How to Use Rodents as Snake Food

Snakes can have numerous reactions at feeding time. While one may ignore its food for some time, the next may strike before your hand has left the cage. If you're a brand new snake owner, you may not know quite how to approach your pet with food. Have no fear, eHow can help.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Feeding Frozen

1. Choose snake food from a reputable dealer that is no wider than twice your snake's mouth width.
2. Thaw the frozen snake food at room temperature on a counter. (You must thaw snake food; the commonly used term 'feeding frozen' is somewhat misleading.) Depending on snake size, frozen food could consist of pinkie mice, a full-grown mouse or even a rat. Do not submerge the animal in water, microwave or place in the oven to speed the thawing process; these methods change the meat's flavor and can cause your snake to balk at the meal.
3. Wipe excess moisture off the rodent.
4. Use tongs to lower the rodent into the cage by its tail. Be prepared for your pet snake to strike suddenly. If the snake seems disinterested, wiggle the rodent with the tongs. Most snakes will strike at a moving target. If your snake still refuses to eat, leave the room with the mouse in the cage for up to two hours. Some snakes are shy about eating in front of a watchful human.
5. Dispose of the rodent if the snake hasn't eaten within a two hour time frame. Mouse meat can spoil the same way beef or chicken can. Abort the attempt, wait a few days and try again with different snake food.

Feeding Live

6. Feed live only if you have no alternatives. For both safety and convenience, it's worth the effort to train your snake to eat frozen food.
7. Lower the rodent into the snake cage by the tail, with tongs. Always use the tongs because a hungry snake can grab your fingers by mistake.
8. Watch closely to make sure your snake kills its food without incident. Live rodents have sharp teeth and can severely injure or kill a snake. For this reason, never leave them together in a cage unattended. If the snake doesn't immediately kill the mouse, toss a few pieces of dog food into the cage. Rodents must consume protein almost constantly. If you don't provide dog food as a means of protein, you can end up with a snake eating mouse instead.
9. Separate the snake and rodent after two hours. If your snake hasn't made a meal of the little critter by then, it's not going to. Always have a secure rodent cage, dog food supply and water bottle available for the occasional refused meal.

Tips & Warnings

• Snakes in shedding mode commonly refuse to eat.
• Leave your pet snake in peace for at least 12 hours after it eats. Digestion takes time, and during this initial period, your snake can be ornery and unwilling to be touched.
• Wash your hands after handling snake food. Snakes rely primarily on a sense of smell to find prey and can strike mouse-scented hands by mistake.
• Never attempt to separate a snake and mouse with your bare hands. If the mouse is harming your snake, use the tongs to grab hold of the mouse.