Many snake owners often have questions about what to feed their pets. It’s not just what’s available at the pet store – it also depends on what your snake prefers.
As a general rule, snakes feed on rodents and amphibians as part of their diet. There’s no need to provide them with other foods if they seem contented on what they already eat.
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Human Foods
Snakes should not consume most human foods, as these include processed or fried meat, foods seasoned with spices or herbs, as well as any food that has been processed, fried or dipped in sauces.
Reptiles tend to be carnivores and require whole protein sources for health. Thus, popcorn isn’t an appropriate snack for them since it can upset their digestive system and lack essential nutrition needed for growth and wellbeing.
Eggs and raw meat can be offered to some snakes as a treat; however, it’s best to offer these only occasionally. Smaller snakes may tolerate quail eggs while larger species will require chicken or duck eggs as a meal.
Poultry
Pet snakes typically feed on small rodents like gerbils and mice. Alternatively, they have the capacity to consume amphibians such as frogs and toads.
Snakes may consume eggs or meat, but poultry should never be offered as a meal.
The primary cause is that most supermarket chicken is contaminated with pathogens which could make your snake ill.
Therefore, only feed your snake fresh/live chickens or no food at all.
Some reptile-food companies have developed sausage links, made of various meats (like rabbit, chicken, insects and frog). This would provide your snake with more nutritional value than feeding him whole prey items.
Raw Meat
Snakes are obligate carnivores, meaning they cannot survive on a vegetarian diet. To get all the essential nutrients for healthy and fulfilling lives, snakes must eat meat.
Many snake owners are interested in feeding their pet snake raw meat as a safer way to give them human foods and replicate what their snake would eat naturally in the wild.
However, it’s essential to remember that most human foods are not suitable for snakes to consume and can be hazardous to their digestive systems. Avoid giving your snake any kind of processed, fried or sauce-covered food.
Eggs
Eggs are an ideal food choice for snakes as they contain essential proteins and nutrients. Furthermore, eggs boast plenty of vitamins and minerals which keep them healthy and vibrant.
Snakes provide excellent nutrition, but they cannot replace live prey. Therefore, never feed snakes live rodents or animals.
When feeding your snake eggs, make sure they’re of a manageable size. Furthermore, be careful when prepping them as many may contain harmful bacteria which could make your snake unwell.
Fruits & Vegetables
Snakes are carnivores and will not consume vegetables or fruits. Furthermore, they don’t need plants for survival; rather, their specialized scales capture rainwater or mist from the air to survive.
Snakes typically feed on mice or rats, which provide all their nutritional needs and provide a variety of prey that mimics their natural feeding habits in the wild. However, not all snakes eat rodents, so it’s essential that they have access to other types of foods other than meat.
Many snake species, such as green iguanas, chuckwallas and legless lizards, are vegetarians. While they may eat insects or fish in the wild, they can easily be given other plant-based meals while kept in captivity.
