Why NOT to feed a snake live food. (New foster, graphic pics)

[snakemama]

He STILL hasn't shed, but here are some new pictures to show how much better he looks anyways.











Sadly, he's still not eating (Can you blame him?!), but my sister in law says she's going to try tube feeding him if he's not willing to eat after his shed. He's still got good muscle tone and he's not underweight, so we have some time before we need to worry.

[cassiesmom]

Good to hear he's doing better! I hope he continues to improve.

His poor eyes! Dandy, please try to eat if you can. Snakemama, will he be at risk for problems with shedding again in the future? I hope the Vaseline will help too.

[snakemama]

The eyecaps are OFF!!! After speaking with his former owner again, we've determined that he's probably closer to 12 than 8, and judging by how advanced his cataracts are he has likely been blind for years. He's thriving, though he's still afraid of his food and hasn't eaten yet. Also, the tip of his tail did drop off when he shed, but not as much as expected. My sis in law has done a great job with him in such a short time!

See all the nice scar tissue on his nose?


Marbly tongue!


Left cataract looks a little bigger than the right one.




This is a nice shot....What a handsome old man he is!


His tail tip has nice pink scar tissue too!


Just relaxing...He's easy to handle. If he starts eating again, he'd make someone a nice first snake.


He's banged up, but we're quite fond of him anyways.

[luckies4me]

Aww, poor guy. Glad to see he's making a nice recovery.

[chocolatepuppy]

He's sure looking better! I hope he continues to do well!

[Scooter's Mom]

Ya know, I'm certainly not what you'd consider a snake lover... but I sure hate to see when they are in such deplorable condition. I am so happy y'all are taking such good care of him.
It makes my heart happy to know that every critter has care.

[cassiesmom]

Ya know, I'm certainly not what you'd consider a snake lover... but I sure hate to see when they are in such deplorable condition. I am so happy y'all are taking such good care of him.
It makes my heart happy to know that every critter has care.

I don't think you'd consider me a snake lover, either but I don't like to see any creature not receiving the care they need. He sure looks better! The second picture from the bottom in #18-- he looks LONG! Snake, please try to eat some. You don't have to be afraid of your food anymore. Please eat, please!

[Bonny]

He sure is looking a lot better. He is a good size snake.

[sallyandsnowx]

Oh, poor little guy. He looks SO much better now then he did before. I'm glad he's healing up so nicely and I hope he continues the positive progress. Thank you and your sister and law for taking wonderful care of pretty Dandy.

[ramanth]

Yep, that's why I never feed live. Just not worth the risk. I'm glad he's making a good recovery and I hope he starts eating again soon.

[snakemama]

Good news! Ratbait is EATING on his own! After eight months without food! First, my sister tricked him by taking his water away for a few days. Once he was good and thirsty, she dunked a thawed out mouse in water and held it up to him. He opened his mouth trying to drink the water off of it, and she put the mouse in his mouth!

Next, she got a baby bird who had passed away due to falling on the hot asphalt. She had tried to save him, but even veterinary intervention wasn't enough. So he was offered to Ratbait, who ate enthusiastically. His appetite seems to have been stimulated, because after the bird he ate another mouse without being tricked! Next week he'll be offered just a mouse to see if he's interested!

[Karen]

Whew, glad he is regaining his appetite and growing stronger!

[cassiesmom]

Snakemama or anyone, can you say a little more about a snake's eating and drinking habits for me? How often does a snake eat, and what is a typical diet (other than mice-- eek!)? How often do they drink water, do you keep fresh water always available for them? I am glad he is doing better!

[snakemama]

Snakemama or anyone, can you say a little more about a snake's eating and drinking habits for me? How often does a snake eat, and what is a typical diet (other than mice-- eek!)? How often do they drink water, do you keep fresh water always available for them? I am glad he is doing better!

All of my snakes always have fresh water available, even though I only occasionally see any of them drink.

Most snakes when they're growing are offered food every 5-7 days. Most of my adults eat more like every 10 - 14 days. One appropriately-sized prey item is offered per feeding (appropriate size is about 1.5x the width of the snake at its widest point). My snakes eat only frozen/thawed prey, never live. Live prey can bite your snake or transmit bacteria from its gut into the snake's. There is a lot of debate as to whether snakes benefit from a varied diet or not. Certainly thousands of pet snakes grow to a ripe old age eating nothing but mice. I offer mice, quail, eggs, fish, and whatever else I can get my hands on. It's fun to me to offer tham a variety of options, though I always regret feeding them fish a few days later. STINKY!

There is, of course, a lot of variation across species lines...my indigo snake can't stretch his jaws like other species and he has a MUCH higher metabulism...so he eats 8-12 smaller prey items a week.

[snakemama]

Lesson learned: don't startle a blind snake! He left these in my sister's hand when he snapped at her the other day. Luckily, both snake and person are fine!