Learn snake diet for different species: feeding schedules, prey sizes & nutrition needs for pythons, boas, vipers & more. Expert care guide 2025.
Despite the description of transitional fossil forms, the evolution of the snake feeding system remains poorly understood, partly because only a few snakes have been studied thus far.
Many people recognize that snakes are important controls on rodent populations but you may be surprised to learn how feeding strategies can vary between snake species.
Many snake keepers believe that feeding snakes outside their enclosures prevents aggression. However, this idea is largely a myth. It's important to recognize that feeding practices should be tailored to each snake's personality, rather than adhering to broad misconceptions.
The most bizarre accounts of snake feeding behavior have to be those of American rat snakes, Pantherophis obsoletus, that have been observed eating themselves! One individual, a captive, did this on two occasions and died at the second attempt.
The ontogeny of foraging was studied in 107 neonatal garter snakes ( Thamnophis sirtalis) reared on 3 different diets: fish, leafworms, or mixed. Times to approach, capture, handle, and swallow prey were measured during each snake's first feeding and again after 11 to 12 meals.
