Just as dogs have lost thier wildness so do snakes. But just as dogs bite snakes can too. Cats, rats, birds, fish, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc will all defend themselves if threatened or hurt! Does that mean they are wild? No!

My ferrets are farmed not caught. People assume they are wild. That is in fact illegal! Please note the differences so that kind of misinformation does NOT continue!!!!

My snakes do not eat weekly or even monthly. My big male that we have had for 10 yrs and is 6.5′ long only eats 1 or 2 times a YEAR but we do feed him a nice chicken so it is a big meal. Our vet says he has never seen such a well cared for and healthy snake! His tail is thick and skin pearly. I think people over feed and harrass their snakes with animals that want to live anyway!

I only feed him when he starts tracking my dog and cat -who are normally ignored – through the plexiglass and shows that he really will eat.

I always pay attention! I look for the signs and read his body language like any animal including people all the answers are there. When he is happy and well he ignores other animals even when out of his cage accept to cuddle with them for warmth. (My dog does like to cuddle with him and lick him and will protect him from the cat who hates him.) He withdraws when he is sick and tracks when hungry. Although he has only been sick once since we have had him and that was when we changes from one farms chicken to another then back again when we learned the food was sick.

I agree it is important to have a set day to feed but they may not be ready every week. It is ok for snakes to miss meals for short times and fed the next week.

Most snakes are over fed according to my vet. They are fat which leads to liver issues and early death.

As far as the tub idea – I agree that cold is never good for snakes. We have a extention of the cage that we open and let them eat once they come through it. we also have branches and a soaking tank in there so our snakes can hide if they so choose. So food goes in bottom and can’t climb up into snakey bedroom. Snake smells food and enters feeding area. Snake then waits in branches and stalks more naturally than just chucking a rat in a tub. Once eaten we encourage the snake to go back into the bedroom which also has a bathtub but usually the snake will take a rest in the ffeding area tub for a few hours and then go back to the bedroom.

I hope this is helpful. Our tank was easy to design and build using plywood and plexiglass. We use sliding bolts to move the feeding door and to open the plexiglass front. The whole thing cost me $300 to have it built while my husband was over seas. It is also easy to take apart to move or clean around because we designed it with hook and eye bolts so we can break the whole into 3rds. it is 4′ tall, 3′deep, and 9′ long in 3′sections. With the branches and waterfall/soaking tub in there we will add another section soon because he is getting so big but that is easy too. we just build a new section and add to the old with the hook and eye books.

I hope this helps some others with keeping snakes. Please remember to keep your pets socialized but to also watch for signs of stress or irritation. Just like people they will get used to things they dont like – noise (they dont have ears but can feel the sounds), smells, people, etc but it takes time and patience – start with jst 10 minutes a day and then 10 min twice a day them 10 min 3 times a day and then 30 min etc until about 6-8 months later they will be ready for a new experience. You can add a new stimulations every 6 – 8 months and must stay dedicated, vigilant, and patient.

This works for every species icludin humans! SO try this with your kids and something they hate! hahaha

Thanks for reading! My best to you and yours!