 |
| Corn snake feeding |
Feeding Snakes: Pre-Killed vs Live Prey - feeding pre-killed prey is recommended, since a live rodent can inflict some serious wounds on a snake in self defence (bonus: it is more convenient to keep a supply of frozen prey in your freezer than raising or buying live animals for feeding).
Question: Should I Feed My Pet Snake Pre-Killed Prey, or Live Prey?
Answer: This is a controversial area among reptile keepers, but I recommend feeding feed pre-killed prey to pet snakes. If your snake is unable to quickly kill a live prey item, the prey can inflict some nasty wounds on a snake. This is especially true if you are feeding rats (for example to a python or boa), but even a small mouse can cause injury to a snake. Injuries can happen if your snake isn't hungry enough to hunt the prey right away, or if it tries to kill the prey but doesn't have full control over the prey or is unsuccessful with its strike.
Additionally, feeding killed prey allows you to buy frozen prey items and stockpile them in the freezer so it is easier to have the proper sized prey on hand at all times. Running out to the pet store for food every time your snake needs to eat or raising your own prey can also be more expensive and time consuming, and doesn't guarantee you will be able to get the right sized prey at the right time. Some pet stores will sell frozen prey or fresh killed prey which you can then freeze for later.
Most snakes take fairly well to prekilled prey, although it is best if they have been accustomed to pre-killed prey at a young age. If your snake is eating live prey, you may need to start out offering freshly killed prey at first. Frozen prey should be completely thawed and warmed slightly before feeding (defrost in the fridge or in cold water, not at room temperature, then warm slightly in warm water just before feeding). Dangling the killed prey and wiggling it a bit with tongs (never hold prey with your fingers) can help entice a snake to take the prey. If your snake is still reluctant to eat, you can try dipping the prey in chicken broth, or pithing the prey (puncturing the skull to expose the brain).
Question: What Size of Prey Should I Feed My Pet Snake?
Answer: Most snakes should be fed a size of prey that is about the same size around as snake's body at its widest point. This means that as a snake grows, you will have to adjust the size of prey fed to the snake to accommodate the snake's increasing size. If you have a hard time judging how big around your snake is compared to the size of prey at the pet store, simply take the measurement around your snake at the widest part of its body. If you take a piece of string cut to that measurement to the pet store, you can do a quick check of the circumference of the prey available to find the best match. It doesn't have to be an exact measurement, however; smaller or slightly larger prey is fine too and a bit of variety never hurts.
Very small hatchlings can be started on pinky mice (newborn mice) and then graduated to larger sizes (the main terms used are fuzzies, hoppers, weaned mice or weanlings, then large and extra large adult). If you have a species of snake that grows large enough that rats will be fed eventually, it is a good idea to switch to rats while the snake is still young to get them used to eating rats rather than mice. Younger rats that are equivalent in size to older mice can be used: see FrozenFeeders.com for a sizing and equivalents chart. Rats are named with a similar progression: pinkies, fuzzies, pups, weanlings, then small through extra large adults).
Snakes have unique jaws that allow them to swallow prey that is larger than their head, but your snake may have difficulties digesting overly large items, resulting in regurgitation.
Question: How Can I Get My Snake to Take Pre-Killed Prey?
Answer: Occasionally, owners encounter feeding problems with their pet snakes (probably most common with ball pythons, but it can happen with any snake). The most common feeding problem is that a captive snake doesn't want to strike and eat pre-killed (frozen or fresh) food items. Feeding pre-killed prey is recommended for the safety of the snake, but sometimes snakes are reluctant to take pre-killed prey, especially if the snake is wild caught or is being offered a prey item it has never eaten before. There are several ways you can try to entice a reluctant snake to take pre-killed prey:
- Make sure the prey is warmed - thaw frozen prey in the fridge or in cold water, but then place it in warm water just before feeding. Never use the microwave or burns may result due to eneven heating.
- Use feeding forceps - this is a good idea anyway, to keep a snake from associating your hand with food. The forceps allow you to wiggle the prey item slightly, which often elicits a strike from the snake.
- Dip the prey in chicken broth - the scent of chicken broth appeals to some snakes.
- Rub a new prey item with another favororite food - for example, if your snake likes chicks but won't take mice, rub a chick on a pre-killed mouse. The familiar scent of a favorite food may trick the snake into taking the new item.
- Try a different color - if you tried a white mouse without success, try a multi-colored mouse since some snakes seem to balk at albino mice.
- Pithing or braining - puncture or slightly crack the skull of a prekilled prey item. Although it seems a little gross, the scent of brain matter is particularly effective at stimulating the feeding response.
- If your snake is reluctant to take mice, try gerbils. Although this can get expensive, some snakes that don't take pre-killed mice happily take pre-killed gerbils. You can also try hamsters or other kinds of rodents as prey, provided you stick to appropriately sized items.
- Give the snake some privacy - feed at night, and cover the tank so the snake is left totally alone with its food. Also provide a dark hide box for your snake, as some prefer to eat in a secluded spot.
- Try a different size - maybe your snake would prefer its prey slightly smaller or larger than what you are offering.
