Strange feeding behavior

[KachineK]

Firstly, I am greatful that she is actually eating! Mambo is my first bp and I have heard that they can be problematic feeders, especially pet shop snakes.

A little background: Mambo was pruchased about three weeks ago at a local chain pet shop. While they didn't have good records, the girl I spoke to was very knowledgable and helpful. She (I don't know sex for sure, but I am out-numbered three to one here so my snakes are girls unless I decide to find out otherwise!!) is a very mellow young snake and weighs in at 122g. I feed f/t mice and at the moment I have been offering her fuzzies once a week while she settles in. I plan on moving her up to hoppers every 5 to 6 days as the fuzzies don't even leave a bump on her belly.

When I feed Mambo, I put her in a seperate feeding bin (Sterilite shoe box). If I wiggle the mouse in front of her, she strikes the body of the mouse and will hold it in her mouth sideways, like a dog with a bone. She'll move around the box, sort of chewing on the mouse. Eventually she'll drop it and ignore it. When I move it again, she will strike, coil, and swallow it normally. Does anyone else have snakes that do this? I'm assuming she's just a little odd, and as long as it doesn't indicate some sort of problem, I'm fine with it. I am a little worried though that it could be an indication of a sight problem. Any thoughts?

Kachine Kolgon

[LGL]

So she's not constricting right away, she moves it around and then eats it? When you up the size of the mice to at least hoppers, the extra size may cause her to constrict.

Also, it almost sounds like she might be used to the F/T food and understands that there is no need to "kill" the food because it is already dead. I have heard of snakes that have been fed F/T most of their lives that will just go up to the rodent and begin swallowing without any striking or constricting.

[JeffJ]

So she's not constricting right away, she moves it around and then eats it? When you up the size of the mice to at least hoppers, the extra size may cause her to constrict.

Also, it almost sounds like she might be used to the F/T food and understands that there is no need to "kill" the food because it is already dead.

i agree. if it doesnt see or feel the need to constrict it wont. another trick is to hang on to the tail and when she grab's it instead of letting go start to wiggle the mouse make the snake thing its struggling. you should get a coil then.

also fuzzies are to small. try small adult mice, or a bigger hopper.

[hawaiianice99]

^^^ i also agree, i had a kingsnake that would just start eating it once it bit it. I also have a bp that will strike then move its food to a corner, go cruise around then come back to it later to eat.

[KachineK]

I'm not too worried about the not constricting. My corn never constricted until I gave her a fuzzy - which incedently got her so excited she squeezed too hard and popped the thing. Gross but funny!

I'm more wondering if the way she strikes, grabbing the main body of the mouse instead of the head or butt, which she generally does the at the second attempt, could be a sign that she can't see properly. Can a vet somehow test the quality of a snake's vision?

Or am I just a worry wart? It has been known to happen before.

Kachine Kolgon

[JeffJ]

I'm not too worried about the not constricting. My corn never constricted until I gave her a fuzzy - which incedently got her so excited she squeezed too hard and popped the thing. Gross but funny!

I'm more wondering if the way she strikes, grabbing the main body of the mouse instead of the head or butt, which she generally does the at the second attempt, could be a sign that she can't see properly. Can a vet somehow test the quality of a snake's vision?

Or am I just a worry wart? It has been known to happen before.

Kachine Kolgon

im sure the snake can see fine. mine grabs them however he can, then constricts. once its dead he lets go and find the head. thats normal.

my Red Tail always grabs them arse end first my python will grab a rat by any means possible and ball around it in a mad frenzy and my tree boa wont constrict on a F/T unless i wiggle it like crazy.