Feeding live prey and frozen-thawed prey

Frozen-thawed

Thaw a rodent in the refrigerator or in a sealed bag in cool water. Warm it to about body temperature before you offer it. Do not cook it, and do not microwave it. Use feeding tongs. A thawed rodent is not refrozen.

Why live feeding is the exception

A live rodent can bite and scar a snake, including the eyes and spine. Offer live prey only when a reptile veterinarian or an experienced keeper has already tried a thawed prey item, scenting, and a quieter enclosure, and the snake still will not eat. Never leave a live rodent in the enclosure overnight.

Insects

Feeders such as crickets, dubia roaches, and black soldier fly larvae should be gut-loaded and, for most lizards, dusted with calcium. Remove uneaten insects. Crickets left in a sparse enclosure will chew on a lizard.

Fish and amphibian diets

Some fish contain thiaminase. Do not make goldfish or other thiaminase-rich fish the staple for a garter snake or an aquatic turtle. Vary the diet the care sheet describes.

Records

Log what you offered, whether it was eaten, and the date. A snake that skips a meal in winter is not always ill. A snake that loses weight over several skipped meals needs a closer look.