I need help picking a pet snake!

[HedgieAndDegu]

Money is no problem. Even after much argument, :argue: my mom isn't willing to buy mice or rats for feeding to any pet, so I don't know if there are any options for me.:bawling: (I already buy mealworms and crickets regularly for my frog and for treats for my hedgehog, so that would be a preffered diet)

[Fmcc789]

try explaining to your mum that the mice or rats are prekilled and not alive. Or did you think they would be alive? Because I feed my snake dead mice. You sometimes can get them alive but the prey can sometimes harm the snake with teeth and claws.

[HedgieAndDegu]

All pet stores around here sell live mice, none of them have prekilled rodents. I got a garter snake which doesn't need rodents,but thanks for the help anyway!

[HamsterHedgie]

there are several online places like the gourmet rodent that sell prekilled frozen mice. I breed my own mice and hamsters for them, because a fuzzie can cost more than a 1.50

[Fmcc789]

Really? I get all my mice prekilled and they only cost about 0.20 each but I live in Scotland and there are very few reptile stores. I only have one in my area.

[Jenfur427]

A garter or ribbon snake would have been your only choices then.

[Boovila]

u bred hamsters for your snake???? wat the...... why cant u just stay with mice

[LilSnooPydOG]

u bred hamsters for your snake???? wat the...... why cant u just stay with mice
Because snakes can also eat hamsters. I don't like the thought of it, and would never own a rodent-eating snake, but I've come to accept that even though I think it's a little gross, snakes do need to eat. Lots of people breed their own food for snakes, because it is in fact cheaper, and I guess at least they know the type of condition the food is in.

I started getting off topic their...basically, breeding hamsters for the snake is really no different than a mouse or rat.

[ferretfan]

When snakes get bigger they need to eat bigger prey, so you cannot always stick with mice. You go from mice to hamster to guinea bigs baby bunnies....it is the food chain and snakes have to eat too!

[pikamouse]

you could get a green snake they are hard to find but they are cheap. i bought a ribbon snake because i love mice and rats but i like snakes. i fed it fish and crickets. he swim around his bowl and eat them it was cool .

[pikamouse]

green snakes are cool. they are hard to find but they are inexpensive. they eat crickets

[greensnake]

i agree with pikamouse

[paulandashia]

I have a Rought Green Snake, and also 2 Corns.
:)
I buy Crickets at the store, they are $2.00 for 12. Please tell me that you do not think that that is Ridiculous...
(I live in Alaska, and Prices here are a LOT higher than down in the Lower 48)
What can I do.? Snake's got to eat.?
:(
As I said, I also have 2 Corns... They eat Mice, and I DO, in fact, breed my own. Mice are $5.00 each (live OR frozen!). And I got 2 Snakes, that can down 2-3 a week!!!!
My Corns are getting to the point where mice are getting a bit too small, and I am going to have to switch to Rats soon.
:(
Just like you, I hate the thought, not only because I have to feed them live, but primarily because I used to breed mice, gerbils, rats, hamsters, guinea-pings and bunnies, when I was a kid. So it's a tough thing to do.
:(
My solution..?
***Pick up the mouse...
***Open the Snake Tank...
***Place the mouse in the corner opposite the snake, and.......
RUN LIKE HELL into a separate room with the TV already on, slam the door closed, and put earphones on your ears, listen to music and read a book so as not to hear the mouse squeaking for help...
:(
I have been feeding our Corns for a while, and each time is as hard as the first...
:(

[o0sapphirerat0o]

hamsters are actually fatty for most snakes.

And leaving a live mouse in unsupervised with a snake is like asking for a vet trip!
Even though snakes are natural predators, a mouse can still hurt/or even KILL the snake!

[Kayley]

When snakes get bigger they need to eat bigger prey, so you cannot always stick with mice. You go from mice to hamster to guinea bigs baby bunnies....it is the food chain and snakes have to eat too!

Don't forget goats for retics and large burmese ;)

[o0sapphirerat0o]

actually most people use pigs (depending on what they can get around them ;) :)

[paulandashia]

Snakes CAN get into trouble with Live Prey when they never ate one before, or, do not do so frequently. If they have never been fed anything BUT live, a snake should not have any problems. However, that is NOT to say that a Live animal (a Mouse, Rat, Etc) should be left in the tank for any extended period of time. If, after a few minutes the snake shows NO interest in the "food", the animal should be removed from the cage, and an attempt at feeding can be made at a later date.

[akbetta]

I got 2 in 1 tank, they always ate live, and will continue to do so. they do not get enough exercise as it, being stuck in a tank most of the day, so a work out witha rodent can actually be beneficial. and I left 2 rats in the tank for up to an hour before and never did my snake get bit or hurt. but yes, you DO want to remove the rodents if the snakes are not interested, and try again later.