Homemade Snake Food

Most species of pet snakes can be fed whole, pre-killed prey. Snake owners don't need to make their own food in these cases. However, not all snakes are as easy to feed. Some species, like garter snakes, require more complex diets. This can make it hard to make sure your snake is getting the right nutrition on just whole prey. The answer is a homemade snake food that will store for a longer period of time.

  1. Consistency

    • Many snake owners are concerned about making sure their snakes' diets are consistent. Whole prey may not provide the same nutrition every time, due to differences in animal care. This homemade reptile food allows snake owners to be sure their pets receive the same nutrients at each feeding. This does mean that you will need to pay close attention to the ingredients you use.

    Nutritional Balance

    • The species of your snake and its size will affect the food choices you make. Garter and ribbon snakes should have a diet consisting of pinky mice, earthworms, fish and small insects. Larger snakes, such as corn snakes, will need a higher ratio of mice or rats. They can also be fed snake food made from organ meats and other store-bought foods. All snakes should receive appropriate vitamin supplements, such as calcium.

    Processing

    • Homemade reptile food is simple, but messy to produce. The main ingredients of the food are liquified in a blender, then mixed with vitamin supplements and gelatin to form a spreadable paste. Simply pour the mixture into an appropriately sized tray and allow it to set. It's easy to cut appropriately same-size pieces from the blocks and freeze them for later feeding. Be sure to choose a blender with enough power to pulverize the meats. You may need to chunk or mince meats in advance.

      Use as little water to mix the gelatin as possible, and mix it with the liquified fish or meat while still hot. Avoid including intestines in the mixture. They may cause the blocks to set poorly. You may have to go through some trial and error to find the right mixture of meat and gelatin for your snake food. Feed only fully thawed blocks, as frozen ones can be dangerous for your snake.

    Feeding

    • Many snakes will initially refuse to take non-live food and will need to be convinced to eat this mix. Some reptiles will never accept homemade snake food as a substitute for fresh food. Be prepared for this possibility, but don't give up. Many snakes take several feedings to acclimatize. Animals which have already become accustomed to taking pre-killed prey are more likely to accept a homemade snake diet. Over time, your snake will become more used to this diet and may grow to prefer it.