Just the thought of having frozen thawed mice in the fridge constantly can turn some people off the idea of getting a pet snake altogether. But this doesn’t have to be the only thing your snake can eat.
You may have heard that snakes can eat eggs, and if they do, it’s an excellent option that you can stomach, right? So, is it true?
Can Snakes eat eggs? Most Snakes can eat eggs but not all snakes can eat only eggs. Snakes that can egg should eat them raw. Snakes can eat eggs by fitting the eggs in their mouth and breaking it with their fangs (or the bones in their vertebrae) to drink the contents of the egg before it regurgitates the shell pieces.
So, yes, snakes can eat things other than mice and rodents, but you need to learn a few things before you go get your snake or put the eggs in your snake’s tank.
Keep reading to learn what snakes eat eggs, how to feed your snake eggs, and how to make sure your snake is getting the right diet that it can not only survive on but thrive on as well.
This article was reviewed and edited by a vet, but it shouldn’t serve as an alternative to your own vet. Please consult your vet for specific advice about your pet.
Contents
Do Snakes Eat Eggs?
As discussed earlier, yes, some species of snakes can and do eat eggs. Most pet snakes can eat snakes, but they can not eat only eggs. so if you think you can eliminate the rodents and mice completely from their diet by replacing them with eggs, sorry to break it to you, but this won’t work.
Snakes are carnivores and need meat to survive, so you can never eliminate meats completely from their diets, and while you can feed some snakes raw chicken, their diet will still need to be primarily made from mice and rodents.
Now that you know that some snakes can indeed eat eggs, it’s time to ask the next question: What are those egg-eating snakes?
What Snakes Eat Eggs?
Most snakes, including the large majority of snakes we keep as pets, will eat smaller eggs without a problem. In the wild, snakes will attack a chicken coop and if they can’t find small chicks to swallow, will turn to eat the eggs.
Once a snake has had a taste of eggs and discovered how easy it is to eat them, since they are defenseless, they will keep coming back to the coop for the eggs mainly and not the chicks.
That’s why it’s important for farmers and anywhere that raises chickens to do their best to keep the snakes out.
You can do this with fences and, of course, dogs. You can choose one of these snake-killing dogs that will hunt and kill snakes if they get anywhere close to your chickens, and you can also keep a cat or two in the house as cats will almost always attack the snakes and keep them away.
What kind of eggs do snakes eat?
Wild snakes do not really have a preference and will consume the eggs that they can source. These will typically include bird eggs but sometimes it will also include the eggs of other snakes.
These are mainly the smaller snakes since their diet is restricted by what they can swallow, but larger snakes will almost always prefer something bigger in size and provide more nutrition for them.
For most pet snakes, we can assume that the species of snakes you have can consume eggs (but you should still check before). For most species of pet snakes, you should be able to give them small quail eggs when they are young.
Once you have a full-grown snake, and assuming they are large enough to swallow it without much trouble, you should be able to offer them a chicken egg.
Of course, you must research or even inquire with your vet or a snake expert ahead of time.
The most important thing is that you’ll need to figure out which eggs are the right size for your snake.
Different species of animals lay different sizes of eggs.
It is also possible that the smallest snakes attempt to consume the eggs of smaller animals, as has been documented. Sometimes this includes even the eggs of insects.
If you are interested in learning more about what other alternatives can you offer to your snakes, make sure to check out this article on the human foods your snake can eat here, I also discuss in this article how to feed your snake these foods and what you need to avoid.
Can snakes eat only eggs?
Some can, and not only can they eat them, but these snakes will actually prefer to have meat-based meals as their primary food source.
The reason these snakes can survive on a diet of eggs is that the nutritional value that it provides for them is still high enough compared with other options which are more difficult and risky for them to acquire.
It is also possible for snakes to eat only eggs if they can find an abundance of these animals. In the wild, there are instances where large numbers of snake eggs have been found and consumed by a single animal.
with that being said, most pet snakes can not survive only on eggs. For most species of snakes we keep as pets, they will still need their diet to be primarily made of rodents and mice.
What snakes can eat eggs only?
There are basically two types of snakes that eat only eggs:
Dasypeltis
This is the first of the snake species that have adapted to eating eggs only. That’s their whole diet. It’s restrictive but it works great for them in their wild habitat.
This taxonomic classification includes the East African egg-eating snake, a popular household pet. It’s an excellent choice for individuals who don’t want to offer their pets live food. Other snakes that can eat only eggs will include the common egg-eating snakes and the Arabia egg-eating snake.
Elachistodon
The Indian egg-eater (Elachistodon) is also a genus that exclusively feeds on eggs.
These snakes can be found in the Indian subcontinent. When threatened, this snake raises its body into an “S” shape, much like a Cobra. It isn’t venomous, but it can inflict a painful bite.
So there you have it – two types of snakes that can eat eggs without any other dietary supplementation. If you’re interested in owning one of these egg-eating snake species, be sure to do your research to make sure the particular snake is legal in your state or country and find a reputable breeder who can sell you an egg-eating snake that is captive bred.
What snakes can’t eat eggs?
The python, rattlesnake, and boa constrictor cannot consume eggs at all, and they will try to regurgitate them if they are fed. The tough shell of an egg prevents these snakes from being digested, and it will result in serious health issues as it passes through their bodies.
How do snakes eat eggs?
The egg-eating snakes have a built-in specialized backbone that aids in the cracking of hard eggshells as they are digested. These enamel-tipped bones aid in digestion by speeding it up and reducing the amount of time spent dormant. Quail eggs, like most other eggs, are common, but some snakes can grow large enough to easily consume chicken eggs.
Here is a video showing how does an egg-eating snake swallow an egg whole:
How often should your snake eat eggs?
Snakes under the age of one should eat twice per week on average, but this frequency is dropped to eating maybe once per week or even less. You can learn how often should snakes eat in this guide.
Do Snakes Really eat their eggs?
In general, snakes do not consume their own eggs. However, it does occur, and there’s always a very good explanation for it. It isn’t hunger either.
When an egg is unlikely to hatch is the time when a snake may consume its eggs because the egg is no longer needed. As a result, the snake attempts to get the nutrients from the egg that would have been lost had it developed and hatched.
When an egg is misshapen or has many fractures, a snake will make this decision. If it is determined that the egg cannot produce healthy offspring, it will most likely be consumed.
It would be ineffective for a snake to consume her own eggs; doing so lowers the likelihood of her genes being passed on. The eggs themselves are also relatively devoid of nutrients.
Snakes, in general, do not remain in one place once they lay their eggs. Hiding the eggs in a safe area is part of the process. Potential predators are kept away from the eggs, ensuring their survival. Once they’ve hatched, snakes will go out on their own to forage for food.
You should, however, note that not all snake species treat their younglings in the same way, and you can learn more about it in this article on do snakes recognize their babies.
The yolk is sometimes consumed over time, and in other cases it is eaten whole.
Finally, only the eggs judged unlikely to hatch will be attacked by a snake. The remaining healthy-appearing eggs will be allowed to develop.
Conclusion
Can snakes eat eggs? Yes, most snake species can consume eggs without any harm. The eggshell is usually broken down and digested with the help of a specialized backbone bone that helps speed up the process.
What eggs and how often your snake eats eggs will depend on its age and if its diet consists of anything else along with the eggs. Snakes typically won’t eat their own eggs unless they can be sure that they won’t hatch. Snakes can also consume the yolk from a broken egg for nutrients, but only if the other healthy-looking eggs will not produce any offspring as well.
Helpful Resources
Field Guide to the Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa
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