Butt eater

One of my pastel females is a butt eater. The only one in my collection. Her sister has been producing for two years already but this girl is at 850grms because she can only eat small rats. If I offer something she thinks is too big for her she get scared. She is eating f/t 21 days rat. She may take something a bit bigger, but then she cant swallow it from the butt and eventually she gives up. She wont take a second rat, or eat every 3-4 days. I really think she is not having enough. It is not skinny but thin.
Any ideas to get her eat from the head?
I read about heating the head more, has someone tried it first hand?
Thanks!

Try holding the rat from the tuft on their back, that way when your snake strikes it should hit the head and be able to start eating when its done constricting.
If she likes to constrict then roam around before eating, I have no idea but if she seems happy I don't think small rats once a week is a problem

She constricts fine. The problem is that I think she is not getting enough for her size.

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If the feeder is within the proper size range the snake is able to swallow it from either end.

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Originally Posted by KMG

If the feeder is within the proper size range the snake is able to swallow it from either end.

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I disagree, this girl cant. She cant pass the back legs. Eating from the head front legs fold towards the body, and back legs strech against the tail. Going from behind, back legs open wide. I can tell proper sizes.

I used to cut the back legs so she can swallow, but it was a mess after because organs find a way out.


Just wanted to know if there is a proven method to change a butt eater.

If you are certain she can't swallow the hind legs of the current prey size, then just offer two smaller prey items. In my opinion, from what I have seen and read, if she truly can't swallow the hind legs, it's likely the whole rat/mouse is too large.... unless she has an issue with her jaws. Again, the best solution then would be to just feed her two smaller items on feeding day.

If you want to try cutting the rear legs you may be able to cut just beneath the hips (I know it sounds gross, but sometimes I have to modify diet for the wild animals I help care for, and we try everything from skinning, to cutting into pieces, etc). If you cut beneath the hips the guts won't come out, although I'm not sure it will make your snake feel comfortable enough. It almost sounds to me like the feeders are too big, but you insist they are not. Maybe try tangling the rat by the tail? I always feed this way so my snakes grab the head or upper torso first, then follow through after they are done constricting. I know you posted your snake's weight; can you post a pic?

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Originally Posted by rafacacho

I disagree, this girl cant. She cant pass the back legs. Eating from the head front legs fold towards the body, and back legs strech against the tail. Going from behind, back legs open wide. I can tell proper sizes.

I used to cut the back legs so she can swallow, but it was a mess after because organs find a way out.


Just wanted to know if there is a proven method to change a butt eater.

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You are underestimating your BP if the prey is within proper range the can swallow it even backward it might take longer but they can.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

You are underestimating your BP if the prey is within proper range the can swallow it even backward it might take longer but they can.

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Yep, Yep, Yep!!!!

It's odd that the snake always eats from the back end. My experience has been that this often happens when I'm moving a snake up to a larger size prey item. and yes, it is more difficult to consume from that direction due to the legs not folding and frequently these feeding fail. but the snakes learn quick. I'd try moving down a size and see how it goes.

My male is a side/butt eater and I was feeding him smaller rats because if he couldn't get it down he would leave and ignore it. I can get him to strike it again (you know after he mangled it the first time lol) but he'd normally just give up again. It wasn't until recently that I've been able to get him to eat more appropriate sized meals. After the rat has completely thawed I run the rats head under warm water until the head is warmer than the rest of the rats body. Since generally speaking the head is supposed to be the warmest part of the body I figure this is like marking the spot of where he needs to swallow first. So far so good. He's managed to eat the rats head first ever since.

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Originally Posted by O'Mathghamhna

Maybe try tangling the rat by the tail? I always feed this way so my snakes grab the head or upper torso first, then follow through after they are done constricting. I know you posted your snake's weight; can you post a pic?

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I always offer that way. I' ll take a pic of course.

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Originally Posted by DennisM

It's odd that the snake always eats from the back end. My experience has been that this often happens when I'm moving a snake up to a larger size prey item. and yes, it is more difficult to consume from that direction due to the legs not folding and frequently these feeding fail. but the snakes learn quick. I'd try moving down a size and see how it goes.

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She' a holdback, did this since the first time she ate ( maybe she is kind of dimb) She is on small rats now, those wich she can pass backwards.

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Originally Posted by Tash

My male is a side/butt eater and I was feeding him smaller rats because if he couldn't get it down he would leave and ignore it. I can get him to strike it again (you know after he mangled it the first time lol) but he'd normally just give up again. It wasn't until recently that I've been able to get him to eat more appropriate sized meals. After the rat has completely thawed I run the rats head under warm water until the head is warmer than the rest of the rats body. Since generally speaking the head is supposed to be the warmest part of the body I figure this is like marking the spot of where he needs to swallow first. So far so good. He's managed to eat the rats head first ever since.

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This is exactly what is happening here. I saw a post about heating the head but wasnt sure about it. I only feed f/t, and the rat is soak in warm water. I 'll try taking it out and heating the head.
Hopefully I ' ll get her to eat properly. I' ll let you know.

Thanks!


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I have a spider mojave in the same situation. Will strike anything. If I move the rat to appropriate size she strikes and coils and then just leaves it. I heat the head but she almost always strikes at the rear legs for some reason. I am just giving her more of the smaller meals for a while and will try bumping up when the smaller ones are almost gone.