Snakes make great pets, but if you’re thinking of getting one, there are a few things you should know first: Snakes are carnivores (well, except for the ones with tentacles, which like to eat aquatic plants for variety), and more precisely, all other snakes are predators (not those ugly creatures that hunted Arnold Schwarzenegger in Spider-Man: The Last Jedi). PredatorSnakes are a type of reptile that feed on creatures like fish, snails, birds, spiders, insects, eggs, and even larger animals. Their diet mainly depends on the type of snake and the food available in its natural habitat.
However, if you are thinking of keeping a snake as a pet, your best bet is to feed it rodents.
But don’t worry, you don’t need to place mice or mousetraps around your house – you can find live or frozen mice at your local pet store. But how exactly do you feed mice to your pet snake?
Live Food for Snakes: A Matter of Preference
Generally, snakes prefer live food. But they can be unpredictable. They may play with their food, ignore it, or catch it right away. We tend to think of snakes as the prima donnas of the reptile world.
Feed your snake safe food
If your snake is not interested in the food, you don’t want it to escape, so close the cage after feeding the rat. More importantly, if your snake doesn’t eat the food right away, you’ll have to stay in the room and keep an eye on it. Also, rats need a constant source of protein, so don’t forget to throw some dog food in the cage, or your snake might eat it.
If after two hours your snake still won’t eat its dinner, remove the mouse and place it in a cage with dog pellets and water. You can try again at a later date or the next day, depending on the type of snake.
Don’t just drop the rat into the cage, even if you’re tempted. Use tongs (like those you use for barbecuing) to grab the rat by its tail and lower it into the cage. After all, no one wants a bite between you and a hungry snake.
Frozen culled dinners: a convenient and safe option
Many people feel that feeding frozen rodents is safer because snakes won’t fight back, and it’s a lot more convenient to have lots of frozen rodents on hand than buying live ones every time you feed them. And, to be honest, it might make you less averse to snakes.
How to Thaw Snake Food
Do not feed frozen rodents to your snake. Snakes have no interest in mouse popsicles. They prefer room temperature food, just like live meat. However, do not heat up frozen rodents in the microwave or oven. This will cook the meat and your snake will not eat it. And even if your snake does eat cooked meat, it could become very sick. Simply thawing it in a bowl of warm water will be enough.
One safe way to warm up your prey is to immerse the bag containing the prey in boiling water for about an hour (be careful of the water temperature, as boiling water can melt plastic bags). If you are removing your prey while it is still frozen, soak the bag in warm water for about 2 hours, placing a plate or coffee mug on top of the bag to keep the bag submerged.
Feeding time
Feeding frozen food is not much different from feeding live mice. First, thaw and wipe the mouse with a paper towel. Put on gloves, put the thawed mouse down and give it a shake or three, as snakes like moving prey. If your snake gets irritated, discard the mouse after 2 hours.
Now you know how to feed your snake both live and frozen food. Good luck!
