Feeding frozen-thawed rodents
- Snakes are shy eaters. Pick a feeding time when your snake won’t be disturbed.
- Choose the right size frozen rodent for your snake. Keep it in its plastic bag and let it thaw. For faster thawing, put the bagged rodent in a cup of warm water. Rodents should be at room temperature before feeding.
- Do not microwave.
- Whenever possible, feed reptiles separately and in a secondary enclosure.
- Once fully thawed, remove the rodent from the bag. With feeding tongs, hold it by the tail or back end a few inches in front of the snake’s face and jiggle slightly to imitate movement. When the snake strikes, hold and jiggle for another second, then release.
- If the snake won’t take it from the tongs, place the rodent on the floor of the enclosure and let the snake eat on its own.
If your snake skips a meal
- It’s common for snakes to skip the occasional meal, and it won’t harm them. Snakes often refuse food when they’re about to shed: you’ll see cloudy eyes and pale scales, which clear up a couple of days before the shed.
- Are the temperatures right? There should be a warm side and a cool side.
- Does the snake have places to hide? Snakes like small, snug hiding spaces.
Both reptiles and rodents can carry diseases that are transferable to humans. Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling your pet or the frozen rodents you feed them.
