Leaving Food With Snakes

[Sophia'sSophia]

My snakes eat pretty often, all active little fellows. I feed them fish chunks when possible, which are terrible when left for a time (they stick to plates and don't smell too nice).

So I have been pondering leaving food in cages and wondered, do you folks do that?
If you do, what prey are you using, and how long are you willing to leave the food in the cage?
Are there any cons you'd like to point out?

[reptileexperts]

Since meat of any kind decomposes quick in heated environments, it's really never a good idea to leave dead food in the enclosure for a long time. I give my snakes about 10 minutes to show interest and then it moves to the garbage disposal (Carpet, BCI, or retic).

I see that you're keeping a lot of Nerodia, when I had Nerodia, I always fed them live and just went down to the petstore and got live feeders. I left these in their water bowls, and they ate whenever they were ready. I dont think any of mine would even consider f/t or pre-killed rodents...

[Strutter769]

I usually feed in the evening and remove any uneaten items in the morning.

[Lankyrob]

I usually feed in the evening and remove any uneaten items in the morning.

^^^ This

If the snake doesnt strike feed the rat then it gets left overnight and binned in the morning if its still there :)

[SnakeyJay]

^^^ This

If the snake doesnt strike feed the rat then it gets left overnight and binned in the morning if its still there :)

Same for me aswell :)

[SpOoKy]

I leave it overnight, if not gone then it goes out in the morning.

[Aaron_S]

In for hours,if not eaten then given to someone else.

[MoreliAddict]

I give them a few hours in the dark with peace and quiet. If they don't take after a few hours I offer the prey item to someone else or toss it.

I don't like to let it sit overnight..

[Falconeer999]

If my kingsnake doesn't viciously attack the F/T mouse within 90-120 seconds, I'm amazed. Monday night was awesome to watch as he ate for the first time after going for 8 days without while he was going through the shedding process. Coiled around the mouse and then coiled back the other direction right over himself, faster than I've ever seen him move.

[stevealexo]

My red tail boa won't strike at dead prey. No matter how much I wiggle it around etc. The only way I can get her to eat dead prey is to simply leave it right in front of her hide. Then she'll come out a little bit and just start eating it. She doesn't wrap around it or anything. Is that really normal?
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/559040_10151172730988191_620125857_n.jpg

[dinosaurdammit]

My red tail boa won't strike at dead prey. No matter how much I wiggle it around etc. The only way I can get her to eat dead prey is to simply leave it right in front of her hide. Then she'll come out a little bit and just start eating it. She doesn't wrap around it or anything. Is that really normal?
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/559040_10151172730988191_620125857_n.jpg

Yes, my boas do it, when they realize they dont have to attack for food and its just there they will just nose up to it and eat it. No striking or anything.

[alessia55]

With mine, if they refuse when I first offer, I leave it overnight, and if it's not gone in the morning I throw it out.

[Corey209]

I feed live so I'd never just leave a mouse or rat in the cage, and I always feed with tongs never letting a mouse run around my snakes cage.

[dinosaurdammit]

I feed live so I'd never just leave a mouse or rat in the cage, and I always feed with tongs never letting a mouse run around my snakes cage.

what kind of tongs do you have? mine dont hold food well as the ends dont match up and I drop food ALL the time.

[infernalis]

With mine, if they refuse when I first offer, I leave it overnight, and if it's not gone in the morning I throw it out.


Same here, except I toss anything left to the lizards. They will eat rancid stuff no problem.

[Corey209]

what kind of tongs do you have? mine dont hold food well as the ends dont match up and I drop food ALL the time.

I use some old school kitchen tongs, I usually grab the mouse/rat by the end of the tail because they squeal if I grab anywhere else which I don't have a problem with but I'm feeding the mice for health purposes not my enjoyment.


They look like this but they are all metal and a little sturdier.
http://victoriokitchenproducts.com/images/products/vkp1004.jpg

[lady_bug87]

the only animal I have had refuse food is my bearded and anything he refuses is given to the lacertas because they eat anything

[Sorraia]

I have 2 rosy boas, which are eating f/t pinks. I will feed them in the evening. If they show interest but don't immediately strike, I'll leave the pink in over night. If it is still there in the morning (rare unless they are getting ready to shed), I'll remove it. Although some may be grossed out by this, I have a couple cats who will eat the left over pinks. I don't mind, since that means nothing goes to waste.

[beardeds4life]

What do you guys do with the rodents after something refuses it?

[Lankyrob]

What do you guys do with the rodents after something refuses it?

If i leave it overnight i toss it. If a snake is in shed and refuses then another snake gets a bonus feed :)

[beardeds4life]

For ball pythons when they are on a hunger strike do you still offer as often as you would? I imagine that would be a ton of wasted feeders.

[Gungirl]

For ball pythons when they are on a hunger strike do you still offer as often as you would? I imagine that would be a ton of wasted feeders.

My snakes haven't gone on a strike as of yet but if they did I would offer food only every other feed day. If they where on a weekly feeding scheduled I would offer every other week.

[Lankyrob]

For ball pythons when they are on a hunger strike do you still offer as often as you would? I imagine that would be a ton of wasted feeders.

If a snake is on feeding break then i still offer on normal feed day, but i dont leave it overnight, if it is showing no interest then the rat goes to a different snake. My GTP is currently off food and when he refuses my BP snarfs down his rat instead ;)

[Philmul]

Yes, my boas do it, when they realize they dont have to attack for food and its just there they will just nose up to it and eat it. No striking or anything.

Most of the time my boa does this but on odd occasion she strike feeds and she is fast.

[Sorraia]

What do you guys do with the rodents after something refuses it?

My cats will take care of what my snakes don't.

[Wyldrose]

What do you guys do with the rodents after something refuses it?
Raptor my savannah monitor gets a treat!

I also leave food over night, last little while here all my snakes have eaten with in 30 mins after giving them their f/t rodents. Sometimes they will refuse then it goes to the sav. He gladly disposes of them. Any of my rodents who die/are killed also get fed to the sav.

[Sophia'sSophia]

Thanks for the myriad of responses. :)
I was curious about the trends of preference. I like seeing that everyone has their own method and standards. I think it gives a little individualism to the hobby, even if its something so minor as this. :D