Yes snakes can get food poisoning. It is rare and you need the right pathogenic kinds of bacteria, but it is possible. And it would be more obvious in neonates that do not yet have a fully competent immune system.

I will feed a mouse that has sat for a day, but beyond that when they start to bloat and stink you are playing a risky game. Most of the time it will be fine. But a dead animal is a great anaerobic environment and perfect for growing some REALLY nasty bacteria like clostridium (botulism and tetanus ect).

Snakes in the wild probably do scavenge, and they probably suffer for it occasionally. I just wouldn't risk it personally.


hey what do i know. When i travel to brazil, c. america or mexico I drink lots of tequila to kill off montezumas revenge. I always thought these 'extra" bacteria will help aid digestion.

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• Kingsnake syndrome - rick d, Sun Feb 22 21:34:50 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - indictment, Sun Feb 22 21:53:47 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - rick d, Sun Feb 22 22:21:00 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - indictment, Sun Feb 22 23:13:49 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - MikeRusso, Sun Feb 22 22:07:49 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - rick d, Sun Feb 22 22:22:10 2009
• YES - foxturtle, Mon Feb 23 00:16:49 2009
• RE: YES - MikeRusso, Mon Feb 23 05:48:41 2009
• BTW - foxturtle, Mon Feb 23 00:20:16 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - tspuckler, Mon Feb 23 08:29:12 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - Tony D, Mon Feb 23 09:33:49 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - MikeRusso, Mon Feb 23 10:00:05 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - rick d, Mon Feb 23 22:15:32 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - joecop, Mon Feb 23 10:13:18 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - joecop, Mon Feb 23 10:17:46 2009
• Not crypto... - foxturtle, Mon Feb 23 10:46:22 2009
• RE: Not crypto... - joecop, Mon Feb 23 11:01:12 2009
• RE: Not crypto... - foxturtle, Mon Feb 23 11:29:13 2009
• RE: Not crypto... - rick d, Mon Feb 23 22:20:59 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - joecop, Mon Feb 23 10:51:59 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - Cheesemonkey, Mon Feb 23 10:46:57 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - foxturtle, Mon Feb 23 10:54:03 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - joecop, Mon Feb 23 10:54:05 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - markg, Mon Feb 23 14:39:58 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - joecop, Mon Feb 23 15:08:43 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - markg, Mon Feb 23 16:40:41 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - Bluerosy, Mon Feb 23 15:09:06 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - foxturtle, Mon Feb 23 15:25:06 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - Bluerosy, Mon Feb 23 15:53:56 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - joecop, Mon Feb 23 16:20:25 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - zach_whitman, Mon Feb 23 16:45:44 2009
• Also - zach_whitman, Mon Feb 23 16:56:34 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - Bluerosy, Mon Feb 23 17:17:29 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - markg, Mon Feb 23 16:46:11 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - rick d, Mon Feb 23 22:26:56 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - snakeball, Tue Feb 24 09:16:39 2009
• RE: Kingsnake syndrome - Rick D, Tue Feb 24 22:01:26 2009