So my kids were sitting on the floor watching a movie and eating a bowl of 'Little Smokies (little hotdogs). I noticed my 3 year old ball python heading for the bowl, sure enough she opened her mouth and tried to grab one. So being the mean owner that I am, ha ha,, I didn't let her have one. So my question is, Is there anything else I can give my ball besides live mice. There has to be something else they eat out in the jungle besides mice?Snacks or anything? let me know, thanks. * P.s Makes you wonder what the little smokies are made of, ha ha.
2007-03-12 06:44:40 · 13 answers · asked by Amy K 2 in Pets ➔ Reptiles
I am not going to feed my snake frozen mice. They don't get fed frozen mice in the jungle. They are meant to kill there prey. No she has never bit anyone,ever.
2007-03-12 09:32:03 · update #1
Ball Pythons normally eat African Soft-Furred rats in the wild, but they will occasionally eat small birds as well.
I wouldn't recommend feeding them anything else other than a mouse or rat as Ball Pythons are imprint feeders and will usually only eat one type of food item that it gets imprinted on. Also, snakes are unable to digest cooked meat so if you were to feed it a sausage... you could end up killing your snake.
Feeder mice or rats have all the nutrients your snake could ever need. They're not like people and don't get "tired" of eating the same type of food and wouldn't appreciate a snack like you or I would.
2007-03-12 08:11:41 · answer #1 · answered by xyz_gd 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First of all, you shouldnt feed snakes live mice...well you can, but it is inhumane,(is that spelled right?) And if the mouse has the chance it can and will attack your snake, which could injure it and lead to infection. Another alternative food source for a ball python or other snakes is frozen lizards and frozen baby chickens. You can get them at some pet stores, but they are hard to find, and probably more expensive than mice!
hope this helps
2007-03-12 16:22:57 · answer #2 · answered by Shelby 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the wild they eat gerbils and things like that. They make little snake sausages sort of like the little smokies but I wouldn't feed them to my snake. Mice are the best food for them because they have all the nutrients the snake needs.
2007-03-12 15:02:40 · answer #3 · answered by Boober Fraggle 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stick with the mice. they don't have the preservatives and things found in human food. You might also want to reconsider feeding liver pray to your snake. There are many proven cases of live pray killing pet snakes! Do a google search for photos to see the damge live prey can cause! If you continue feeding live please make sure you never leave them alone together!! And am sure you know this but don't feed in the same tank the snake lives in!
2007-03-12 13:56:40 · answer #4 · answered by debcat76135 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ball pythons, in the wild, don't eat mice. Live or frozen. They do however eat lizards, appropriate sized birds and mammals, and other snakes.
Maybe try gerbils for something different? Ball pythons back "home" in Africa do eat wild gerbils.
2007-03-12 18:06:43 · answer #5 · answered by thisiscomputer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard that if their refusing mice then at times you could feed them a goldfish. Sounds silly, but my friend told me this and he has a beautiful 5 year old ball python. Mine only eats live, every two weeks. Try to have the pet store kill the mouse right before you leave but feed it to the snake immediately.
2007-03-12 13:50:08 · answer #6 · answered by Scott F 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
they can eat mice, gerbils, hamsters, rats, rabbits, i hear there is something out there called "snake sausages" it is just mice in sausage casing i think. you should really consider killing the prey item first, mice can be vicious. i use a blow gun with stundarts.
i have a redtail who was afraid of rats for months because one attacked her.
here's what can happen if your snake happens to not be hungry.
2007-03-12 23:32:40 · answer #7 · answered by otis the brave (luke 22:36) 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You could try rats of a similar size. Some will take chicks. If it's large enough, gerbils.
I also have to say, I disagree with feeding live foods - I know too many people who have had their reptiles injured or killed by their "food".
2007-03-12 23:43:45 · answer #8 · answered by copperhead 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well don't let your snake eat any people food that could kill it. DON'T freeze any of the food cuz the snake will bit you and or your children cuz they put off heat. so you can go and get druf Bunny's, and hamsters
2007-03-12 19:28:15 · answer #9 · answered by Mike J 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
they do have frozen or arctic mice available. if you dont like the frozen mice...most protein filled meat will do...if it wants smokies...try it on one
2007-03-12 14:20:28 · answer #10 · answered by darkangyl21 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋