Is there an answer to squeamishness regarding feeding pet snakes?

Question

I don't want to give live food to a pet, can anyone tell me how breeders of snake food treat the animals?
I'm certain there aren't any herbivorous snakes.

I hate the idea of some animals alive and bred only to be eaten. Our own carnivore food is treated badly sometimes. Food for pets or for fishing, those are treated badly very often.

Answer 1

You have a lot of answers already but I want to add a few things.

First of all, it's better to feed your snake in a box or the bathtub rather than their cage. That keeps the cage clean- the smell excites the snake. Feeding in their cage can also make them associate opening their lid with feeding and there is more chance that the snake may mistake a hand for food. Our girls know what's up when they go in the box- they get very excited.

I didn't see anyone mention the fact that frozen rodents are also healthier because if they have any parasites, freezing kills them. And also if your snake doesn't take to the frozen/thawed mouse, you can cut it open a little to expose the entrails.

I really understand how you feel. This was one of my concerns. Live rodents squeal when they are caught- it's very disturbing to an animal lover. But the frozen works very well and it is amazing to watch them eat!

Our corn snake was given to us by someone who fed her live but she took to the frozen immediately. I was so proud. Make sure you read a lot about your reptile so you can give it the best possible care. Good luck with everything

Answer 2

I had this problem with my ball python. In my case it was just nervous from moving to a new home. But, I never did get it to feed frozen mice.

Most pet snakes feed by sense of smell. I've done research and what i have read more often. Is to freeze and thaw the feeder mouse a few times and warm the body in some hot water.

Snakes like to eat alone, because they are vulnerable when swallowing, so make sure it's in a dark boxed in area. If necessary wiggle the mouse with some tongs. Making sure the snake does not see you.

If your snake has not eaten in two or three weeks. Don't be alarmed, remember they have a slow metabolism. Also, it will get hungry enough to eat what is available. (your dead mouse)

Also, try varying the size of food. It may want something a bit smaller.

If nothing else works. Well, live food may be the only solution.

Answer 3

Squeamish? Why? It is nature's way for a carnivore to eat live food.

Most but not all snakes will take pre-killed food items. Depending on the type of snake you have, you have the option of buying pre-killed frozen mice and rats of many different sizes plus if you look, you can also find frozen chicks, quail, baby pigs, hamsters etc.

Of course frozen mice are the most common foods available. Some snakes, especially hatchlings or wild caught snakes may be difficult to start off on warmed up pre-killed mice. You may have to "scent" it with it's preferred food - often lizards or frogs or even birds are used to give this scent. Once an animal is started on warmed up pre-killed mice, you usually don't have any more problems.

The people I know who breed mice or rats treat them well - they are after all their products! The mice and rats are usually dispatched by replacing their air supply in a bag or enclosed area with CO2 gas. It is painless & relatively quick. (Bizarre note - this is also one of the techniques pro-human euthansia people use due to it's efficacy & pain free death)

No there are not any vegetarian snakes - that is completely un-natural. There are some snakes that eat mainly earthworms or insects or slugs or snails. But supplying their food supplies are even more difficult!

Like snake_girl mentioned there was a company that developed "snake sausages" a few years back. I have never tried them & haven't seen them advertised in quite some time. They were made from processed rodent meat - so the rodents still had to die.......

Good luck!

Answer 4

Well uhh i hate to break the news to ya but this is all the snakes eat. You cant just change the snake into a veggitarian sorry thats not the way a snake works. They are aggressive in nature and their instincts say kill my food and then eat. They sell frozen mice that you thaw out and feed your snake. Depending on the age of it. They have pinkies which are just born mice for the small snakes. Then theres fuzzies which are the mice that have a bit of hair and are good for medium size snakes. Then theres the medium rats which are good for large rats. Sorry theres no way round this. Unless you can provide rats or mice for the snake I dont think its a good idea that you buy one. Try another pet like a lizard they eat crickets although they are to be fed live ones a few times a week. A gold fish or a male betta fish are nice and peaceful and are not aggressive . You just need to make sure you maintain and upkeep the fish tank and do extensive research on the critters.

Answer 5

Most of us snake mad characters buy frozen food for our babies. These would be in the form of mice, rats etc., which are bred especially for reptiles.

The food is generally, if the suppliers are decent, raised and gut loaded with the necessary vitamins required for a healthy snake. The 'food' is then put too sleep as painlessly and humanely as possible.

This is better as the mouse/rat doesn't go through the stress of being attacked, killed then eaten. Secondly and most importantly, a mouse or rat if given live can actually seriously damage or kill a snake.

Some captive reptiles are near extinction, for instance, Hogg Island Boa, where their natural habitat and that of their food source has been degraded due to MAN all but decimating the wild.

Answer 6

Your options are:

1. Get one of the few insectivore or fish eating snakes- which sadly do not make great pets.

2. Use snake sausages. SOME snakes will eat these, but not many. They are pretty hard to find.

3. Frozen rodents are the most common option, used by most keepers- hobbiest and professional. They have to be thawed before use, and not every snake will accept them.

4. Get a pet which does not have a major element you don't like.

Answer 7

You're right, all snakes are carnivores. The easiest method is to buy frozen mice of the appropriate size, from either a pet shop (very expensive) or at a reptile show(recommended). The snake sausage mentioned above is carried in shops that specialize in exotics & consists of ground up rodents(rats/mice) in a sausage like casing. They're just as nutritious as feeding a mouse or rat, but easier to handle(looks like a small hotdog). Not sure why everybody seems so negative concerning these. They have been recommended by Bill &Kathy Love, noted corn snake experts, & all my snakes take them readily. They do cost more than the regular frozen mice/rats, but if they reduce your discomfort & keep your snake well fed, they're worth a shot.

Answer 8

Most pet stores that have snakes, also sell frozen rats/mice. It's a myth that snakes will ONLY eat live food, though there are the occasional stubborn ones, so you can purchase frozen rats (though it's still a bit yucky)...thaw one out at a time and give it to the snake once a week. If you do have a stubborn one, get a pair of kitchen tongs (buy a pair just for this purpose) and wiggle the rat in front of the snake. He/she will take it then.

Answer 9

You can buy frozen rodents in bulk from places like http://www.rodentpro.com They are pretty cheap but you have to pay shipping. Often pet stores will sell frozen rodents but it's usually more expensive. You have to thaw the food in hot water. Not boiling. For an adult size mouse it usually takes 15 minutes to thaw. If you try to thaw them in a microwave they'll explode. As far as the snake sausages thing that the other person mentioned. I would stay away from them. They aren't very healthy for the snake and they have additives that I would avoid. Usually the people who breed feeder rodents are pretty good to them. They feed them very good food because this makes them better for the snake. I would think that a lot of times the feeder mice are better raised than the pet mice. They have to be in good health for the snakes benefit.

Answer 10

Thats like saying 'I would like to get a dog but is there any way I can keep it so I don't have to clean up after it'?! Feeding snakes is part and parcel of keeping them. Regards feeding them, an integral part of British animal welfare is that it is ILLEGAL to feed live mice or rats to snakes and other exotic animals. Britain has some of the tightest animal welfare laws in the world, and not without good reason. It is ethically wrong to feed live prey to a snake for three main reasons:
1. it is complete and utter rubbish that feeding live prey to snakes replicates nature. In nature the prey can run and have a chance to escape, but in captivity the mouse or rat is put in the tank with the snake.....how can it run and hide here? Rodents are intelligent creatures and it is rightfully illegal to torture them by 'amusing' ourselves with how a snake catches them
2. the mouse or rat will often defend themselves and their sharp incisors can inflict lethal injuries to your snakes. Check out the book 'whats wrong with my snake?' to see just what can happen! If you care about your snake, don't feed live food. Its that simple.
3. feeding live food will condition your snake to learn that something which is warm and moves is potential prey.....including your hand or arm! This is a well-known fact and when you do this with some of the larger pythons and boas, you are really asking for trouble.