The variety of snakes kept in captivity is considerable and their food preferences are quite variable. The following is a list of preferred prey animals for the snakes most commonly kept in captivity:

Boa constrictors, pythons, rat snakes, gopher or bull snakes:

• Warm-blooded prey is preferred such as rodents and birds.
• Juveniles of the same species prefer the very small warm-blooded prey species; they may also consume very small lizards and snakes.
• Some tree boas and pythons prefer lizards to mammals and birds.

Garter snakes, ribbon snakes, water snakes, etc.:

• Fish, frogs, salamanders, toads, earthworms, slugs, and carrion.
• Many will accept dead mice if they are covered with external mucus of frog or fish before they are offered.

Indigo snakes, king snakes, and many racers:

• Warm-blooded (i.e. mice, etc.) and cold-blooded prey (i.e. other snakes, lizards, etc.).
• The indigo snake prefers frogs but may eat anything when hungry, including dog or cat food.

Ring-neck or brown snakes and their relatives:

• Salamanders, earthworms, very small snakes, and lizards.

Racers, vine snakes, coachwhips:

• Lizards are preferred.
• Racers will also eat mice and chicks of ground nesting birds.
• The young of these snakes will eat large insect such as crickets and grasshoppers.