Besides nutrient profiles, what major difference exists between a wild diet heavily reliant on lizards and a captive diet dominated by rodents?
Answer
The water content differs substantially.
When comparing the wild diet, which often features high-moisture prey like frogs and insects, to a captive diet relying heavily on rodents like pinky mice, a critical difference emerges in hydration. The moisture content present in whole, fresh prey items like lizards and frogs is substantial and contributes significantly to the snake's hydration status. Rodents, conversely, generally have a lower overall moisture profile. This difference means that when a snake transitions to a mammalian-heavy captive diet, keepers must be particularly attentive to ensuring continuous access to fresh, clean water, as the snake relies less on its food for necessary hydration.
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