How to Get a Picky Python to Eat Frozen Mice

Many would shudder at the thought of owning an animal as exotic as a python, let alone calling it a "pet." However, many seasoned herpetologists and new reptile owners alike have an affinity for the creepy critter. Pythons exist in many shapes, sizes, colors and breeds, but they all have a similar method of killing prey: constriction. As ambush animals, pythons suffocate their unfortunate victims by squeezing them just enough to prevent them from breathing. For this reason, it is sometimes difficult to get a picky python to eat frozen food. That said, there are some steps you can take to encourage your python to eat the frozen stuff.

Things You'll Need

Live brown mice
Frozen brown mice

Instructions

- 1
  Feed your python live prey to start. Although many pet owners will find this hard to stomach, it is a necessary part of the process. At this point, make sure to feed the python only the live version of what you want to feed it frozen. For noncaptive-bred snakes, brown mice appear more natural and closer to what they would find in the wild than white mice.
- 2
  Thaw your frozen mice by soaking them in hot water. Alternatively, you can use hot chicken broth to give the mouse an enticing smell. Snakes are attracted to heat, so making sure the mouse is at least at body temperature is essential.
- 3
  Place the thawed mouse in front of the snake so that the snake is aware of it. Cover the cage with a dark cloth or towel to give the snake some privacy. Picky pythons tend also to be shy eaters.
- 4
  Wait at least a full hour before uncovering the cage and checking to see if the python ate the mouse.
- 5
  Attach a small thread to the mouse's leg if the mouse remains uneaten. Cover most of the cage again. Pull or wiggle the thread to make the mouse appear as if it is moving. Snakes are especially attracted to motion, so if all else fails, you will at least get the snake to strike at the mouse, which will eventually cause the snake to eat, if it is hungry enough.