Reptile & Amphibian Forums

If you've ever wondered about feeding your blood a rat that's been thawed and not eaten after the first try, I just found out it's still just as tasty to the snake on the second day.

My snake didn't take her rat the first night, and the next morning it didn't smell bad. I just refrigerated it during the day and tried again on night two. She took it without hesitation.

Most of you probably have snakes that eat like horses, but mine's a little picky. If you've got one like this, don't pitch your food animals until you've tried them twice. Of course, toss them if rigor sets in or if the tissues start to decompose. Rotten is rotten, after all.

Most snakes have proven to be carrion eaters in the wild and many in captivity will take f/t or p/k food items that have been at room temps for anywhere from 12 to 18 hours with no problem.

Kelly

Probably explains why we can get snakes to eat dead rodents. When push comes to shove, they're instinctively able to hunt and kill their own food, but it isn't mandatory on a survival level for them. I suspect most animals will take the easier route if they can--eat what's already dead that can't hurt me. Sharks, hyenas, birds of prey and lions do it all the time.

With my snakes I have had them finally eat a mouse on the third try.