| Environmental Protection Agency QLD
Depending on the animal’s temperament, it may eat defrosted animals; however, many may only eat fresh killed or live food when they first come into care. It is
Common scaly-foot
Depending on the species, most snakes are carnivorous and feed on whole prey items such as small mammals, birds, frogs, and other reptiles. Some species such as aquatic snakes eat fish and other species like blind snakes eat ants and termites.
Most of the common snakes that come into care will readily feed on mammals, bird or reptile species. Older animals that come into care will eat laboratory mice/rats, day-old chickens and quail.
Common scaly-foot
important not to leave live rodents in the snake’s cage as some rodents will injure or kill the snake.
Some snakes, particularly juveniles, may only feed on lizards or frogs. You can fool them into eating animals such as pinkie mice by scenting them. Scent a mouse by euthanasing a small lizard and rubbing its blood and abdomen fluids on the mouse.
Snakes usually only need to be fed once a week. The prey should be about 5-20 percent of the snake’s body weight and produce a slight bulge in its mid-section.
It is not uncommon for some snakes to not eat for months. This may become a problem if the animal is obviously losing weight or is sick.
Last updated: 12 January 2005
9. Food
a) All reptiles must be offered a variety of wholesome foods in sufficient quantities to ensure normal growth and good health unless otherwise dictated by veterinary advice or approved scientific research. The feeding regime must take care to avoid obesity, as disease problems are associated with this condition.
b) Food for omnivorous lizards and turtles must be varied and periodically enriched with vitamins and calcium phosphate. Care should be taken to avoid vitamin/mineral overdosing and to ensure that the calcium–phosphorous ratio is appropriate for the species concerned. Publications listed in the bibliography or appropriately experienced veterinarians should be consulted.
c) Snakes, most varanids and many other lizard species must be offered a natural whole animal diet. Freshly collected insects must be offered to insectivorous species of lizard during the appropriate season (taking care to avoid those likely to be affected by insecticides). Insect food can be easily bred and maintained for consumption.
d) Reptiles should not be fed live food for their own protection. All vertebrate-eating reptiles must be encouraged to take dead food.
e) Several feeding stations shall be provided where reptiles are kept in groups and intragroup aggression occurs. Feeding observations should be made in these situations to ensure undue dominance is avoided.
f) Food for turtles should be placed in the water.
g) Isolating some animals, particularly snakes, immediately before feeding may be necessary to prevent accidental ingestion of cage-mates. It is important to observe feeding, particularly with snakes.
h) Food should only be offered when the appropriate temperature required to metabolise the food is available before, during and at least 48–120 hours (depending on the species) after feeding.
i) Handling should be restricted for up to 24 hours after feeding.
j) Crocodiles are entirely carnivorous – their foods range from live insects and small pieces of fish/meat for hatchlings and juveniles, to small mammals, birds or larger fish for adult crocodiles. | 
