hwo do u feed

[BIGgourami]

That's a myth...if you think that feeding an animal in its enclosure is going to cause it to mistake you for food...using the same logic, wouldn't you expect the lizard to mistake you for food every time you removed it from the tank, especially if the ONLY time it was ever fed was OUTSIDE of its tank?

Some people still continue to feed their snakes/lizards in separate feeding boxes, but I can assure you that it really makes absolutely zero difference and animals fed in their cages do not become aggressive to their keepers.

And it especially doesn't make any sense with this particular species, because, well, you already said it:

no beacuse the hand does not become associated with food.
the bath tub does.

 

[elevatethis]

no beacuse the hand does not become associated with food.
the bath tub does.

The hand does not become associated with food either when you feed in the tank, unless you are offering prey items off of the palm of your hand, which is stupid and asking to be bitten.

I'm not saying your method is wrong - I am saying that it doesn't matter which way you do it. I'm just tired of seeing that myth spread over and over again as a fact.

My experience has showed me that handling a reptile shortly after feeding, for example, moving it from the bath tub back to its cage, is stressful on the animal and puts the keeper at higher risk of being bitten during this time.

 

[BIGgourami]

so if you feed in the enclosure, the herp doesn't get that "food is near" or "get ready to attack" mentality?

 

[Ophiuchus]

Z trip, knock it off. Mice are okay, as long as they are in moderation. Of course, a diet of exclusively mice would be unhealthy.

LC, other items you can feed are feeder fish and eggs, along with the insects you're likely feeding him now. Also, there's frozen chicks, but you don't see them offered too often and someone once mentioned they're not heathy for herps...might wanna research it before trying one.

 

[TheBloodyIrish]

My experience has showed me that handling a reptile shortly after feeding, for example, moving it from the bath tub back to its cage, is stressful on the animal and puts the keeper at higher risk of being bitten during this time.

I agree, especially if the animal might chuck up its last meal on you. Sometimes I think that's the reason why people get snakes that don't eat.

A herp is less likely to be aggressive when it is being offered live food, other than that there is no reason to be out of its captivity nature other than sexual maturity. A feeding tub won't make a difference.

if you are so worried about it, have a feeding dish and place it down with a tong or something. It won't make a difference but it still have the same logic as a feeding tub and less stressful for the herp and the handler.

 

[Z Trip]

DO NOT give it feeder GOLD FISH. These have no nutrition and can pass disease. The minnows are fine, along with inverts and crayfish.

 

[walls]

So minnows that are kept by the thousands in dirty unfiltered "bait" tubs are healthier than goldfish???

Please elaborate.

 

[walls]

Also im sure that "wild" Niles come across mammal food from time to time. Just feed in moderation.

 

[dovii88]

yeah id agree with walls, a monitor will eat wat it can get and im sure small squirels areon its list of hey tht looks tasty..

 

[DeLgAdO]

i would move ur nile to another area whenever u are feeding it. whenever i feed my snake i move it to the bathtub so it knows that food is never placed in its enclosure. so whenever i stick my hand in his tank to pick it up it won't mistake my hand for a mouse.
moving ur nile monitor to another area mite be futile though cus they are wild-ass monitors to begin with. its just a recommendation and it would'nt hurt (my friend did it wit his argus to try to tame it down but it still stayed WILD)

The only reason a snake (ill assume its some type of python) will strike your hand instead of the mouse is because of its heat sensing pits on its face. The snake can smell the mouse with that forked tounge, but it rely's on those heat sensing pits to "see" where the mouse is, well guess what? despite the fact that the snake can smell the mouse he's going to strike at your hand, why? becuase its warm blooded, its going to sense the heat of your hand and strike at that because it assumes its the warm blooded mouse.

monitors hunt by sight and smell, so you shouldnt have a problem with it striking your hand instead of a mouse.