how should i feed my snake?

Question

when i first got my coastal carpet python i would just open the tank door and place the mouse onto a rock and he wouldn't try to bite he would just wait and now he is as wide as a 50c coin (aus) and about i think over 60 inches long (yes inches) because i measure his sheddings and when he sees the rat through the glass he goes to bit me (not the rat) and he just ends up hittings the glass so now i just dangle the rat and hold it by its tail through a gap at the top of the tank and i get really scared, but he always ends up eating it. My question is should i be feeding him through the gap? help!

when i first got my coastal carpet python i would just open the tank door and place the mouse onto a rock and he wouldn't try to bite he would just wait and now he is as wide as a 50c coin (aus) and about i think over 60 inches long (yes inches) because i measure his sheddings and when he sees the rat through the glass he goes to bit me (not the rat) and he just ends up hittings the glass so now i just dangle the rat and hold it by its tail through a gap at the top of the tank and i get really scared, but he always ends up eating it. My question is should i be feeding him through the gap? help!

sorry forgot to add i DO NOT feed him live rats, their always frozen then thawed.

Answer 1

You should think twice before feeding a snake in a seperate "feeding enclosure." Snakes are creatures of habit, and if it gets used to getting picked up and moved to receive its meal, it will eventually begin snapping at you in anticipation of its meal. This behavior will be even more likely if you don't handle your snake often, and only take it out to feed it. As others have suggested, you should use a long set of tongs, tweezers, or hemostats to feed your snake safely.
And just to let you know, measuring your snakes shedding is not an accurate wy to measure the length of your snake, and the shed skin will have stretched out considerably in the sheding process. The easiest way to measure your snake if you don't have any clear restraining tubes would be to let it loose next to a solid surface, such as a wall, with a tape measure already set out on the floor, and try to keep him hugging the wall as he moves along. It may take a few tries, but that's how I measure my snakes. Good luck!

Answer 2

Feeding the snake in its regular enclosure is a risk. It is intelligent enough to learn that food goes there, and may one day mistake your arm for food and grab a hold. You can easily avoid this by removing him into a large tub or bucket and only feeding there. Him hitting the glass isn't all that great either and he may be strong enough to harm himself this way.

You can get a pair of tongs, specifically for this occasion or just to toss salad with. Dangle the mouse with the tongs and you'll feel much safer.. lol But it is very common fro snakes to never touch a limp mouse, so this isn't all that unusual or anything.

And you are probably using f/t mice, but if ever using live mice, you are tkaing another tremendous risk of mutilating or even killing the snake. The freezing also kills off any harmful bacteria and stuff so you're snake will be nice and healthy.

Answer 3

My red tailed boa wouldnt eat live rats. I had to feed her frozen ones (thawed of course). I would think you would be better dropping the rat into the tank rather than dangling it. It would encourage your snake to strike at things that come through the opening which will make it difficult for you to get the snake out to clean the tank.

Answer 4

Sounds like your snake has a good healthy feeding response! I assume you know better than to feed live rodents?
You should not present the rodent with your hand; use a forceps or hemostat.
As far as "feeding the snake through the gap", I would avoid it. One of these days, the snake is going to miss the rodent and come sailing out of the cage with his mouth open, and latch on good to the first soft tissue it finds. Care to guess what that might be?
At feeding time, keep the rodent out of sight until the cage is open, and get it to the snake quickly.
The snakes overly enthusiastic feeding behavior also suggests that you may not be feeding it enough.

Answer 5

You're supposed to take the rat/mouse by the tail and swing him into the side of the tank so that he hits his head it knocks him sensless, or break his neck, then throw him in the tank. That way he's alive, but can't harm your snake.