Ways to Start a Snake on Frozen Mice

Snakes that are kept in captivity are generally fed frozen prey rather than live prey, since experienced snake owners know that live prey can injure snakes. In the wild, if a full snake and a mouse cross paths, they will each go their own way. In captivity, the mouse is confined with the snake. Unable to run away, it will often attack the snake instead. If a snake is not hungry, or if it does not seize the mouse properly, the mouse will bite and scratch the snake. This can lead to serious scarring or even death. However, some snakes will not immediately take to frozen mice.

  1. Thaw and Warm

    • Completely thaw the mouse before giving it to the snake; a frozen interior could seriously injure the snake's digestive system. Thaw the mouse by heating it in the microwave on low power or by sealing it in a plastic bag and placing it in some hot water until it is warmed through. The snake will be more likely to eat the mouse if it is not just thawed, but also slightly warmed.

    Move the Mouse

    • Place the mouse in the terrarium and, with the snake watching, twitch it around or dangle it by the tail with a pair of tongs. The snake will be more likely to eat the mouse if it looks alive. Do not use your fingers to move the mouse, because the snake may mistake your fingers for prey.

    Hide the Mouse

    • Place the mouse in one of the snake's shelters. Turn out the lights or cover the walls of the terrarium with towels. Snakes prefer to eat in dark, enclosed places, where they feel the most secure.

    Wait

    • If the snake still shows no interest in the mouse, or if it strikes at the mouse and then withdraws without eating it, it is probably not hungry. Remove the mouse from the terrarium and try again in a few days.

    Live Feeding

    • If none of these things work, the snake was probably caught rather than captive bred and does not view the dead mouse as food. Teach it that the dead mouse is food by feeding it a live mouse. As soon as it is finished, place a dead mouse in front of it. The snake will still be focused on the mouse it just ate, and it may automatically seize the dead mouse. Try twitching the mouse or lightly tapping the snake's nose with it so that the snake bites it instinctively.