Snakes are carnivores and in captivity can consume mice or rats – either live, freshly killed, frozen and then thawed.
Rodents provide an abundant source of protein and fat, helping your snake stay fit and healthy. Be sure to select a rodent of the proper size and thaw it out before feeding it.
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Mice or Rats
Mice and rats are omnivores, meaning they enjoy both plants and animals alike. Additionally, their diet tends to focus on fats.
They can be found worldwide and tend to stay out at night. Unfortunately, these pests often damage homes by chewing through wiring, insulation, drywall and furniture – leading to costly repairs.
Rats are larger than mice and reach sexual maturity around 3-4 months of age. They breed eight times a year, with each litter containing anywhere from 4 to 16 babies.
When children are younger, they are blind and completely dependent on their mothers for food and protection.
These earrings are typically small in size and weigh anywhere from 30 to 90 grams.
Though it is generally not recommended to feed live rodents to snakes, you may need to do so in an emergency. Be sure to monitor your snake for signs of stress or illness before giving them food.
Poultry
Poultry, such as chicken and ducks, provides snakes with a nutritious source of meat. It provides them with all the essential vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy and flourish.
Offering your snake some raw, unprocessed poultry is an easy way to supplement their regular diet. Just make sure the product you select is of high quality.
If your snake prefers pork or beef over poultry, you can offer them select cuts of these meats as treats. Keep in mind that these aren’t meant to replace their main diet; therefore, only offer these meats occasionally as treats.
If your snake is a picky eater, switching to another feeder may help them enjoy food more readily. It’s also beneficial to rotate the prey items on their feeder so that there’s no boredom during feeding time.
Fish
Snakes typically feed on fish, earthworms, quail’s eggs and amphibians.
When selecting fish for your snake, be sure to only select species that are safe and eatable. Avoid goldfish, rosy reds, flathead minnows and tuffies due to an enzyme present that prevents thiamine absorption – a vitamin many snakes require for health.
In general, water-dwelling snakes such as Watersnake, Ribbon and Garter Snakes tend to prey upon fish.
Some owners report their snakes eating dead fish, but this food should only be provided very rarely as fish have cold-blooded traits which snakes like ball pythons did not develop. Since these reptiles did not spend much time around water in their natural environments, it makes sense that they would only eat it if given the chance.
Human Food
If you own a snake, it’s likely best to provide it with a diet similar to what it would find in the wild. This means offering your snake foods like eggs, poultry, fish, pork and beef that it would naturally consume in its natural habitat.
Additionally, avoid feeding your snake highly processed human foods like fried food or any fatty dishes. These ingredients can cause major digestive problems for snakes as their bodies are not designed to digest such things.
You could also give them frozen prey that they can thaw out and consume, which will be safer for them and prevent any diseases or parasites from developing.
Snakes in the wild feed on a variety of prey such as insects, birds eggs, frogs, small mammals, rodents and lizards. When kept in captivity, snakes often consume frozen young mice called “pinkies,” chosen to fit your snake’s head size.
