First feeding!

[Shawnee]

Hi everyone I recently got my first ever snake, Malachi, a pastel lesser yellowbelly.

Before him, I had never even touched a snake before. Only seen them through glass. It really was love at first sight for me!

So, even though he was new, about 2 days into owning him, he would sit with his head out of his hide at night, and I think I remembered reading that means he wanted to eat? But I decided to wait a few days anyway. So tonight, he was out of his hide so I decided to try feeding him. I thawed the hopper in hot water for 10 minutes, and opened his tank, moved it around to get him interested, let him smell it, and then BAM!! he struck it hard and fast! WOW I did not see that coming! I was SO PROUD of my little perfect hunter!

I literally am still shaking a little it was so exciting... I know that probably sounds weird being excited to feed a snake, but I've just never done it before and I've been so worried he would never eat with me...but he did ;-; I'm just so happy and proud of him. He swallowed it quickly, too, so he must have been super hungry!

Was it normal that he lifted his head/neck while he was swallowing?

I look forward to many more years and feedings with my boy <3

[mjmullis]

Congratulations! It's perfectly normal for them to lift their head /neck while feeding. Easier to swallow with a straight shot!

[Shawnee]

Congratulations! It's perfectly normal for them to lift their head /neck while feeding. Easier to swallow with a straight shot!

Thank you!! And thanks for the reassurance, it's so interesting to watch them eat. Now that I know I can definitely do this I'm feeling much better <3

[mjmullis]

It is interesting! Good luck with your new baby!

[anicatgirl]

I think it's super neat when mine does this. I greatly enjoy watching her eat

[Reinz]

Yeah the Periscope swallow never gets old.

[Sauzo]

Grats on your new snake and yeah they stand up a lot when eating. They do other weird stuff sometimes too lol. Rosey my big BCI girl likes to grab her rats as I hang them outside her cage door and wrap them up and hold them with her coil while dangling out of the cage almost to floor and then swallow them. kind of fun to watch but I always imagine if she looses grip with her tail, she is going to take a header right to floor while gluping her rat lol. And I too enjoy feeding day as its about the only time I see everyone out at once. Otherwise, I see Rosey all the time, Vicky has discovered her hides finally after almost 2 weeks and is having a ball sitting them with only her head poking out and about the only time I see Dottie is when shes hungry or I drag her out and make her sit on me