Feeding a pet snake is very different from feeding a cat or dog. Snakes are carnivores, and their diet depends on their species, size, and age. Mess it up, and you risk illness or even death. Here’s the real deal.

1. What Do Pet Snakes Eat?

Most pet snakes eat whole prey animals — not pellets or processed food. This means things like:

  • Mice (most common)

  • Rats (for larger snakes)

  • Chicks/quail (some species)

  • Fish (for water snakes like garter snakes)

  • Reptiles/amphibians (only for specialist species like hognose or some wild-caught types — not recommended for beginners)

🐍 Rule #1: Feed whole prey. Snakes need bones, organs, fur/feathers — not just meat.

2. Frozen vs Live Prey

✅ Frozen-Thawed Prey

  • Safer (no injury to the snake)

  • Easier to store and cheaper over time

  • Must be properly thawed and warmed before feeding

❌ Live Prey

  • Can fight back and injure or kill your snake

  • Only use in rare cases — with supervision

3. Feeding Schedule

Depends on age and species:

  • Hatchlings (small snakes): Every 5–7 days

  • Juveniles: Every 7–10 days

  • Adults: Every 10–14 days (some large snakes eat only every 3–4 weeks)

Overfeeding leads to obesity and health problems. Underfeeding leads to starvation. Stick to a schedule and monitor weight.

4. Feeding Tips

  • Use tongs or tweezers to offer prey — not your hand.

  • Heat prey to slightly warmer than room temp (not hot).

  • Feed in the enclosure unless your snake has issues with striking at you.

  • Always provide fresh water and a clean environment.

  • Don’t handle your snake for 24–48 hours after feeding — they can regurgitate.

5. What to Avoid

  • Feeding only live prey

  • Improper-sized prey (too big = risk of injury or death)

  • Insects (most snakes don’t eat bugs — wrong species)

  • Meat chunks or ground meat — lacks bones/organs, causes malnutrition

  • Overfeeding — a fat snake is not a healthy snake

6. Best Prey Sources

Buy from reputable reptile supply stores:

  • RodentPro

  • Big Cheese Rodents

  • Layne Labs

  • Local exotic pet stores

Always go for humanely euthanized, disease-free frozen prey.

Bottom Line:
Feed your pet snake whole, properly sized prey — preferably frozen-thawed — on a schedule that fits its species and age. Skip trends, skip gimmicks. Nature already figured out what snakes need — just follow it.