks those pinks with all the fury a more or less pencil sized snake can attack something. All hissy and strikey. So funny to watch.

KD35WIN.AS.ONE · 07-15-11, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NennaMeerkat

Hognoses are toad eaters in the wild so it is often a way to get them to eat mice to scent them with toad. I got a couple of small toads I froze and I thaw them (not in the water just enough to get a bit of moisture off of them to use it) when I need them and rub them against the pinks. She attacks those pinks with all the fury a more or less pencil sized snake can attack something. All hissy and strikey. So funny to watch.

hahaha video tape it.

Lankyrob · 07-15-11, 05:08 AM

I have reptibark in all my snake enclosures - ground feeders get fed with the prey on a plate to minimize risk and arboreal feeders just get the prey handed to them as they rarely if ever reach the floor of the viv anyway. My personal thought is that with a dry prey item it is rare for repti bark to stick to it so unless the snake picks up the prey and dunks it in the waterbowl and then drags it around on the bark the risks really are minimal.

Coffee Black · 07-15-11, 06:52 AM

I stopped using feed boxes as I found them kind of pointless. I don't understand how the snake is supposed to be able to differentiate between the cage opening for a rat and the cage opening so you can take it out to be put into a box with a rat. Then you get to try and move a feed mode snake from a box back into their enclosure. BITES WILL HAPPEN. My carpet refuses to be a less voracious AND defensive feeder ( she HATES being watched) and if given on a plate she just drags it across the substrate into her hide. Ended up getting her a bamboo cylinder for a hide, which she loves, so I just hurl the rat in there. If I were feeding chopped up fish or chopped up pinky for a garter or similar sized animal I would definitely use a feed box, though.

SkYyaMe1623 · 07-15-11, 07:21 AM

Thanks for the input everybody! One of the reasons I posted this is that I see my idle viperkeeper feeding on what appears to be reptile bark regularly...

Thoughts on his methods?

marionsclan · 07-15-11, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkYyaMe

Thanks for the input everybody! One of the reasons I posted this is that I see my idle viperkeeper feeding on what appears to be reptile bark regularly...

Thoughts on his methods?

I've seen close to half his videos and there are multiple occasions when they snakes come close to ingesting bark, but because he watches them he is there with the tongs to remove it. There have also been a couple of episodes where he has to literally take out the bark with tweezers once they swallowed it. He does say that it is very stressful for him and the snake to do this procedure but because of the way his feeds them and gives them water reptile bark works best because it lets the water run through and retains the moisture without molding.

infernalis · 07-15-11, 07:22 AM

With a viper, well taking it out is less of an option.

I would not be reaching in there any day soon..

VaranidLover · 07-15-11, 10:33 AM

When I moved my RTB to a cypress bedded enclosure Monday, It only took me about 30 mins to come up with the idea to put some newspaper down for feeding

and 25 of those minutes were spent defrosting rats, so it was actually like 5 mins

Just put some newspaper down and everything will be okay