Brown house snakes in the wild feed on a variety of prey including mice, rats, frogs and lizards. They have even been known to consume small birds.
These snakes can be quite gentle if handled carefully, though some may bite at first. Furthermore, they have the potential for mouth rot so frequent fecal testing and vet visits are essential to ensure a healthy lifestyle for these pets.
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Rats
Rats can be found in all habitats, but are most prevalent near human settlements. They consume a variety of prey items such as rodents, birds and small mammals.
Rats not only eat animal-based foods, but they are also excellent scavengers and enjoy hunting through garbage, pet food, bird seed, fallen fruit, compost piles and vegetable gardens.
If you want to reduce the rat population in your home, one of the best measures you can take is removing any unattended food sources and keeping it out of their reach.
Another thing you can do is ensure the temperature in your home doesn’t dip too low during winter. Rats often seek shelter during cold weather and could potentially do this in your house.
Mice
Mice are small mammals that can be found throughout most countries and terrain types. Typically nocturnal creatures, they reside in grasslands, forests and manmade structures.
Mice have a variety of food preferences, such as insects, nuts, fruits, seeds and grains. Eating between 15-20 times a day, mice often build their homes near places where there is easy access to food sources.
They can quickly jump and climb their way into kitchen counters and pantries in search of food. To prevent them from getting into your food supply, store all pantry items in hard plastic containers with securely sealed lids.
Frogs
Frogs in the wild feed on a variety of insects, such as crickets and mealworms. Offering your pet frog these nutritious treats is an excellent way to ensure its wellbeing and development.
Frogs also eat the skin they shed when moulting, which contains essential nutrients. Furthermore, researchers have identified several antimicrobial peptides in frogs’ saliva that could potentially aid in fighting infections.
Snakes are the most common predators of frogs, and they do so through a variety of means. Some inject their prey with powerful venom while others constrict and suffocate them. Some snakes even swallow their prey whole – an act that requires remarkable strength and dexterity.
Lizards
Lizards are a group of reptiles with various diets. Some lizards only consume insects, while others consume both plants and animals.
Lizards are insectivores, meaning they use sight, touch and smell to search for food. Additionally, their eardrums enable them to hear potential prey moving past.
Some lizards are mesopredators, meaning they will consume any creatures which could pose a danger to themselves, such as mice, rats and frogs.
If you own a lizard, it is essential that they receive an array of food. A restricted diet can lead to nutritional deficiencies, so switch up their prey items every couple of weeks for variety and nutrition.
Birds
Birds are essential components of a forest ecosystem, providing food, shelter and control over pest insects that damage plants. Furthermore, birds play an integral role in seed dispersal and pollination processes.
Birds typically feed on a variety of foods, such as small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and seeds. In tropical habitats they may also consume fruit.
Many species of birds, such as toucans and parrots, are well-adapted to eating fruit. Their bodies have evolved so they can hold and digest a wide variety of different kinds of fruit even those humans find unpalatable or toxic.
Snakes often predate bird eggs or baby birds during mating season, leaving fewer nests to survive. A review of 53 studies revealed that snakes predated an average of 26% of all nests on average.
