What Rodents Do Snakes Eat?

There are snakes so small that they will eat different types of insects throughout their life, as well as the massive reticulated python which has been known to kill and eat deer. Rodents, found in the order Rodentia, are also commonly eaten by snakes, both in captivity and in the wild.

  1. Rats

    • There are 51 different species of rats. The brown rat, Rattus norvegicus, is probably the most commonly known. Also called the Norway rat, it is a rodent that is 15 to 16 inches long from nose to tail on average. There is also a domesticated version of the brown rat, called fancy rats. Fancy rats come in many different colors, and are kept as pets in captivity. Fancy rats are also fed to captive snakes by reptile enthusiasts.

    Mice

    • Mice are in the subfamily Murinae. There are different species of mice, including house mice and deer mice. The house mouse, Mus musculus, is probably the most familiar to people, and are a common prey item for many types of snakes. Snakes are often attracted to homes because of the presence of house mice. House mice are a small species, usually weighing no more than 1 oz. and live 12 to 18 months in the wild.

    Gerbils

    • The gerbil is a type of rodent found in the subfamily Gerbillinae. There are 103 different species of gerbils. The gerbil is among the food items of snakes native to Africa, including the ball python, Python regius. The gerbil varies in size depending on the species, and can be as long as nearly 10 inches from nose to tail. Gerbils are generally diurnal, however, some species are nocturnal or crepuscular. Gerbils prefer to inhabit dry areas including deserts.

    Capybaras

    • The Capybara, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, is native to South America. It is the world's largest living rodent, and can weigh over 100 lbs. as adults. Appropriately, the world's largest rodent is prey to the world's heaviest snake, the green anaconda. Capybaras live in wetlands and spend much of their time in the water. They are herbivorous, and eat grasses. The capybara mates in the water, and usually gives birth to four offspring after a gestation of four to five months.