Ball pythons are notorious for being fussy eaters. But they may not be the only type of pet snake to refuse a meal once in a while! The most common feeding problem happens when a captive snake isn’t interested in pre-killed prey. So how do you get your fussy friend to dine?
- A warm meal always seems to taste better! If you’re serving frozen prey, be sure to thaw it in the fridge or in cold water. Place the pre-killed prey in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes just before serving to heat it up to a tasty temperature. However, don’t use the microwave to nuke your pre-killed prey; your snake could get burns if the prey does not heat evenly.
- Use feeding forceps to wiggle the prey slightly. The motion may entice your snake to strike and eat. Feeding forceps are a good idea anyway, to keep your snake from associating your hand with food. If you are going to be handling your snake, you don’t want him to get used to the idea that hand = food.
- Try dipping the prey in warm chicken broth. That will warm the prey and give it an extra boost of scent to entice your fussy snake.
- If you are trying to feed a new type of pre-killed prey, your snake may be reluctant to give it a try. Rub the new prey with an old favorite — for example, if your snake likes gerbils but not chicks, you can rub a gerbil on a chick to put the familiar scent on the new food. The scent may trick your snake into trying something new.
- Some snakes won’t take a white mouse. Switch an albino for a mouse in Technicolor and see if that makes a difference.
- Swap rodents. If your snake doesn’t like mice, try gerbils. Or hamsters. Or any rodent of the right size. You can also try a rodent of the same type but a slightly different size. Your snake may prefer slightly smaller or slightly larger prey, but don’t offer him anything he isn’t capable of swallowing.
- Make dinner a solo affair. Feed your snake at night, and cover the tank so your snake feels like he is alone with his food. Some snakes may also appreciate a nice, dark enclosure for complete privacy.
When all else fails, there is one more thing you can try — but it isn’t for the squeamish. Puncturing or cracking the skull of a pre-killed prey item will almost always stimulate the feeding response in snakes. The smell of brain matter seems to be the best appetite enhancer around… at least for the scaly gourmand.