Even though the diets of various snake species might vary widely, it is common practice to feed snakes in captivity, either mice or rats. They might be alive, just dead, or frozen. Rodents are a favorite snake food because they provide a balanced, nutritionally complete diet.
To minimize harm to handlers or the snake, many snake specialists advise feeding snakes only dead rodents. Also, rats that are frozen need to defrost before being fed.
How Do You Feed a Snake for the First Time?
1. Prepare the Food
As long as the live food is reared in hygienic circumstances, no preparation is required while utilizing it.
However, frozen food must be thawed appropriately and cooked at a temperature that a snake will find tastier. To defrost and prepare frozen pinkies, fuzzies, hoppers, or rats, use the following procedure:
Place the frozen food close to a fan and spread it on paper towels. The little body will thaw out very rapidly.
You can use a thermos or a plastic bag and warm water to keep the food warm. Depending on the manner and amount of the item, thawing might take from 10 minutes to several hours. Occasionally verify if the food has thawed completely. You should thaw just enough frozen food for one feeding.
Warm up the meal. If a snake cannot detect the proper temperature that simulates a living food, it won’t eat. Heat the meal in a bag for around ten minutes with a blow dryer or hot water. Never use an oven or microwave since doing so might result in the meal exploding.
2. Drop the Food Into the Cage
This is the simplest method for feeding snakes and is suitable for most varieties and specimens. Here, the procedure is straightforward. You defrost the mouse and set it inside the snake’s cage, ensuring it’s in plain sight, before closing the cage and leaving the room.
If you want to clean the cage, put the mouse or rat on a plate. Ensure that anything you use to keep food is always used for that purpose. Avoid transferring anything between the snake room and the kitchen.
If your snake doesn’t start eating immediately away, don’t worry. The snake will eventually discover the food if you just leave it alone.
The snake won’t likely eat if it is shed. Since this is typical behavior, it’s prudent to ensure the snake is okay before letting a rodent out of the freezer. If you have more than one snake, feed them separately to prevent squabbling over food.
3. Using Tongs to Feed your Snake
Snakes in the wild either actively chase their victims or ambush them. In any case, the snake frequently attacks a moving target animal. In captivity, you may mimic this instinctive behavior by presenting thawing rats with metal tongs.
The majority of feeding tongs are made of metal or aluminum and come in a range of lengths. In essence, they function and appear like a massive pair of tweezers. 12- to 15-inch tongs would be enough for most pet snakes.
This tricks the snake into thinking the mouse or rat is still alive and eating it. Snake’s natural behavior is encouraged and may be entertaining to observe.
Simply grab the defrosted rat by the scruff of the neck, right behind the head, and provide food using tongs.
Then, while holding the mouse inside the cage close to the snake’s head with the tongs, move it about a little to give it some “life.” Release the tongs when the snake bites, and the snake takes care of the rest. When the snake bites, make cautious not to pull the rodent away.
If you move the mouse in front of the snake’s head and it does not strike, you can try “running” the rat back and forth through the cage.
4. Provide Water
A clean water supply should always be available in a large, sturdy ceramic crock or bowl. The snake must be kept hydrated and given the ideal conditions to shed; thus, a sizable dish may assist in maintaining the tank’s necessary humidity levels.
The water dish should be big enough to accommodate occasional soaking because some snakes like to do it. Since many snakes will both drink and urinate in their water bowls, it is important to regularly replace the water and cleanse, disinfect, and rinse the bowls.
How Often Should You Feed a Pet Snake?
The snake feed rate is determined by the kind of snake you own, its food, and other variables. These include:
1. Environment
A snake’s degree of hunger can react to modifications in its surroundings, such as variations in temperature or humidity.
2. Gender
During mating season, female snakes often consume more food.
3. Age
Smaller snakes consume more prey than giant snakes. A baby snake would often eat twice per week if fed rodents, compared to most adults who only eat once every two weeks.
Offering food to a snake will allow you to determine its hunger level: if it eats it, it’s hungry; if not, it’s not. Ensure your pet snake gets the proper serving size of food each time. Baby mice are appropriate for smaller snakes like corn snakes, while more giant mice should be fed to a boa.
Conclusion
Most snakes consume rodents, regardless of whether they are docile and harmless, aggressive and deadly, or any other combination. Your snake’s health depends on eating a balanced diet. If you have any more inquiries regarding what to feed your snake, be sure to contact your veterinarian.
