How to Feed Your Pet Snake

A snake is not an animal that is advised to be kept as a family pet. However, some people like to keep snakes as pets. If a snake is kept as a pet, it is important to know how to feed a snake. Remember that snakes are carnivores and only eat meat. A snake cannot be made into a vegetarian.

You Will Need the Following:

Your pet snake

Mice or rats (either alive or "pre-killed")

A cardboard box

Patience

Caution

Make Sure Your Snake Has Proper Living Conditions

Before your snake is ever fed, it should have proper living conditions. This means that it should be kept at the correct temperature and correct humidity levels in its tank or other living habitat.

Train Yourself

Be certain that you know how to properly handle your pet snake. It is important as when feeding the snake, you will move the snake to a different place so it can eat.

Move Your Snake

When it is time for your snake to eat, move the snake from its tank and into the cardboard box. This gives the snake a different hunting environment and will hopefully teach your snake to hunt food while in the cardboard box so it does not bite your hand when you reach into the snake's tank. If your snake normally hunts at night, dim the lights in the room so it is dark like night time.

Feed Your Snake

First, make sure that the animal that you are giving the snake is not wider than the widest point of the snake. Drop a mouse or a rat into the cardboard box with your snake. Do not leave the snake and the prey alone. Make sure to monitor the snake and the prey. If a live mouse or a live rat is used, the mouse or rat may start to scratch and bite at the snake if left alive too long before the snake decides to eat it. If your snake eats "pre-killed" mice or rats, it is easier, but the snake should still be monitored.

Put Your Snake Back

Once the snake has eaten, put the snake back into its tank. The tank should have been kept at a comfortable temperature and humidity level for the snake while it was in the cardboard box.

Identifying Why Your Snake Won't Eat

Sometimes a snake will not eat. If this happens, be careful when removing the snake and then the prey from the cardboard box. Never remove the prey first as the snake may bite at your hand. Snakes do not eat while preparing to shed or shedding.

If it is time for your snake to shed, leave it alone until it sheds its skin and feed your snake once it is done shedding.

Your snake may also not like the time that you are feeding it. You can try earlier or later in the day depending on when you are feeding the snake. You may also want to try adjusting the amount of light.

If your snake still does not eat, there is most likely a problem. You need to take your snake to the vet.

Source:

How To Feed Your Snake | Snake Tips, How To's and Snake Videos | Boatips.com. (n.d.). Pet Snakes - Snake Care Tips For Your Pet Snake . Retrieved May 19, 2011, from http://www.boatips.com/howtofeedyoursnake/