Backward Eatin'

Well, today Issa/Nyoka decided to be lazy and not bother to search for a head end. Struck near the tail end, never let go. He decided to eat it from there.

So I was just wondering, how often does this happen?


I took pictures, but no digital camera yet, so I can't post em.

He wasn't as hungry as he was last week, and he searched for the head last time.

Happens to my bp. It is no problem if the meal isn't too big. As long as your bp gets the meal down you shoudn't have a problem.

Yeah, Isis used to eat her prey backwards for a few weeks in a row... she eats them the right way now but I don't think it really matters, except it might be harder to get down...

I wouldn't worry as long as the prey is small

if your feeding rather large items, 'd possibly reccomend trying to get the snake to restrike, or take it head on

but generally a snake wont eat it backwards if it cant...
so like always, they generally know best
haha

I'm not worried about him eating backward, I was just wondering how often it happened. It just looks odd.

the very first time nellie ate for me she took the mouse down backwards. i think at the time she just didn't know any better, but i expect that at some point it will happen again. and after all, variety is the spice of life now isn't it? :)

He eats his prey both ways. Which way is the "correct" way?

The "correct" way is supposed to be headfirst :P

I chose "yes" in the poll, but only because Pelota has attempted to eat butt first a few times now, but never actually ate it that way. It seems recently she'll strike at the mid body, coil for a while. Then she'll uncoil and gnaw at the butt for a bit, until realizing she isn't gonna get it down that way. Then she'll seemingly give up and stray away from the rodent. At which time I grab it out of the tank without her noticing, put the nose to a light bulb to heat it up, and put its head right infront of Pelota. Then she'll strike right on the nose, coil again, and swallow. So she's been doing that recently and pretty regularly, so it now takes her about a half an hour to finish chowing down. Probably would be longer if I didn't "help" her, lol.

what if you did that before the whole butt gnawing thing. i also find my bp a little skeptical until the head is really warm with the bloody side towards him. also here is a funny pic of my bp eating backwards
it looks like a mouse being a bp for halloween
http://www.bluetongueskinks.net/foru....php?pic_id=47

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zennygirl

it looks like a mouse being a bp for halloween

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LOL Nice way to put it. :)

And I dunno exactly what you meant when you said "what if you do it before the whole butt gnawing thing". Actually..maybe I do. Do you mean what if I warm the nose up beforehand so she doesnt do the butt gnaw thing? I do warm it up nicely. She just tends to strike in odd places lately. When I first got her she was right on with accurate strikes to the head. Guess she's getting slower with age. :wink:

Kitty has started to before but he has never followed through.

Yeah, the week my bp didn't eat (the first mouse) he was trying to swallow it from the middle of the body. After a second strike and being left alone with it (in his tank) for a couple hours I tossed the mouse, I was afraid the mouse was decaying too quickly so it was tossed.

Andy did it once, Sphinx has yet to do it. Now my boa's were a whole different story. I think they like the smell of the backside :shock:

Smitty did once, Sophie never has.