Micrurus corallinus (Merrem, 1820) kept in laboratory animal rooms swallow voluntarily various colubrid species. The most accepted species belong to the genera Sibynomorphus Fitzinger, 1843, Oxyrhopus Wagler, 1830 and Liophis Wagler, 1830. The voluntary feeding guaranteed resistance against pathogenic agents. The forced feeding was unsatisfactory due to stress resulting from handling, feeding frequency (30 days), susceptibility to pathogenic agents and high occurrence of pathologies.
Micrurus; feeding; handling; laboratory animals rooms
