Feeding a sunbeam snake!!

[Mgmmatt123]

New to the forum and had a question! I have had many snakes before and have done my research on this snake. Please don't respond telling me about their difficulty level and all that lol. A little about what all I have first! :). I have a bearded dragon, two leopard geckos, normal ball python, green anaconda, and a sunbeam snake. The sunbeam snake is my newest little guy and I had a question for anybody with experience. It is doing great so far in a high humidity tank of coco fiber and seems happy. I attempted trying to feed it yesterday with a thawed mouse, but due to how nervous and scared this species is...it didn't go so well. I was thinking of trying live anoles, but is there anybody out there with an idea of how to better offer food to sunbeams? Thanks!

[StudentoReptile]

They typically eat amphibians. And yes...despite your request to the contrary, I will say they are very difficult. Your experience with bearded dragons, geckos, ball pythons and even the anaconda really won't help you much with a snake species that is a die-hard amphibian-eater and often rarely converts to rodents.

Think: eastern hognose snake. They're cool to look at, play with, and photograph...but when it comes to feeding them in captivity, they are a pain. Not impossible, because some folks (with LOTS of patience, perseverance, and luck), can get them switched to mice and do well with them.

My advice: keep doing what you're doing = high humidity, moist/burrowable substrate, and hides. They like it dark and they don't come out a lot, so don't expect them to. Also, don't handle him much. I know they're pretty, but stressed snakes don't eat anyway. If you want to hold something, get your ball python out instead.

[StudentoReptile]

1) I would let the snake acclimate for at least 2-3 weeks without trying it on anything. Contact should be minimal, no handling to reduce stress.

2) Start out with small hoppers soaked in a container previously occupied with frog water (use bullfrogs or leopards, since they may be more readily accessible). Don't use fire-bellied toads of course! Try feeding inside the enclosure since that is where the snake is most secure. Maybe later, when the snake is eating mice regularly, you can switch to a separate container, but for now, the #1 goal is getting it to eat period!

[Mgmmatt123]

Thanks for the advice! Other than the figuring out how to feed the thing it is doing quite well. Doesn't have any blisters and had a nice full shed the other day. I'll be trying anoles, etc if all else fails! The anaconda is a great eater along with the ball! Lol

[mclund]

New to the forum and had a question! I have had many snakes before and have done my research on this snake. Please don't respond telling me about their difficulty level and all that lol. A little about what all I have first! :). I have a bearded dragon, two leopard geckos, normal ball python, green anaconda, and a sunbeam snake. The sunbeam snake is my newest little guy and I had a question for anybody with experience. It is doing great so far in a high humidity tank of coco fiber and seems happy. I attempted trying to feed it yesterday with a thawed mouse, but due to how nervous and scared this species is...it didn't go so well. I was thinking of trying live anoles, but is there anybody out there with an idea of how to better offer food to sunbeams? Thanks!

I worked with 7 Sunbeams while I was doing my venomous training. I had no problem with them feeding on rodents. I really think getting them set up properly is the key. Substrate should be 6+ inches deep. They like to burrow and will sit below the surface waiting to feed. You may have to offer live or freshly killed at first to get the feeding response going, but once you do they are voracious feeders. Rule number 1 is, don't touch them! They are not that kind of snake. You will stress them out and they will not feed. I have to assume this is a wild caught animal as there are very few people breeding sunbeam snakes. Not sure why anyone would want to handle them anyway...they have a musk that will make you gag. Glad to see someone working with an unusual species like this. Best of Luck.