Feeding Guide for Pet Bullsnakes

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It is important to correctly feed a pet bullsnake for proper development. With suitable nutrition, your bullsnake will be more likely to thrive and grow. Adhere to the following feeding guidelines.
According to Central Virginia Reptiles, juvenile bullsnakes can generally consume fuzzy or hopper mice as a starter diet. For both juvenile and adult bullsnakes, it is important to keep the size of the food no larger than the girth on the thickest part of the snake. Of course, this will change as the snake grows older and becomes larger. It should not leave more than a little bulge in the snake. An adult bullsnake may eat 1 large rat in a meal (or 2-3 smaller specimens).
In addition to mice, you can feed your snakes rats, gerbils or chicks. Of course, make sure that everything is correctly sized. These can typically be purchased frozen from pet food stores that cater to reptile owners.
According to Pet Snake Care, juvenile bullsnakes should be fed approximately every five to seven days while adult animals should be fed every eight to ten days or after defecation. Pet owners can use forceps to offer the food or they can just leave it by the warmer side of the vivarium.
It is not generally recommended to feed bullsnakes live rats. This is for various reasons. First, pathogens and parasites are present in some types of live food that could harm the snake. When the prey is frozen, this kills these pathogens and makes it less likely to infect the snake. Also, the snake may get hurt by the prey, since rats and other creatures can bite. It is a more humane way to feed the animal. It is also better for your wallet as live prey is more expensive. Some pet owners mistakenly believe that snakes must hunt, but in the wild they are scavengers in addition to predators.
A bullsnake may vary in its dietary habits and may want a smaller portion or even skip a meal at times. Generally this is not a concern unless the animal refuses 2 to 3 meals.
Your pet bullsnake should always have access to water. Make sure to keep the water bowl clean.
If you have any concerns about the feeding of your pet bullsnake, then speak to your veterinarian. Because of the infrequency of eating, it is generally easy to create a simple and effective feeding schedule.