Alternative feeders

I am wondering whether a royal python would be able to get its nutritional needs from non-mammalian food sources. I ask this for two reasons. The first simply being that I would not like to feed mice, but the other reason comes from the fact that when young, they (the snakes) must eat things that are smaller, like some sorts of bugs. In replicating a natural environment, it would interest me in also replicating a more naturally diverse and progressive diet (aside from the total lack of mice, of course). Back onto the first reason, however, if this is not a good idea, I may look into an eastern hognose snake instead, because I would not mind feeding amphibians so much.

Ball pythons start on nothing smaller than fuzzy mice. No insects for them in the wild world. As they get larger, some people feed them chicks on occasion, but they get far less nutritional value than feeding on mice or rats.

If you can't handle feeding your snake what it needs to live, perhaps look into another animal that doesn't eat rodents. Many lizards are insectivores and herbivores.

Eastern hognose eat only toads, and that's one reason for liking them. Or wormsnakes that eat worms or bugs, but those are a little too small for me. Are anoles/geckos or other lizards or non-toxic frogs no good for the pythons long-term either?

I love caiman lizards, by the way, but those are bloody expensive, and I'm not sure about any other ones at the moment.

Are you new to reptiles?


Would you have a problem feeding frozen/thawed mammals or just live?

Most pythons don't eat cold blooded prey. (there are exceptions) Eastern hognose do prefer toads, Viper boas will eat frogs, Indonesian tree boas eat lizards like geckos. The problem with feeder lizards and amphibians is that (in the US) they are pretty much all wild caught and thus full of parasites. Your snake will pick these up and they could get out of control in captivity. In captivity, they live, eat, and drink were they also defecate.

Ball pythons see using their heat pits. If it ain't hot, they ain't gunna eat it. Trust me, i tried feeding my cinny ice chips when she was laying her eggs and all she did was scream "gettttt outttt!" :(

Ball pythons are well known to be picky feeder, the chance of an alternate prey is almost zero, additionally not only do they not need a variety in their diet but doing so will only make them even more picky and lead to long fast.

Finally I will say this

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The first simply being that I would not like to feed mice

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What YOU like here really does not matter what matter is what YOUR BP eats and accepts as a prey, if you are not willing to accommodate that then maybe a Ball Python may not be the pet for you.

If you want a snake that east bug consider a Rough Green Snake.

If you wanna get a pet that you can experiment feeding variety to then get a tarantula. Seriously theres so many options with them... Tons of different types of roaches, worms, flies, etc.

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Ball pythons see using their heat pits. If it ain't hot, they ain't gunna eat it. Trust me, i tried feeding my cinny ice chips when she was laying her eggs and all she did was scream "gettttt outttt!" :(

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I don't breed, so I'm curious as to what ice chips would help with. I would think it would just be painful having that sit inside of you slowly melting and brining down your body temp as a cold blooded animal. Similar to feeding a still partially frozen rodent. Does it make them contract and push the eggs out or something?