How to Feed a Black Rat Snake

All snakes are strictly carnivorous, preying on a variety of small animals. As their name implies, in the wild black rat snakes feed on rats, as well as mice, lizards, insects and smaller snakes. With concerns over risk of injury, whether or not to feed captive snakes live food is a topic of debate among snake keepers. Irrelevant of the food source, feeding a pet black rat snake requires a different approach than from how snakes feed in the wild.

Things You'll Need

  • Food source
  • Feeding cage
  • Carpeting
  • Water dish
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Instructions

    • 1

      Feed your snake once every 10 to 14 days.

    • 2

      Train your snake to accept prekilled food. While there is the argument for feeding snakes live food, such as domesticated mice, risks are involved. Live feeding allows the snake to simulate feeding in the wild, providing the snake with natural exercise. The concern over live feeding is snakes can be scratched or bitten by the prey, possibly requiring a trip to the vet. Snakes may also ingest foreign objects, such as a piece of wood if shavings are used as substrate.

    • 3

      Obtain frozen mice from a pet supply store. Completely thaw one mouse at a time in the refrigerator before feeding. Place the thawed mouse on a plate. Set the plate in the cage with the snake. If the snake does not take the food within 10 minutes, return the mouse to the refrigerator and try again the following day. Snakes can go weeks without feeding, so it may take several attempts to get the snake to take a nonliving food source. Most snakes will eventually learn to take prekilled food, when they become hungry enough. If the snake refuses to take dead food, and does not feed for more than three weeks, you may have to resort to live feedings.

    • 4

      Set up a separate "feeding cage" if you plan to feed the snake live food. Use a small aquarium-style enclosure with only a piece of carpeting cut to fit the bottom of the cage. Place a small, flat-bottomed water dish in a corner of the enclosure.

    • 5

      Move the snake to the feeding cage. Place a live food source, such as a mouse or lizard, in the cage with the snake. Observe while the snake eats, watching in case the snake should become injured. If the snake does not take the food within 10 minutes, return the snake to its regular cage and try again the next day.

    • 6

      Allow the snake to remain undisturbed for 48 hours after feeding.