Changes

==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 such as 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 (see [[Snake Special Senses|snake special senses]]; therefore, 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: