my snake is eating backwards...

[imh0813]

I just fed my BP and he is trying to swallow the mouse backwards. He is having some trouble, should I try and help him by turning it around?

[Wrongside]

if he cant do it he'll figure it out...it wont hurt him

[imh0813]

he ate it..thanks

[tigerlily]

I'm glad you snake got it down, but I figured I'd add this anyways....

You're more likely to freak your snake out which could result in a refusal to eat, if you try and turn the prey around. Better to just let him figure it out on it's own, unless it gets stuck. (which has happened to me once, so it's always good to double check that the food is completely down)

I had a grown female struggle with a mouse butt first just yesterday, it's no big deal. You can always try warming the head up to a slightly higher temp, but it's not necessary.

[ScottyDsntKnow]

I've heard that when they swallow butt first it means the prey is a little on the small side. Mine would always eat fuzzies butt first and when I moved up to hoppers she started going head first. She sometimes eats these butt first now too so I'm thinking time to move up to full size mice.

[python.princess]

I've heard that when they swallow butt first it means the prey is a little on the small side. Mine would always eat fuzzies butt first and when I moved up to hoppers she started going head first. She sometimes eats these butt first now too so I'm thinking time to move up to full size mice.

I've never heard this. I doubt that it's true. I've had mine eat big and small prey butt first. I think sometimes, they just just can't distinguish what end the head is on. And some of them just don't care.

[Malpaso]

I have fed my BP twice so far. First time she ate it from tail second time from dead (probably she found out from head it's better ). As I know more natural it's from head because legs of prey can better "fold" on way down

[~Osiris~]

Isis is a juvenile, and just ate a small mouse tail end first, I think because I just started a new feeding method. I turned off all lights left her alone for ten minutes and she got it down but did struggle and let go three times.

[carlson]

When either of my snakes eat their rat butt first it makes me laugh cuz it reaches a point where it looks like the rat is trying to crawl out.

[Sonny1318]

One of mine is enjoying this delicacy right now. But in all seriousness some of my boas would do it on occasion too. Never had a problem. I know it been discussed that they were "designed" to go head first. Limbs, nails folding down making it easier to swallow. And I don't think disturbing them while doing this would be in their best interest.