Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Feeding live prey snakes in captivity is difficult and dangerous for both the owner and the snake. Feeding the snake with frozen rodents reduces the risk of harm to the snake, reduces stress for both the owner and the reptile, and saves you the trouble of seeing the little mouse suffer. This feed is also often cheaper!

Steps

1. 1 Thaw the rodent in a bowl of warm water. DO NOT defrost it in the microwave! It's tempting, but the microwave will cook the meat and make your snake sick.Remove the frozen rodent from the freezer and place in a separate plastic bag. Place the bag in a bowl 3/4 full of warm water. Place a cup or mug on top of the bag to completely submerge the rodent in the water. Leave your mouse there for two hours and don't forget to set a timer to remind yourself!
2. 2 Remove the mouse from the bowl when the timer sounds. Prepare feeding tongs, if you have one, to lift the mouse and keep your hands at a safe distance from the snake's hungry mouth.
3. 3 Place your snake in the feeding area. It is highly recommended not to feed the snake in its enclosure, as this will cause the snake to associate any objects in the cage with food (it may confuse your hand as well). You can use a high-sided bucket, another tank, or even a bathroom for this. Just don't forget to close the drain!
   • Remember, some snakes don't like being touched before or after feeding. In this case, you can feed the snake in its tank by using tongs or placing the mouse on a rock or branch in a cage. This will reduce the risk of the snake biting you.
4. 4 Place the rodent where the snake is. Some snakes will have no problem eating thawed rodents, starting to eat after about 15 minutes or so. If so, you have done well, you can return the snake to its enclosure.
5. 5 If your snake is picky about food or hasn't eaten dead food before, you may have to work harder to feed it in the beginning. You can try wiggling the rodent's tail in front of the snake. Use a pair of forceps to do this to avoid accidental bites. If the snake seems to be afraid of a rodent, wiggle its tail looser and further away from it. If the snake is in a "threatening pose" but does not attack, try tapping the snake lightly on the nose. However, don't do this if your snake is a royal python, as this may actually scare it and have the opposite effect of what you expected it to! With patience, you will see that the snake will attack and strangle the already dead rodent, and then eat it as usual. You may need to let the snake "kill" the dead rodent more than once in your first few attempts. Dont be upset! Feeding a snake with pre-killed food is much safer and more humane.
6. 6 Place the snake back in the cage and leave it to digest in a warm, dark place. Use caution when carrying your snake as it may still be attuned to eating. It usually helps if you first allow the snake to crawl out of the tank on its own, and then lift it.

Tips

• Frozen mice can be stored frozen in an airtight container for a very long time.
• If the snake is still not eating frozen food, there is a magic tool called MouseMaker. This is a product that can be bought online or at a pet store to apply to a rodent. Just opening the bottle drives the snake crazy. One or two drops applied to the rodent's nose will seduce even the fastidious eater. Over time, you can wean the snake from this remedy as it gets used to food that has already been killed.
• Alternatively, you can dip the mouse in a small amount of chicken broth. This should have an effect similar to MouseMaker's blobs.
• Sometimes, if the snake is oblivious to the mouse, it will finally attack it if you move the mouse quickly with a jerk. On some snakes, this can backfire if they prefer to be left alone with the mouse in a warm, dark place to eat their prey in peace and quiet.
• However, keep in mind that every snake is different! Keep trying different methods.
• Piercing the mouse's head is also an option if you're brave enough to do it! Just crush the head of the mouse so that some of the brain matter comes out. This has the same effect as chicken broth.

Warnings

• If the snake has bitten you and it is not venomous, don't worry, but treat the wound immediately. To get the snake to let go of you, gently press down on the sides of its head where the jaw opens. Do not pull your finger (or anything else) until the snake opens its mouth, as its fangs are bent back and you could rip off a piece of your skin or break the snake's teeth. Disinfect the bite area, and do not try to punish the snake. She will not understand you, and you can only provoke another bite. Spend more time with your snake to build trust. This is the best way to prevent bites.
• Make sure the rodent is not too large for your pet, as this can cause serious injury.

What do you need

• Frozen rodents
• Forceps
• Separate container to feed the snake