Feeding Your Pet Snake
Snakes are carnivores and eat things such as rodents, rabbits, birds, or insects depending on the type of snake. Snakes eat their entire prey whole, which creates a complete and balanced diet. If you are squeamish about feeding rodents to your snake, then a snake is not the pet for you! There are many types of rodents you can order for your snake, including commercially available already dead and frozen mice and rats. All you have to do is thaw them a few minutes before offering them to your snake. Live prey should not be fed to snakes due to the high risk of the rodent biting the snake before they are eaten. I have seen numerous cases of bite injuries to the face and body as well as broken jaws from feeding live prey. Snakes should be trained to eat dead prey. It is more humane for the prey and safer for the snake.
Adult snakes only need to be fed every other week. Feeding once weekly can lead to obesity. Tongs should always be used to place the rodent in the cage. Your snake may try to strike at the prey before it is dropped, and tongs will prevent your hand from being bitten. Snakes will have decreased appetite during times of shedding, brumation, and breeding/pregnancy, which is considered normal. However, if the snake refuses 2 or meals and is not experiencing these things, it could be an issue of incorrect husbandry, offering the wrong prey, too much handling, stress, or even illness. If your snake is not eating, please call us to set up and appointment for your pet with our exotic veterinarian.