How should I feed my pet snake? Whats the best feeding technique to use? These are common questions we receive here at Reptile Knowledge. How you choose to feed your pet snake is really a matter of preference. There are several different techniques you can use, and each of them has distinct pros and cons.
In this snake care lesson, Ill explain three of the most common feeding techniques used by keepers. Here they are, in no particular order:
Simply drop the food in the snakes cage.
Put the snake into a separate container for feeding purposes.
Use a pair of tongs to offer the food.
Lets take a closer look at these three options, so you can decide which one might be best for your pet snake.
Option 1 Drop the Food Into the Cage
This is the easiest way to feed a snake, and it will work just fine for most species and specimens. I use this option most of the time when feeding my pet snakes (which includes several different species). The process here is simple. You take the frozen thawed rodent, place it inside the cage where the snake can easily find it, close the cage and go away. I told you it was simple!
I recommend placing the mouse or rat on a plate of some kind, as this will help you keep the cage clean. I have a few Tupperware lids reserved for this purpose. Whatever you use as a food holder, make sure that becomes its permanent role. Avoid moving items back and forth between snake room and kitchen.
Dont be worried if your snake doesnt eat right away. Just leave the snake alone, and it will find the food eventually. If the snake is in shed, it probably wont eat. This is normal, and thats why it makes sense to check on the snake before thawing out a rodent.
Option 2 The Separate Container Technique
Some keepers will move their pet snakes into a separate container or feeding tub when its time to offer food. The logic is that this prevents the snake from developing a feeding response every time its cage is opened. Thus, when you simply want to remove a water bowl or pull the snake out for a cage cleaning, the snake wont think that its feeding time. It will only associate the separate feeding tub with food time. Rubbermaid tubs are commonly used for this purpose.
I can see the line of reasoning behind this. But to me, its more hassle than its worth. Ive always fed my snakes in their regular cages, and Ive never had problems with an exuberant snake striking at me or thinking my hand was food.
Granted, there is an initial period upon opening the cage door when the snake doesnt know whether its food time or handling time. So you have to use caution during this time. This is where a snake hook comes in handy. Once you get the hook under your pet snake and gently begin to lift it, the animal will know its handling time and not feeding time.
So while I personally dont use this method, I want you to know that its an option, and it might be a good one for you.
Option 3 Feeding Your Snake With Tongs
In the wild, snakes capture their prey by active hunting or by ambush. Either way, the prey animal is usually moving when the snake strikes at it. You can duplicate this natural behavior in captivity by offering thawed rodents with a pair of metal tongs. Companies like Midwest Tongs make products designed specifically for this purpose.
Feeding tongs are usually metal or aluminum, and they come in a variety of lengths. Basically, the work and look like a giant pair of tweezers. A pair of 12- or 15-inch tongs will work well with most pet snakes.
The goal here is to make the dead mouse or rat appear alive, thus enticing the snake to strike the rodent. It can be fun to watch, and it encourages the snakes natural behavior.
To offer food with tongs, simply grip the thawed rodent from the scruff of the neck just behind the head. Then use the tongs to hold the rodent inside the cage near the snakes head, and wiggle it a bit to give it some life. When the snake strikes, let go with the tongs and the snake will do the rest. Be sure you dont jerk the rodent away when the snake strikes.
If the snake
does not strike
when you wiggle the rodent in front of its head, you might try running the rodent around the cage back and forth in front of the snake. I have to do this with one of my ball pythons. I use the tongs to make the rat scamper back and forth in long passes. Then I watch the snakes reaction. He will move closer and closer to where the rat is passing by, and then he will strike out and ambush it. Every snake is different, so youll have to experiment like this.
This feeding method can also be useful for pet snakes that refuse to eat. Sometimes, a little rodent movement is all it takes to encourage a stubborn snake to eat.
I hope you found this tutorial helpful. Here are some related articles on the website you might want to check out:
Ball Python Feeding Tips
Keeping Snakes as Pets