VERY ALARMED by post-feeding behavior

Just fed Lucy and it went great. Medium f/t rat thawed in hot water. Missed on the first strike, which seems to be a pattern, but then she ripped the rat right out of the tongs. All was good until just after she got it down.

At first she yawned a few times, then she was just kind of "smacking her lips", opening and closing her mouth just a bit. Not too strange. Then she opened it wider and starting wiggling her jaw like a seesaw. Then she started sniffing at her body and rubbing her nose on it. Okay, I thought, maybe it still smells like rat from when she was death gripping it.

And then she was normal, until a minute later she turn her head and neck UPSIDEDOWN and started slithering around like that for maybe half a foot.

After that she started rubbing her nose and jaw against her hides and half log, with pretty decent pressure. At one point she raised her head, gave a short hiss, then a minute later did another one and gave another yawn. After a few minutes it became less frequent, and then seemed to stop all together.

I am FREAKING OUT.

My only guesses are that she got substrate somewhere in her face from bodyslamming the rat when she snatched it or she is having trouble with her jaw. I think I saw some substrate in her mouth when she was yawning and smacking, sort of behind her lip. I know there's nothing in the heat pits because she got close enough to the glass for me to get a good look. Nostrils are questionable because they are so dark, but she isn't rubbing the top of her nose, just the front and sides.

Sorry for the long post but I am terrified something is wrong. I have videos if that would help.

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Just a guess, maybe she's trying to pop her jaw back in the socket

My corn has done similar things every once in a while (not sure if exactly the same) trying to get his jaw back in.

My BP might as well, but she is very shy and I rarely watch her eat, even if she lets me, which she usually doesn't.

Take a deep breath and advise soon. If it's just a jaw issue/reconnecting jaw it should clear up ASAP.

Again, just a thought. Not 100% sure from what you said.

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Originally Posted by c0r3yr0s3

Just a guess, maybe she's trying to pop her jaw back in the socket

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Yeah, agreed. Great minds think alike.

I was really hoping that, and it did look a little droopy on one one side. Just not sure why she's pressing on her snoot instead of the jaw itself.

What really terrified me is when she went upside down. The rest was odd, but that was downright insane. I almost thought she had been possessed and I don't even believe in possession.

I am I general a very antsy new snommy. [emoji21]

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Again, if videos would help I have them.

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100% normal since it sounds like the behaviors they do when they get substrate or something stuck in their mouth. They rub their lips and noses this way and that, on everything, even sideways and upside down sometimes. They get very frustrated about a little piece of substrate in their mouth. No worries!

this sounds like totally normal behavior. [emoji4]

Well, pardon me while I take a few deep breaths and feel slightly silly for panicking.

Hopefully this teaches her not to go all Randy Savage on her dinner!

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My pastel enchi just got some substrate in her mouth just about an hour ago while feeding, I’m kinda nervous cause it was forest floor that she got but she’s acting normal....just keep an eye out. Resetting their jaw is totally normal. I’ve never actually seen mine do it in the almost two years of keep my beeps


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aerries

My pastel enchi just got some substrate in her mouth just about an hour ago while feeding, I’m kinda nervous cause it was forest floor that she got but she’s acting normal....just keep an eye out. Resetting their jaw is totally normal. I’ve never actually seen mine do it in the almost two years of keep my beeps


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These snakes always solve their issue by themselves without problem. I used to intervene since I was worried, but later realized they are resilient creatures and know what they're doing when it comes to "unwanted stuff in their mouths" being belly crawling animals after all LOL. Even if they do ingest some, it's easily digestible as long as your husbandry is correct/the snake is healthy.