Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just recently bought a baby Yellow Rat Snake and I am just trying to gather all of the information possible on the foods I can feed it. I am an experienced Turtle owner, but this is my first snake.

My one question is it okay to feed a Yellow Rat Snake a Gerbil or a Hamster?
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>>I just recently bought a baby Yellow Rat Snake and I am just trying to gather all of the information possible on the foods I can feed it. I am an experienced Turtle owner, but this is my first snake.
>>
>>My one question is it okay to feed a Yellow Rat Snake a Gerbil or a Hamster?
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Yes, but...they are more expensive unless you raise them.
You would have to do a little deeper research to determine the nutritional value, not sure how much of a difference there may be, but for me mice and rats are the way to go for rat snakes.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

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Am I right or wrong in my mathematical thinking:

A feeder pinky costs 1.20 at my reptile place in which these things are tiny so I would have to feed the baby yellow rat snake 2 times a week.

OR

I could get a nice size hamster, obviously more fatening for like $7 but only have to feed it every 2-3 weeks right? The larger the prey the longer the snake can go without a meal right? Or am I wrong? Please explain?

First and foremost, ONLY feed appropriate sized prey. There is no way a baby ratsnake could probably eat an adult gerbil or hamster. Odds are the tables will be turned and the hamster or gerbil will kill the baby ratsnake out of defense. Feed prey about large enough to leave a little bit of visible lump in the snakes belly after it feeds. Hatchling corns and ratsnakes usually look like they swallowed a cannon ball after eating their first pinky mouse.

I would also suggest feeding frozen mice of appropriate size that are thoroughly thawed before offering. Even the big chain petshops have them now and they are safe (don't bite at any size) and convenient (usually come three to six in a pack and can be stored in your freezer til needed), and even a bit cheaper than the live animals. You can even go online and frozen feeder mice MUCH cheaper than the petshop prices and Kinsngake.com is a great place to find rodent vendors.

If your ratsnake is large enough to eat a small rat, adult hamster, gerbil, etc. and you want to spend the $$, then there is absolutely no problem with feeding it those items. I would suggest an appropriate sized item weekly however.

Best of luck with your new snake!! Be patient, read the forums and care sheets available, and you will enjoy your new pet.

The snake is about 13 inches long. How often should I try to feed it. I have read times anywhere between every 5 days to a time period of 2-3 weeks?

there's really no set schedule for snakes. each is different and will set its own schedule.

What you want to do is get food items that are about the same diameter as the thickest part of the snake. At 13" that would be baby mice (pinkies or fuzzies). Don't buy live. They're too expensive. Order them frozen from a place like rodentpro.com.

Feed your snake a couple. About 4 days later, feed him a couple more. As a baby, your snake needs to eat a lot so he can grow. Feed him a couple times a week. As he gets bigger, offer more mice each time you feed him.

What I do is buy about 100 large pinkies, 200 fuzzies, 200 large adult mice. That will take your ratsnake from it's current size to about 4' in length or bigger. You won't have to buy food for a while.

If you feed a snake something that is too large it can tear the snake's stomach and it will die.

Only feed your snake live food if it decides to stop eating thawed food. When feeding live items, get prey that can't hurt the snake. Pinkie mice and pinkie rats work great. You can leave them in and they can't hurt the snake.

If you have any questions about anything, get on here and ask. There are tons of knowledgeable people with decades of experience who will be happy to help.

Good luck.
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1.0.0 Great Plains Ratsnake
1.0.0 Corn, Lavender Aztec het for Amel
0.1.0 Black Ratsnake
0.0.1 Texas Rat (tame)
1.0.0 Broad Banded Water Snake, Hypo
1.0.0 Black Bassador Retriever
2.1.0 Godchildren, 1 Evil, 2 possible hets

Thank -You for all of that information. I will not be afraid to ask.

just my 2 cents, but you need to seriously do some research if you are serious. because sounds like you didn't do much before you bought it. i mean, you have a 13" snake that is probably about as big around as a pencil and you are asking about feeding it a large hampster or gerbil that would be many times it's diameter??? you might chop off a leg and feed it a hampster ham, but it would never be able to eat it let alone digest it.

hmmmm... seriously, you are either playing games on the forum or don't have a clue about the basics of keeping any kind of snake and need to do some serious research. IF you are for real, get a book or like already suggested, read numerous caresheets. then go and talk to some people who are experienced in keeping reptiles. friends, local pet shop, ect...

just for future reference, it is a very good idea to do research BEFORE you get a new pet. it can save a lot of heartache in the long run for you and the new pet.

jonathan

Calm down the hamster and that kind of stuff I was mainly asking about was for when it got larger.

I find it is easier or I thought to ask questions on a forum then a live person at a reptile store because they might just be trying to sell you something. I have raised turtles for 10 plus years, but I admit this is my first snake. Sorry if my question seemed fake.

Do not lose heart, just help yourself help the snake, you did good coming here with your questions, small fuzzies are what you want, feed it one, let it digest several days (4-5) feed it again, if it gets the one down and is prowling the cage, try another. A few weeks of two fuzzies, then up it to three for a few weeks, try a small hopper the next time, you will get the feel for it. Try feeding at night if it doesn't eat during the day. Put it next to the hide and let it alone for a bit. There are many ways to feed snakes, so try a few things differently.
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Todd Hughes

Today I went back to the reptile store and purchased my snakes first meal. They said that it just needs 1-2 pinkies 1 time a week, and they should know because they breed all of their snakes.

I got home put 2 live pinkies in the snakes pen and literally 2 minutes later they were both eaten. Thanks for all the help.

>>Today I went back to the reptile store and purchased my snakes first meal. They said that it just needs 1-2 pinkies 1 time a week, and they should know because they breed all of their snakes.
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>>I got home put 2 live pinkies in the snakes pen and literally 2 minutes later they were both eaten. Thanks for all the help.

feed it the same way for a little while and when you notice the food items no longer leave a noticeable bulge, move up to fuzzies and just work your way up.

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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____