Approximate food intake for snakes 50g garter snake 5g of fish,worms, every other day 200g colubrid snake 30g mouse/week 2kg boa /python 200g rat /week 15kg constrictor 2kg rabbit every 2-3wk -Guide to the frequency of feeding reptiles:- Larger specimens may fast for weeks, some specimens which are particularly inactive may wait even longer before taking food smaller snakes and lizards - once or twice a week young of large pythons and boas - 3 times weekly iguanas - daily when young but generally ration themselves as they grow aquatic turtles - 2-3 times a week The feeding behaviour of temperate species of Chelonia is in most cases aimed at a rapid period of feeding during the warmest part of the day when they are most active; their beak simply cuts food and there is no chewing. The large stomach permits this 'gathering' and the long gut permits bacterial action on cellulose etc. Gut passage and enzyme activity are temperature-dependent and so basking is important in the process of digestion. Perceived wisdom cautions against the use of sand to avoid impactions yet Aldabran tortoises (Geochelone gigantea) have been seen to eat sand and small stones. The various island species of Chelonia are reported to eat anything which stands still. This comment probably applies to most species; the European species are herbivores with omnivorous tendencies, eating a little animal protein when this is available in the wild. In captivity it is often too available and causes problems (see later). Box-tortoises (Terrapene spp.), especially young ones, and terrapins are primarily carnivorous, eating insects, snails, fish etc. With most of these movement is a stimulus to chase and capture food; others, such as the snapper (Chelydra serpentina) and the matamata (Chelys fimbriata) , employ a sit-and wait policy. -Getting constrictors to feed- Ideally use undertank heating. They are thigmotactic ie. they like contact and feel comfortable when surrounded in a small space. They are fairly shy so provide a small cardboard box with a small entrance hole (big enough to get in). Use freshly dead prey and put it in the box with the snake or just outside it overnight. If this doesn't work use forceps to hold the prey and gently goad the snake into striking. Snakes fed on overweight laboratory rodents can develop vitamin E deficiency. Use ACE-High as a supplement to guard against this. | 
