Feeding Snakes Frozen Mice and Totally different Prey

Generally snake householders encounter feeding points with their pet snakes. Some snakes, like ball pythons, are recognized to not have to eat, nonetheless feeding points can occur with any type of snake. 

The most common feeding disadvantage householders have is when their snake wouldn’t have to strike and eat pre-killed meals objects like mice and rats. Feeding pre-killed prey, every the up to date or beforehand frozen varieties, is useful for the safety of the snake nonetheless sometimes snakes are reluctant to take pre-killed prey. That could be very true if the snake was wild-caught or is being offered a prey merchandise it has on no account eaten sooner than. Luckily, there are a variety of strategies you’ll try and entice a reluctant snake to take a frozen mouse or one different pre-killed prey merchandise.

Listed under are some tried and true methods to get your snake to eat embrace.

Warmth the Prey 

Make certain the frozen mouse (or one different pre-killed prey merchandise) is warmed up until it is as a minimum room temperature. Thaw frozen prey in a bag inside the fridge or float it in chilly water after which place it in warmth water merely sooner than feeding it to your snake to warmth it up. Certainly not use the microwave to thaw frozen prey. Burns to your snake may consequence attributable to uneven heating of the prey or your prey may explode inside the microwave all through the technique of heating and no person wants to clean that up.

Use Feeding Forceps 

Use feeding forceps and by no means your hand to present the thawed and warmed prey to your snake. The forceps will help keep your snake from associating your hand with meals. The forceps may additionally allow you to wiggle the prey merchandise to mimic reside motion which often elicits a strike from the snake.

Enhance the Scent

Dip the thawed prey in sodium-free rooster broth. The scent of rooster broth appeals to some snakes and can encourage them to strike.

Make It Acquainted

In the event you’re attempting to feed your snake a model new type of meals, rub the model new prey merchandise with one different favorite meals that your snake is accustomed to. As an example, in case your snake likes chicks nonetheless won’t take mice, rub a chick on a pre-killed mouse after which attempt to feed it to your snake. The acquainted scent of a favorite meals may trick the snake into taking the model new merchandise.

Try a Fully completely different Coloration

Try a definite shade of the prey merchandise if there are some on the market. Once you’ve obtained already tried a white mouse with out success, attempt a multi-colored or dark-colored mouse since some snakes seem to balk at albino mice.

Decrease It Open

Although it seems considerably gross, the scent of thoughts matter is particularly environment friendly at stimulating the feeding response in pet snakes. Resulting from this reality, exposing the prey’s thoughts, or on the very least lowering the prey open to indicate blood, may help in getting your snake to eat it.

Use a Specific Enclosure

Place your snake in a small enclosure that is used solely all through feeding time. This must be in a quiet place. Give your snake some privateness whereas it feeds.

Alter the Feeding Time

Feed your snake at night and cover the tank. You may additionally current a darkish disguise discipline in your snake since some want to eat in a secluded spot.

Try Fully completely different Sized Prey

Try a definite measurement of prey. Probably your snake would love its prey to be barely smaller or larger than what you are already offering. Pinkies and fuzzies are good small prey decisions.

Don’t Feed All through a Shed

Make certain your snake shouldn’t be about to shed. In case your snake’s pores and pores and skin appears lighter or further uninteresting than commonplace and its eyes are a milky blue than they might be about to shed. Most snakes which may be about to, or actively, shedding will not eat.

Maintain Your Snake Warmth

Look at the temperatures in your snake’s enclosure. In case your snake is just too chilly it’s metabolism will decelerate and it may not eat.