Have you ever fed another snake to your kingsnake?

Question

Just idly curious, but not really interested in discussions on snake keeping in general so please stay on topic. I wonder why it seems more heinous to feed another snake to a snake than to feed the little furry mouse....although I am sure the mouse would have a different point of view. It does seem like an efficient solution to dealing with overpopulation, culling, etc. if you breed snakes. I was just wondering what reptile keepers thoughts were on the topic.

I get tickled at the notion that pre-killed is more humane than freshly killed anything...something still dies. But I don't feed live anything to my snakes-too dangerous for the snakes.

I've been getting a lot of really bad quality frozen mice lately, so I buy fresh, kill them and feed. I also ended up with cornsnake who was a complete ditz-wouldn't settle down, etc. so I fed him to one of the big kings. I thought this was more humane than selling him to some poor kid who would become frustrated with him. To me it seemed a simple solution, but I was just wanting to hear other's take on it.

Answer 1

I think pre-killed is more humane because less stress is placed on the prey item. I feed frozen/fresh-killed mainly because it cuts down on the chances of injury to the snake.

I've never fed a snake to another snake, though I wouldn't have a problem with those who do, especially since theoretically a snake would be a healthier meal for species that have evolved to be snake-eating specialists. The main reason it's not commonly done is probably just availability. Snakes of any kind are more expensive than rodents, and feeding wild-caught prey is NOT recommended, due to the likelihood of disease and/or parasites. If you breed snakes and end up with too many, I suppose it would be an option, though you could still find a buyer for them somewhere and turn a profit. If you ended up with sickly and/or lethally deformed babies, might as well feed them out. At least then they don't go to waste.

Answer 2

I'm not sure why anyone would feed a snake to a kingsnake. Rodents are a much more effecient food source to produce and thereby being much less expensive. However, there are some snakes that will solely feed on other snakes and reptiles such as the King Cobra. From what I understand the people that keep those snakes will routinely feed them Ball Pythons because imported ones are relatively inexpensive.

Personally I don't have a problem with it. I admire and respect snakes which is why I keep dozens of them, but I also respect the lives of the rats that I feed to my snakes. Everything has to eat, though, so it's pointless to try and value one life over another. However, I do disagree with senseless and pointless killing of animals such as the rattlesnake roundups that occur in the U.S.

Answer 3

Not a breeder but a reptile keeper. I doubt any snake breeder would encourage you to feed a snake to another snake...if they do they shouldn't be breeding them any more (doesn't that defeat the purpose). There will always be someone who has a problem with snakes eating rodents and the fact that "it's mean". Simple solution....feed pre-killed rodents....its safer and kinder. An that doesn't mean that you should feed pre-killed snakes. In my opinion, doing this is simply wrong for all the wrong reasons.

Answer 4

I have fed lizards to snakes. Some snakes are accustomed to eating particular foods. I field collect reptiles and to insure the best husbandry I will feed Western Fence lizards to my snakes. They are easy to catch and easy to breed. Longnose snakes and Kingsnakes from the wild may only eat other reptiles. Sometimes you can make your mice smell like lizards and the snakes will take them.

Answer 5

my mom uses the garden hoe to kill every snake she sees, so if you love that snake stay ayay from my house please......she is mean!!!!!!!!! good luck, and use dead animals, feeding live ones seems mean.....lol

Answer 6

interesting question - will be back to check what others think especially other breeders