If you have or are thinking about getting a pet snake, then you need to know what you should be feeding it. Here’s what you need to know.
Did you know that close to six million households in the United States own a reptile as a pet?
While reptiles are nowhere near as popular as dogs and cats, they come with their own charm that some find irresistible. There are many different kinds of reptiles that people own, but snakes are the most common.
If you’ve been thinking about adopting a pet snake, then you might be asking yourself, “What do snakes eat?” The truth is that snakes eat a wide variety of foods that vary by species. Read on for our guide to the top foods that you can feed your pet snake.
Small Rodents
When it comes to snake food, rodents are often the top choice that pet owners buy. It is possible to feed your snake live mice or rats, but this is becoming less common because live prey will fight back. The last thing you’d want to do is stress out the prey and have an injured snake on your hands.
This is why it’s often best to buy frozen mice to ensure that your snake is fed in a safe, humane way. If you’re worried about your snake rejecting dead prey, the important thing to remember is to heat up the rodents so they’re more lifelike.
Eggs
If you study a wild snake diet, then you’ll notice that lots of snakes happen to eat eggs from a variety of birds. Eggs are nutrient powerhouses that give snakes the energy they need to thrive.
Keep in mind that snakes have different digestive systems. Some species like the East African egg-eating snake will only eat eggs throughout its lifetime, while other species like pythons can’t handle any eggs. If your snake can eat eggs, you should buy smaller chicken eggs to make feeding simpler.
Fish
Even though most people imagine snakes on land when they picture them in their heads, there are lots of species that hang out by bodies of water and even swim. This means that they can eat fish.
Garter snakes, cottonmouths, water snakes, and dice snakes are a few species that are capable of eating fish.
Insects
Even though snakes are carnivores, some pet owners are surprised to know that they can eat insects as well. Before you feed your snake any insects, make sure you do enough research to determine if your species of snake evolved to digest insects.
The most common types of insects that some species of snakes enjoy include caterpillars, moths, crickets, and spiders.
Now You Know What to Feed Your Pet Snake
Taking care of your pet snake can be one of the most rewarding things you do. Researching pet care will give you peace of mind that your snake has everything it needs for a long life. This guide is a great starting point that will help you dive deeper into the foods that your specific snake species can eat.
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