Snakes That Do Not Eat Rodents!

Snakes are among the most fascinating and unique groups of pet reptiles that are out there, and it can oftentimes be easy to see why! Compared to many other more traditional species of pets, such as dogs or cats, for example, most snakes are relatively simple and inexpensive to care for, as they certainly do not need to be taken out on walks or be let out to “do their duties” every day, and are also relatively noise, odor, and allergen-free animals as well! With hundreds of different species, of all shapes, sizes, colors, patterns, and morphs, as well as sizes, there is sure to be a species of pet snake out there to suite each person’s interests and desires!

However, one aspect to maintaining a pet snake which at least some might find to be a somewhat squeamish and unappealing aspect of their care, is that fact that a vast majority of species of snakes require rodents, whether live, or frozen/thawed or pre-killed, as all or part of their diets, or in some cases, even larger vertebrate animals such as rabbits, chickens or fowl, or other animals! What suitable alternatives are there for someone still looking for a pet snake, but yet still might not be interested in another type of reptile or amphibian?

As it turns out, there are indeed at least a few species of snakes out there with alternative diets in which one may find more appealing. While most snakes might be most well-known for eating rodents, or other small mammals or birds, others can have much more unique or specialized diets in the wild, some of which can include some species which specialize in eating crayfish, scorpions or other arachnids, centipedes, or other menu items. Certainly, many such species are best suited for more experienced or advanced keepers.

However, for the purposes of this list and article, we will be examining a few species, or groups of species which still meet several criteria for having the potential of making a suitable pet which tends to do well in captivity overall, while still having a relatively easily attainable, or commercially available diet or food source in which prospective keepers or reptile enthusiasts still have access to. One of the largest drawbacks to many of the species, or groups of species on this list, are that many still are wild-caught or collected, so be sure to locate a reputable, captive bred source for any of these species, whenever possible.

It is also always still important to further consider and further research the dietary and nutritional requirements of any of these specific alternative diets for the optimal health and nutrition of your pet. Many types of feeder fish, for example, have excess amounts of Thiamense, which can have the potential of causing other, additional health issues. Many of these sorts of prey items might also require supplementation, as they might not have the adequate calcium and/or protein makeup that whole prey items would otherwise typically have

Without further-adieu, here are some of our top choices for suitable pet snakes which do not require rodents, or a rodent based diet!

*Photo credit: Casey Lazik.

Garter Snakes (Thamnophis spp.): Perhaps one of the most underrated genera of snakes to maintain in captivity, and which are indigenous right to much of the United States and Canada, would be garter snakes! With roughly 30 different species and subspecies, garter snakes can be available in numerous color, patterns, and even many morphs in captivity! They are also fairly unique among snakes in that some studies out there have even shown that these snakes may in fact be communal, are able to be housed together with very little to no fear of cannibalism or other adverse effects!

Most species of garter snakes will readily eat earthworms or nightcrawlers, small feeder fish of appropriate nutritional quality and value, or other insects and invertebrates, although some will also eat rodents as well! They also do not attain very large and unmanageable sizes, with most species reaching typically 2 to 3 feet in length, and typically have very hardy and/or cold-tolerant care requirements as well! They are also much more active and visible snakes than many others as well.

Water Snakes (Nerodia spp.): Water snakes, which are within the same family of live-bearing, or oviparous colubrid snakes as garter snakes and other species known as “Natricinae”, consist of roughly 12 or more species and subspecies found throughout the United States and Canada! Water snakes, too, can be available in numerous color, patterns, and even many morphs in captivity! While these snakes can be initially somewhat nervous and readily willing to bite and musk as their defense, water snakes can become quite bold and accustomed to captivity as well, and like garter snakes, are able to be housed together with very little to no fear of cannibalism or other adverse effects!

Most species of water snakes will readily eat small feeder fish of appropriate nutritional quality and value, although some will also eat rodents as well! They can become somewhat larger and more heavily bodied than garter snakes, and can reach about 2 to 4 feet in length, depending on the species, and also like garter snakes, typically have very hardy and/or cold-tolerant care requirements as well!

*Photo credit: Savannah River Ecology Lab.

Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis): Rough green snakes are a relatively small, slender bodied species of colubrid snake indigenous to the southeastern United States. These slender, usually bright green snakes are also largely semi-arboreal, and enjoy climbing and basking in low branches, shrubs or bushes, or low trees. They also do not attain overly large sizes, either, with most adults reaching about 18 to 24 inches, or possibly up to as much as 30 inches in large individuals.

These jolly little green snakes can make for very appealing display species, which can also utilize their coloration and even some unique behaviors (such as swaying back and forth slightly to mimic the effect of a shaking leaf or twig in the wind) to be potentially very cryptic as well. These snakes can be fed feeder crickets, or other insects supplemented with calcium in order to do well. However, there are still a few drawbacks to rough green snakes, in that most, if not all are still wild-collected, and can also be fragile and delicate snakes when it comes to handling.

*Photo credit: Virginia Herpetological Society.
Photo credit: California Herps.com/G. Nafias.

DeKay’s Brown Snakes (Storeria dekayi) and Ringneck Snakes (Diadophis punctatus ssp.): Both DeKay’s brown snakes and ringneck snakes are two species of small, fossorial, or secretive, burrowing snakes indigenous to Canada and much of North America, and which can also have several different species and subspecies throughout their ranges as well! Seldom exceeding much more than roughly one to one and a half feet in length, or anywhere from about 10 to 18 inches, these small, secretive snakes enjoy residing underneath semi-most and humid rocks, logs, leaf litter and debris, or even man-made trash in a variety of habitats, including even vacant city lots and parks!

Most of these diminutive snakes are also very reluctant to actually bite when they are threatened, instead either opting to “musk” (or produce a bad-smelling substance to ward off predators), or display their bright red, pinkish, orange, or yellowish undersides in a startling display of colors to any would-be predator. Although these small snakes are quite harmless and inoffensive, there are also drawbacks to some of these species as well in that they can be tiny and fragile when it comes to handling, especially neonates, making feeding them a challenge. They will generally, however, eat small earthworms, slugs, snails, or other soft bodied insects and other invertebrates, although some can be large enough to also eat small frogs or other amphibians, or other small vertebrates. They have also yet to be widely available as captive-bred as well.

*Photo credit: Outback Reptiles.

Egg-Eating Snakes (Dasypeltis spp.): Another group of very unique and “oddball” snakes, which have captured at least some level of attention and popularity recently have been the egg-eating snakes! These relatively small snakes as adults consist of about five or six different species found over much of sub-Saharan Africa, and which do not attain overly large sizes, with most species only becoming about 2 to 3 feet in length, or 24 to 36 inches.

As their name perhaps implies, the best known attribute of these snakes are that they are among the very few genera of snakes which have evolved and adapted to have become exclusively feeding on bird’s eggs, which are raided on the ground or in trees. Also extremely unique among snakes is the fact that they lack teeth, instead having only a projection on the inside of their throats which crack the contents of the egg while it is being ingested, leaving only an empty shell to be regurgitated! This “egg-celent” diet has attracted some to egg-eating snakes as an alternative to rodent eating species, although as with many others on this list, there are a couple of drawbacks as well. While some eggs, such as chicken eggs, or even quail eggs (which can often be found at one’s local ethnic markets) are fairly readily available, locating an even smaller, or otherwise regular food source for these snakes can be challenging (especially when it comes to locating finch eggs), and most egg-eating snakes available are still wild-collected as well.

*Photo credit: Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
*Photo credit: Moontaha Ismail.

Elephant Trunk Snakes (Acrochordus javanicus) and Tentacled Snakes (Erpeton tentaculatum): Looking for am extremely unique species of snake which does not eat rodents, but also appears to be out of this world!? An elephant trunk snake, or tentacle snakes, may be the choice one has been looking for! Both are relatively primitive families of snakes, found in freshwater to coastal, or brackish water swamps, mangrove wetlands, and other coastal areas of southern to southeastern Asia! These snakes are also especially unique in that both are completely aquatic, and are not generally known to exit the water for life on land! What’s more, is they are almost exclusively fish eaters as well, although other amphibians, or aquatic invertebrates they can locate and ingest may also be eaten!

The tentacled snake especially, is perhaps the more bizarre-looking in appearance of these two species, in that these snakes possess a pair or series of fleshy, tentacle-like projections at the ends of their snouts, which are now believed to emit electro-sensitive fields in the water surrounding them in order to locate and detect their fish or other aquatic prey! Both species’ loose, and baggy appearing skin and scales also aid in their movements to be able to grasp and ingest their slippery aquatic prey. As can be imagined, these snakes, however, require a large, clean, well filtrated and oxygenated aquatic setup, with sufficient live or artificial plants for cover and security, and can become somewhat large and heavy bodied snakes, reaching anywhere from about three to six feet in length.

*Photo Credit: Asian Monstrosities.

Asian Vine Snakes (Ahaetulla prasina):
Pros: Very Unique Appearance (a Factor for All of the Animals on this List), Do Not Require Rodents in Diet, Visibility and Overall Display, Not Overly Large and Heavy, or Unmanageable Sizes.
Cons: Lack of Captive Breeding and Captive-Bred Availability, Still Requires Live Foods, Limited Handleability, Mildly Venomous (But Not Medically Significant to Humans).