What to Feed a Pet Python

Pythons are challenging pets, requiring a serious commitment of time, money and attention. Do not take on a large python species unless you have the experience to know what it will require. They are carnivores who consume whole animals. One large meal however, will last between two weeks and a few months. Do not handle your python the day after feeding it, or it may regurgitate its meal.

  1. Ball Pythons

    • Ball pythons are recommended for people just beginning to keep snakes, because of their small size and mild temperament. They are, however, extremely picky eaters, known to go as long as a year without eating. Most prefer live gerbils and may have to be tricked into consuming mice -- especially ones that have been frozen and thawed. One way to do this, is to rub a dead gerbil over the mouse to "scent it;" one gerbil may be kept frozen and used repeatedly.

    Carpet Pythons

    • Although not as well known as some species, carpet pythons are increasing in popularity. They are laid back, attractive and easier to feed than ball pythons. Most accept food up to twice their girth in size. If you have access to rats, begin with small ones immediately; some snakes do not make the transition from mice to rats well. New hatchlings are pickier than older snakes; some prefer live prey while others take theirs pre-killed. You may have to assist it initially, by placing the animal in its mouth.

    Burmese Pythons

    • A very large species, Burmese pythons can grow over twenty feet long. They eat almost anything they are offered, but it you give it prey that is larger than it is around, it may regurgitate it a day or two later. Start hatchlings out with newborn rats or, if smaller than twenty-two inches, a small mouse. Feed larger pythons full grown rats or rabbits. Do not overfeed; a Burmese will continue to eat -- whether it needs it or not -- and it may become obese.

    Reticulated Pythons

    • The reticulated python is the largest --- up to thirty-five feet --- and it is the most dangerous species of python. This species is not for beginners. They are aggressive eaters that have been known to attack anything warm or moving; including heat lamps, tank doors and people. Baby reticulated pythons should eat small mice and infant rats -- progressing as they get older, to full-sized rats then rabbits -- although an adult specimen can consume anything up to the size of a snake. Frozen and thawed animals should pose no problems.