Mysterious item!

[chris-uk]

Trouble with feed boxes is that a lot of shy snakes won't feed when they are moved, so you end up moving them to a feed box and they don't eat because they aren't "at home".

[angrygamer]

Trouble with feed boxes is that a lot of shy snakes won't feed when they are moved, so you end up moving them to a feed box and they don't eat because they aren't "at home".

In my case that's why I had that area, but I've never had any trouble feeding Glyph and I've been doing it this way for a week. Yesterday I fed her a pinky for the first time in the "feed tank" and she wasn't bashful at all. The only thing I don't like about it is she gets jumpy any time I have to put her back in her tank...when I put her in a tank for whatever reason for the first 30 seconds or so she darts around looking for a way out...and as I'm moving her over the top lip she always stretches her neck out because she doesn't want to go in. She's been that way ever since I've had her...in three different vivs too, a 5, 10 and this 30 now.

I wish you luck if you have a finicky eater, it's not something I've had to deal with!

[EasternGirl]

Chris is right about that...many snakes won't do it...it's something you can try. Hermes and Seeley won't eat in a feed tank because they are too shy...that is why I feed them on paper towels under the hide on top of the substrate. I hate taking the risk...but I can't get them to eat otherwise. This is also why I use carefresh instead of aspen. I'm not saying that carefresh won't cause an obstruction if ingested, but it isn't sharp like aspen...it won't do the internal damage that aspen can do. I mainly use my separate feed tank for moving my snakes for feeding because I have more than one snake in a tank and I don't feed them together...but I have the separate tank set up so that it feels homey to them. Now, Cee Cee can be moved to a feed tank..she will eat anywhere.

[angrygamer]

As a rule a shed is longer then the snake because the skin attached to the scales stretches out the shed.
Just not very accurate.

I see.

[JodiLeigh]

I had tried feeding him so many times in a separate box but he was having non of it, that's why I decided to put his food in his enclosure and I think once he has eaten a few more times I will try him in a separate box again just so I know he's eating and has had a good few feeds. I will also obviously make sure I put the paper towel down first. Although with the pinkies (I didn't actually see) he made no mess at all because they were small pieces he must have just swallowed them fast.
I will have the current tank spare after I move him into his new viv so I will use that which would help as he has already lived in there.

So what substrate do you guys use? I like this aspen but if there is something safer then I will give that a try

[EasternGirl]

I prefer carefresh. My snakes enjoy burrowing in it and it's easy to spot clean. But it isn't cheap. You still have to use paper towels and be careful not to let the snake ingest it while eating...but I think it's a bit safer than aspen. It's kind of expensive but you can spot clean and leave it in for a month or two before you have to clean the entire tank and change it.

[angrygamer]

I just started using coconut fiber. I like it very much, especially the texture. It's very similar to dry soil.

I never liked the aspen too much...not knocking anyone who uses it. The first day I went to lay it out in a 30 gal. I thought it was VERY dusty. I soaked it and I let it dry for a few days. That helped.

[snakehill]

As a rule a shed is longer then the snake because the skin attached to the scales stretches out the shed.
Just not very accurate.

I still think if gives you some evidence of growth just not the exact measurement of the snake.

[mikem]

i'm phasing aspen out of my collection. i think i've only got two snakes on it right now. i'm switching everything over to a hardwood mulch. i like carefresh and would use it exclusively, but with all my snakes, it would cost too much.

[EasternGirl]

I think I'll be okay with 3 tanks. I can usually get by not having to change it for a couple of months. My snakes just didn't like the wood because they couldn't burrow in it.