How do you know?

Question

How do you know when a snake is hungry? I asked questions yesterday about how I would go about feeding it since I was so scared of it and got some suggestions on things to try. However I do not know the last time it was fed and am wondering how do you know ifs it hungry. I went to check its water and put my finger on the outside of his tank and it followed my finger where ever it went. Does this mean its hungry?

The snake is about 33 inchs long. I am not being friendly with her i thought she was dead cuz i couldnt see her breathing.

Answer 1

It just means that the snake is curious (and healthy). I looked at your last two (resolved) questions and couldn't find a mention of the snake's size, although if you're feeding it pinkies, I imagine it's a small one.

Unfortunately, the only way to really tell if a snake is hungry is if it eats. Shame on your husband for not giving you info on how to care for the snake or telling you when it was last fed.

The posting about using the tongs to "jiggle" the pinkie near the snake wasn't kidding - this IS the best way to get a young snake to eat thawed prey. (You could just toss one in, but what happens when you find out that the snake wasn't hungry and you have a smelly, rotting mouse corpse three days from now?) The movement simulates live prey, to entice hatchlings to feed. The tongs are safer than your fingers, plus you can pull the pinkie out if it doesn't eat. (Why am I getting the feeling here that "your sweetie" is trying to get you to be less afraid of his snake by letting the two of you spend some "quality time" together! It sounds as though you're making some progress, too, if you're now playing "chase the finger" through the tank wall.)

Actually, if the snake is in good health (sides of the body aren't caved in, acting curious, moving about in the tank) and he fed it before he left, it may easily be able to go the two weeks without a meal. If it's closer to a hatchling, I'd try to feed it at least once, though. A hatchling should be 9-10 inches and a full adult should be 2-3 feet.

If you want to try a feeding, here's what I'd suggest:

1) Thaw a pinkie for 10 minutes in very warm water. You want the mouse to feel warm, but not hot, yet thaw all the way through.

2) While you're waiting for the mouse to thaw, make "scratching" noises (like a mouse running) outside the snake's cage (and out of his view) and see how he reacts. He should come over to check out the sound. This is a way I use to condition my snakes for feeding safety - if they hear the sound before I open the lid, they're either out and waiting for food in the time it takes the mouse to thaw (if they don't respond, they're not hungry); if they don't hear the sound, they know there's no food involved and I'm either cleaning or going to handle them.

3) Get ready to feed.

a) If you are really concerned about being bitten , you can
wear a heavy outdoor glove (It is cold up there now, isn't it?)

b) Open the tank lid slightly.

c) Pick up the pinkie with the tongs (by the tail or rear leg is
preferred).

d) Use the tongs to hold the pinkie off the ground, at a level
where the snake can reach it, a few inches to the side of
the snake's head. You can even keep most of your hand
behind the tank cover if the tank is not too deep and the
tongs are long enough. You want to go to the side of the
snake so it can see easily and is striking away from you.

e) Jiggle. Just don't hold the pinkie too close to the glass or
any hard objects, so if it misjudges a jiggle it hurts itself.
This doesn't have to be a constant jiggle, just a little shake
and rest between each. If it moves too much, the snake
could be intimidated.

f) Wait. The snake may strike immediately if it is very
hungry (if you drop the mouse now, leave it in the tank until
the snake moves elsewhere - it may still eat the mouse). It
may "stalk" the mouse. It may flick the tounge at it a few
times and take it gently. Or, it may go back under its hide
and not come out the rest of the day (it wasn't hungry).

If it doesn't eat, you can refreeze the pinkie (one time max - rinse it if it got dropped and you picked it up). You can try again in a few days if you're up to it.

If it does eat, think of the accomplishment you'll feel! Once you get the first time out of the way, I think you'll find the worst part of feeding a snake is imagining all the bad things that COULD happen.

Sorry the answer is so long, but I think the detail will help you.

Anyone who tells you a snake only needs fed once a month is going to end up with a dead snake. They may go several months without eating, but they need to make up for it during the months they do eat.

ADDITION: I just went back through your resolved questions and saw tou were told to feed this snake a dozen pinkie mice a week. This must be an adult. If your husband cared about the snake, he will have fed it before he left. There's no reason you should HAVE to feed it in the next two weeks, unless it was inactive (because of the cold) or underweight. You can try as I suggested above, or waith till "sweetie" gets home, tell him to feed his own snake, then take you out to dinner!

Answer 2

what kind of snake and how old will determine this....younger smaller snakes will eat more often...larger snakes take larger prey will eat less often....younger smaller snakes eat 1 to two times a week...older larger snakes eat between 2 times a week to once a month depending on prey size....him following you doesn't necessarily mean hes hungry probably just friendly....if you dont know when hes been feed...wait about a week and then try to feed him....if he doesnt eat then wait another week...you will have to look up or ask about prey size and amount based on the size and type of snake.

Answer 3

Well dependin on what type of snake you have... I have a baby ball python well it's not a baby anymore... but your supposed to feed it every month... (they shed every month) after every shedding

Answer 4

they are hungry all the time, keep food for it constantly.
keep water also