• Hello!

    Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.

    Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....

    Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.

    Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.

Snake tried to eat himself - what to do?

Amanda47

Amanda47

New member
His body constricted the weanling mouse for 10 minutes while his head was looking around. Then I thought he finally started on the mouse and took a peek, only to find him chewing on his midsection. :eek:

I've read that they do that sometimes but soon figure things out, but then I've also seen that video of a hognose that wouldn't stop eating its tail...

What do you do when they start eating themselves? When he started twisting his head and stretching the skin, I decided to gently intervene and touched his body*. He let go after a second and went straight for the mouse.

Is it better to let them figure out that they're eating their own body? And if in the feeding frenzy they don't figure it out, when is it time to step in? I was going to run some water over him if he didn't let go, and try take the mouse away. That would have been quite the adventure... I mainly just don't want to stress him out at mealtime and cause a regurge.

Any advice or reassurance from someone who's had an overeager snake?


PS- I tried to look at his body, didn't see any blood or even any damaged scales. Don't know how good my inspection was with him looking like he was going to bite my face :laugh:

*When I touched him, he actually opened up wider and got a better grip on his body before letting go. Stop it snake, you're freakin' me out!
 
I have a couple of carpet pythons that occasionally manage to bite themselves during a misfired strike. They always figure it out after a minute, and let go. No harm done.

Kathy
 
I will never forget when my ball python constricted his own head lol.
I wouldn't really worry too much, as long as he doesn't start on he tail end.
 
With a hognose, you have to force them off, because they will possibly chew a hole in themselves. Doubt a constricting snake would ever have that problem.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top