Overkill?

[Bogertophis]

Wow, so they envenomated their prey even though it was dead? I've read that producing venom takes quite a lot of resources but also is used to start the digestion process so I wonder if it's a conscious decision they make or just an instinct.

I find this thread really interesting because it seems that while some snakes take a long time to ensure their prey is dead (also something I have noticed is common for bigger constrictors from watching Youtube videos) there are also snakes who don't bother constricting at all and go straight to eating. I wonder if those ones have it more figured out realizing their food is already dead, or are they just more careless?

As far as rattlesnakes, I'd say it's "instinct" to bite first no matter what. They're very quick to bite because they cannot constrict...venom is their only weapon. If you were to offer prey that was already envenomated (say, by another rattlesnake*), they'd be able to smell the break-down of tissues caused by the venom & may overlook the need to bite first & just eat it. *I know because when I kept rattlesnakes, I had one that was venomoid (venom glands removed for previous owner) & he had very poor digestion as a result, to the point that his stools were oily & smelly, and he couldn't gain weight (his body was triangular); for some reason, he had a weak stomach. In a rattlesnake, venom is similar to our saliva & begins the digestive process, then stomach enzymes complete the process, but in that individual rattlesnake, it wasn't apparent that his stomach wasn't up to the task until after they had surgically removed his venom glands. There is no "putting them back" either, so when he was turned over to me, I first tried adding digestive enzymes to his f/t prey, with no success. After that I decided to try a "venom-donor"...I had a wickedly venomous Western rattlesnake that was all too happy to bite as many extra rodents as I presented him with, though he did seem to give me dirty looks when I stole them with my 24" tongs. It was only then that the other rattlesnake (a large Eastern Diamondback) was able to digest prey & gain weight properly.

It's true that venom is a valuable resource that requires a good high-protein diet to "manufacture", but only a tiny bit needs to be installed to kill their typical rodent prey. One "fully-loaded" rattlesnake can envenomate quite a few rodents, one after another, without ever running out. I never tested my 'room-mates' to see just how many, I only know that several extras (enough to fill up a large hungry adult Eastern Diamondback) & then a few more for himself never presented any issue for my "venom donor" rattlesnake.

As far as the larger constrictors that appear to take a long time constricting their prey, it might be that because of their overall size, they feel less threatened by other predators, whereas many of the snakes that I routinely see wolfing down their prey tend to be the slender colubrid types, & they're much easier for other animals to pick off while they're eating...so maybe that explains it??? I'm just guessing...but it makes sense. Different species have evolved with their own habits for a reason...because they worked and the snakes survived.