i highly doubt that a small amount for a short period would have any affect on the snakes.
many breeders use dog food as a staple diet and many stay away from it completely.
ive heard about the red dye many times over so i shy away from it but i also have never read any scientific reports about its effects either. their is all natural dog foods as well so maybe you could just pick up a small bag when needed.
adam jeffery
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" a.k.a. farfrumugen "
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.