How to Feed a Snake With Tongs

Snakes are very aware of scent at feeding time, so the last thing you want is for the scent of your hand to become confused with the smell of a tasty snack. Reptile feeding tongs are a convenient and safe way to feed rodents to your pet snake without contaminating its meal and confusing its scent receptors. Always feed defrosted frozen food items appropriate to your snake's size, and never introduce live rodents to your snake's vivarium because they may harm your pet.

Things You'll Need

  • Disposable gloves (optional)
  • Defrosted snake food
  • Reptile feeding tongs
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put on disposable gloves if you don't like the idea of handling frozen snake food. Gloves also help keep your scent off the food during preparation.

    • 2

      Defrost your snake's food before feeding. Either place the food item in warm (not boiling) water or leave out to defrost naturally. Never speed up the process in a microwave or conventional oven. A microwave can create hotspots in the feeder rodent and burn your snake internally when it swallows it.

    • 3

      Pick up the defrosted rodent using the tongs and open the vivarium lid. Snake tongs are much longer than those used to feed smaller reptiles such as bearded dragons or geckos so you can comfortably feed your snake from a safe distance.

    • 4

      Hold the rodent near your snake to attract its attention. Do not surprise your pet or wave the food directly in its face. Turn the food using the tongs and draw it away from your snake to create the impression it is live prey. Move the food slowly around the vivarium, back and forth within the snake's field of vision, until it appears interested.

    • 5

      Encourage natural stalking behavior and move the food away slowly once your snake shows interest. As soon as your hungry snake realizes the item in the tongs is food, it will strike.