How to Feed a Pet Snake

If you're a new pet snake owner, you may have been attracted to owning a snake because of its minimal feeding requirements. However, feeding pet snakes requires research and can be a little daunting for the squeamish. You need to take the time to familiarize yourself with your snake and its eating habits.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Determine your species of snake. The species determines the snake's diet and feeding routine. Deviating from the appropriate diet or feeding routine could cause your snake to become ill.
2. Find food sources that can be refrigerated. All snakes are carnivorous. You may need to special order frozen mice, frogs, fish, worms, lizards or insects from pet shops and keep the boxes of pre-killed prey in your freezer.
3. Set a feeding schedule for your pet snake. Mark feeding days on a calendar to help remind you of when you should feed your snake.
4. Thaw your snake's meal before feeding it. A simple way to thaw frozen snake food is to submerge it in warm water for half an hour. Dry off the food. Make sure that the food source is at room temperature before offering it to the snake.
5. Add a calcium and Vitamin D supplement to the food. These supplements are available at pet shops and in powder or liquid form.
6. Use a pair of tongs to lower the food into your pet snake's cage. If your snake is unresponsive to the still prey, clasp the food with the tongs and move it as if it were alive.
7. Replenish your pet snake's fresh water supply daily.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have recently obtained a snake as a pet, allow it a few days to adjust to its new home before feeding it. Snakes that are stressed or are uncomfortable with their environment will refuse to eat.
• Do not handle your pet snake for 2 days after it has eaten. Handling a snake before it has been given sufficient time to digest its meal may result in vomiting. You may also have trouble feeding your pet snake afterwards.
• Never feed live prey to your pet snake. Feeding it live prey increases the possibility of injury for your snake.