Snakes: Feeding

What do snakes eat in the wild?

All snakes are carnivores. Their diet depends on the species. Some eat warm-blooded prey (e.g., rodents, rabbits, birds), while others eat insects, amphibians (frogs or toads), eggs, other reptiles, fish, earthworms, or slugs. Snakes swallow their food whole.

Constrictor species like boas and pythons, as well as adult king snakes and corn snakes, usually eat prey such as mice, rats, gerbils, small birds, and hamsters. Larger constrictor species may also eat whole rabbits.

What should I feed my snake?

Since snakes eat their prey whole, it is easy to feed them nutritionally complete diets and prevent many of the dietary-related diseases commonly seen in other reptiles. Whole prey, such as mice and rats, compose a balanced diet for a snake. If you are squeamish about feeding rodents to your snake, then a snake is probably not the pet for you.

Snakes should be trained to eat dead prey. It is more humane for the prey and safer for the snake. Offer your snake freshly killed prey or thawed prey that was previously frozen. You do not have to kill the prey yourself, as most pet stores supply freshly killed or frozen rodents to feed.

Do not feed snakes live prey, because the prey may bite the snake before they are eaten. Even a small bite from a mouse can cause a severe, potentially life-threatening infection in the snake. In addition, the prey suffers psychological stress while being hunted by the snake.

If you do feed live prey, never leave a prey item in the cage for longer than two hours. Rodents will often begin biting the snake if they are not eaten within several hours. Serious and sometimes life-threatening wounds can occur in these situations. Bite wounds require immediate veterinary attention, as infections from puncture marks and bite wounds can quickly become serious.

How often should I feed my snake?

How often you feed your snake depends on your snake’s age, size, and activity level. Smaller or younger snakes usually eat twice each week, while larger, more mature snakes typically eat once every week or two. Female snakes approaching breeding season can be fed more frequently. Ask your veterinarian for specific feeding advice for your snake.

Your pet may let you know how often they need to eat by how they respond to you offering food. If they eat, then they were hungry and needed to be fed. If they do not eat immediately, they are not hungry and likely did not need to be fed yet.

Why won’t my snake eat?

There are many reasons why a pet snake may not want to eat (anorexia). Some causes may be benign, such as the stress of being in a new or disrupted environment, noise, lack of privacy, improper environmental temperature, hibernation, shedding, pregnancy, or breeding season anorexia.

Other causes may be more serious, including cancer, kidney failure, intestinal parasites, viral infections, and other health issues. Your veterinarian can help determine the cause of your snake’s decreased appetite by performing a thorough physical examination, fecal analysis for intestinal parasites, and other laboratory testing.

Does my snake need vitamins?

As a rule, pet snakes do not need vitamin supplementation. Instead, make sure to feed your snake healthy, well-fed prey. Unhealthy prey may harbor harmful bacteria or intestinal parasites. For this reason, some snake owners, especially breeders and collectors, raise their own rodents to feed their snakes.

How much water does my snake need?

Fresh, clean water should always be available. Provide it in a large, heavy, ceramic bowl that cannot be tipped over easily. A large water dish can also help maintain proper humidity in the enclosure, which is important for keeping your snake hydrated and helping it shed properly. Some snakes also enjoy soaking in their water dish, so it should be large enough to accommodate that. Many snakes will also eliminate in their water dish, so change the water frequently and clean, disinfect, and rinse the bowl daily.