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All snakes are carnivores.  With over 2900 different species, some snakes have highly [[Snake Diet|specialised diets]] (eggs, lizards, frogs, fish, fish eggs or invertebrates such as slugs or termites) while others are generalists and will eat a wide variety of prey items.  Common pet snakes such as rat snakes, milk snakes boas and pythons typically feed on rodents but some pet and many exhibition snakes require special diets.  It is therefore necessary to have species-specific information to determine the most appropriate prey.   

All snakes are carnivores.  With over 2900 different species, some snakes have highly [[Snake Diet|specialised diets]] (eggs, lizards, frogs, fish, fish eggs or invertebrates such as slugs or termites) while others are generalists and will eat a wide variety of prey items.  Common pet snakes such as rat snakes, milk snakes boas and pythons typically feed on rodents but some pet and many exhibition snakes require special diets.  It is therefore necessary to have species-specific information to determine the most appropriate prey.

 

The gastrointestinal tract of the snake is simple and relatively short compared with other reptiles.  Because of this comparative physiology, it it vital that these animals are given a high quality diet in captivity to maximise absorption of essential nutrients.   

[[Image:Snake_eating_baby_mouse.jpg|180px|thumb|right|©RVC and its licensors, Peer Zwart and Fredric Frye. All rights reserved]]

[[Image:Snake_eating_baby_mouse.jpg|180px|thumb|right|©RVC and its licensors, Peer Zwart and Fredric Frye. All rights reserved]]

*For information on reptile diets and food composition, see [[Lizard Diet|here]]

*For information on reptile diets and food composition, see [[Lizard Diet|here]]

*Snakes may not feed during ecdysis

*Snakes may not feed during ecdysis

*Some snakes do not feed during the breeding season

*Some snakes do not feed during the breeding season

'''Royal python'''

'''Royal python'''

*The presence of thiaminases in frozen fish can lead to clinical disease in fish-eating snakes, such as garter snakes.

*The presence of thiaminases in frozen fish can lead to clinical disease in fish-eating snakes, such as garter snakes.

==Preparation of food==

==Preparation of food==

Care of the prey item prior to feeding is important since nutritional deficiencies in the snake may occur if the animal being fed has been kept on an inappropriate diet.  Similarly, if poor husbandry of prey items is practiced then they may serve as reservoirs for disease.  Prey rodents should not have been treated with topical parasiticides e.g. permethrins, within three weeks of being offered to a snake (the dealer can confirm this).  In addition, prey should not have been administered drugs such as antimicrobials and euthanasia compounds.  In zoological institutions prey is often frozen at 0°C as a method of food preservation.   

Care of the prey item prior to feeding is important since nutritional deficiencies in the snake may occur if the animal being fed has been kept on an inappropriate diet.  Similarly, if poor husbandry of prey items is practiced then they may serve as reservoirs for disease.  Prey rodents should not have been treated with topical parasiticides e.g. permethrins, within three weeks of being offered to a snake (the dealer can confirm this).  In addition, prey should not have been administered drugs such as antimicrobials and euthanasia compounds.  In zoological institutions prey is often frozen at 0°C as a method of food preservation.

 

Snakes are heavily reliant on olfactory cues when hunting, pet owners may be encouraged to "scent" a mouse or rat by rubbing an atypical prey species to stimulate feeding.   

 

==Feeding live prey==

==Feeding live prey==

Food items should be humanely euthanised using carbon dioxide or cervical dislocation.  Because snakes hunt using olfactory senses, they can be easily trained to accept euthanised prey.  It is not recommended to feed live prey for several reasons:

Food items should be humanely euthanised using carbon dioxide or cervical dislocation.  Because snakes hunt using olfactory senses, they can be easily trained to accept euthanised prey.  It is not recommended to feed live prey for several reasons:

# Injuries to the snake from the prey

# Injuries to the snake from the prey

# Illegal in the U.K.

# Illegal in the U.K.

==References==

==References==

Fowler, M.E. and Miller, R.E. (2003). Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine. Saunders, 5th Edition. pp. 84. ISBN 0-7216-9499-3

Fowler, M.E. and Miller, R.E. (2003). Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine. Saunders, 5th Edition. pp. 84. ISBN 0-7216-9499-3

[[Category:Snake Feeding]]

[[Category:Snake Feeding]]