Difference of Eating Habits Between Captive & Wild Snakes

Snakes are universally carnivorous reptiles. Their diet consists strictly of meat. A smaller snake will prey on a variety of small animals including lizards, birds, fish and insects. A larger snake will prey on larger animals. A snake's diet is determined by its body size and eating habits will typically align with constraints presented by a larger or smaller body.

  1. How a Snake Eats

    • Snakes have an unique jaw structure that allows them to swallow prey whole. A snake's lower jaw is flexible and can open wide enough to allow a snake to consume prey that is larger than the diameter of the snake's head. Snakes must swallow food whole because they lack teeth -- beyond their fangs -- to chew it and break it down into smaller pieces. After eating, snakes become dormant while they digest their food. The digestion process is highly efficient. Over the course of several hours, a snake will dissolve and absorb everything but hair and claws from their prey.

    Wild Snakes

    • Wild snakes possess different eating habits from one species to another. Snakes who release venom when they bite, such as rattlesnakes, will use venom to kill their prey before eating it rather than swallowing it whole while still alive. Some larger snakes, such as pythons, will kill prey by wrapping themselves around the animal in question and suffocating it through constriction. A wild snake will tend to seek out a warm spot to rest and become dormant while digesting its food. If a predator comes upon the snake while they are still digesting their meal, they are forced to regurgitate their food in order to flee to safety.

    Captive Snakes

    • When feeding a pet snake, it is important to remember they are carnivores. Do not feed snakes vegetables. You should keep a steady supply of small animals such as rodents, fish, worms, frogs, lizards and insects on hand to provide them a source of food around meal time. Much like wild snakes, dietary requirements for captive snakes vary from one species to the next. Snake owners should consult their veterinarian for advice on a proper diet for their snake. A pet snake will typically require a vitamin supplement of calcium and vitamin D sprinkled on its food. Pet snakes do not need to eat frequently. They typically require food only once every 5 to 14 days depending on the species.

    Training Eating Habits

    • Usually the best course of action for snake owners is to start their snakes off on a diet of pinkies, or newborn mice. It is a good staple for the diet of a captive snake because a pinkie has small bones and cartilage and is easier for younger snakes to digest. As they grow older, a snake should graduate to adult mice. It is important to train a pet snake to adapt to eating dead animals. Most wild snakes prefer live prey, but a live animal left in close quarters with a snake could bite it or cause other problems if the snake chooses not to eat its prey right away.