It can be hard to figure out the best way to feed your pet snake, especially when they refuse regular pink or fuzzy mice. Unfortunately, not all snakes are satisfied with thawed prey, and this places owners in a precarious position as to what to do. Live mice as a food source will only be accepted by certain snake species. So, to help you determine the best dietary options for your pet snake, we look at the five reptiles that eat live mice.
1. Ball Pythons
The ball python is the most popular and, undoubtedly, the most beautiful pet snake, but they can be fussy when it comes to food. Many python keepers become frustrated when their snakes refuse to eat thawed rodents. In this case, the only option to prevent starvation is to give them live mice. Some of the reasons your pet ball python might not accept regular food are stress, or their tank conditions aren’t adequate.
If you don’t want to give them living prey, you can try to mimic the movement of a mouse using a thawed pinkie or fuzzy. Use tongs to keep the fuzzy mouse on the end and move it about the tank to get your snake interested. If all else fails, you’ll have to introduce live prey, but monitor the snake because mice are known to bite and scratch. If the snake doesn’t eat its prey within minutes, remove the mouse to avoid injuries and exposing the mouse to prolonged stress.
2. Blue Tongue Lizards
If you want to treat your blue tongue lizard a protein source, then introducing a small rodent is the way to do it. In the wild, these reptiles are known to feed on small mice and make quick work of catching their prey. Many of the larger lizards consume small mice, and while live prey isn’t generally fed to these reptiles, some keepers offer mice as enrichment. While it is possible to give these lizards live prey, your pets will gladly accept regular pinkie mice as their quota of protein. Some of the other lizard species that hunt mice include bearded dragons and basilisks. Simply thaw frozen rodents, get them to room temperature, and treat your lizard with a mouse or two.
3. Garter Snakes
For many first-time reptile owners, garter snakes can be challenging to keep and tame. But these slim snakes certainly don’t play with their food and are known to hunt and catch mice. When they’re given a live mouse, there’s no stopping them. Most keepers will feed live prey because it keeps their snakes stimulated and is easier to provide as a meal. You can give garter snakes pinkies, and some of them will accept these as their staple food, but others might want the thrill of the chase. In this instance, a few live mice will entice the garter snake and keep them satisfied.
4 Boa Constrictors
Not many reptile keepers own boa constrictors because of their immense size, but for those that do, feeding can be a problem. Boas are powerful snakes that feed on rodents and other small animals in the wild. When you keep them in captivity, they can experience stress, which stops them from consuming regular frozen and thawed mice. If this is the case, the only option you have is to feed the boa with live mice. The appropriately sized rodents should be given to snakes to keep them full and happy. Always monitor these snakes during a live feed to protect them from injuries if they don’t catch the rodent quickly.
5. King Snakes
The Californian king snake is an impressive reptile known for its distinctive black-and-white bands. This reptile accepts both frozen and live food, but many keepers happen to come across a picky eater that only responds to living prey. King snakes live on mice in the wild, and because they’re such active hunters, they’re stimulated by moving prey.
Taking good care of your king snake can give you 20 amazing years with this reptile. They should eat pinkie mice every seven to ten days, but pay close attention to their overall weight. These snakes can eat so frequently that they become obese, and this increases their risk of developing common reptile illnesses.
The Problem with Feeding Snakes Live Prey
Most snake and lizard keepers don’t like feeding their pets live mice because of ethical concerns. Adding a living mouse to a snake pen creates immense fear and stress for the rodent because it is confined and has nowhere to escape. On the other hand, a snake that fails to catch the mouse could end up with injuries being scratched and bitten.
Of course, when your pet snake refuses frozen food, you may not have a choice but to feed it live prey. If you aren’t sure about live prey and want to ensure your snake or lizard is healthy, you can reach out to an exotic veterinarian.
From king snakes to bearded dragons, most reptiles eat rodents because it’s part of their staple diet in the wild. Whether or not you have to give them living prey will depend on the snake and its general behavior. Keep an eye on them, and if regular frozen and thawed mice won’t work, you can source live mice from reputable rodent suppliers.
