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Registered User
Weird eating?
Today was the second time I've fed my new snake and both times he's started from butt first. He got it down last time but as I watch him now he seems to be struggling just like the first time. From what I understand snakes start head first and work their way down. He's a young snake so is this just an inexperienced eater? Is it a problem?
Last edited by TDent1; 11-23-2010 at 04:51 PM.
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Re: Weird eating?
What size prey item are you feeding? Sometimes they start from the wrong side because the prey item is too small. One of the reasons snakes prefer to eat from the head first is because that way when they get to the legs they naturally move to the sides of the body, so they don't have a leg sticking out and making feeding uncomfortable.
1.0 Normal - Maynard
1.0 POG - Victor
0.1 YB - Diana
0.1 Pastel Boa - Astrid
1.0 Salmon Boa -
1.1 Leopard Geckos
0.3.2 Inverts
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BPnet Veteran
Re: Weird eating?
Your snake is just being a goof, they dont have the best eyesight, so he probably does not realize he is eating it backwards at first, try offering the rodent so that the snake bites it right on the nose, that way when it starts to swallow they already have it head first, this is what I do, as it makes the whole feeding process much faster, rather than having the snake struggle to find the rodents head for 15 minutes.
It seems to me that Ball Pythons in general (atleast the ones I have fed) seem to be goofy about finding the head, one of mine will struggle for 20 minutes to find the head sometimes, lol. My Kenyan Sand Boa is even worse, he will just give up if he cant find the head.
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Re: Weird eating?
 Originally Posted by lexxielightning
What size prey item are you feeding? Sometimes they start from the wrong side because the prey item is too small.
This 
They do sometimes take bigger prey backwards, but mostly it's because the food is on the smaller size.
Jerry Robertson

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Registered User
I'm feeding him fuzzies. I wish I knew his weight but I couldn't find a decent scale. (Any suggestions for a good scale would be nice!) I'll bring him in to the pet shop we got him from and weigh him before his next feeding and let you guys know. In the mean time thanks for the help!
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BPnet Veteran
Mine did this with the last feed too. I have no clue what she weighs but I am feeding her one F/T small fuzzy every 5 days. Should I bump her up to mediums? She's only 6 month's old.
iHerp - http://www.iherp.com/thedarkwolf25
1.1.0 Normal BP (Hera) (Eden)
1.0.0 Pastel BP (Homer)
1.0.0 Corn Snake (Zeus)
0.1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa (Athena)
0.1.0 Red Tail Boa (Persephine)
0.1.0 50% Dwarf Retic (Isis)
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon (Spyro)
3.1.0 Cats (Rajah, Muffin, Storm, Ladybug)

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BPnet Veteran
I picked up my scale from target. Look in the kitchen section, you can usually find small digital scales there.
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Re: Weird eating?
 Originally Posted by Jeo123
I picked up my scale from target. Look in the kitchen section, you can usually find small digital scales there.
I got one at Wal-Mart!!! Good reptile secret...instead of paying way to much for a REPTILE scale. Also, go to a smoke shop. They also have scales.....
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Re: Weird eating?
 Originally Posted by TDent1
I'm feeding him fuzzies.
would that be mice or rats?
1.0 Normal - Maynard
1.0 POG - Victor
0.1 YB - Diana
0.1 Pastel Boa - Astrid
1.0 Salmon Boa -
1.1 Leopard Geckos
0.3.2 Inverts
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Registered User
it just happens sometimes.... one of my snakes is a nearly fully grown male who eats small adult rats. he still eats them backwards sometimes...
Monty - Normal male, adopted, unknown age/origin - 680g
Coby - 2010 CB Normal male - 100g
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