My baby Colombian grabbed her food butt first.

**lady_bug87** · 09-18-11, 10:10 AM

and she didnt constrict around it she just grabbed it by the butt and is currently sitting with it hanging out of her mouth... any thoughts?

Snakefood · 09-18-11, 10:17 AM

I don't know if this would help in this situation, but Ananta is bad for eating things at the wrong angle.

She hates it, but I will grab the end not in her mouth and "straighten" it for her. Then she has no problems getting it down.

Maybe you could try to help her get the right end and angle??

**lady_bug87** · 09-18-11, 10:45 AM

well she swallowed it backwards without an issue I think the problem is that my husband bought her rat pinkies instead of fuzzies so she didnt know what to do with it.

youngster · 09-18-11, 10:50 AM

When my little corn does that I don't interfere and he always gets it down no problem. Straightens out eventually.

presspirate · 09-18-11, 12:15 PM

Another butt muncher! She'll be fine, it all comes out the same.

Snakefood · 09-18-11, 12:22 PM

Sometimes I think that direction (butt first) would be easier!! the legs all fold nicely that way. Ananta got stuck on a front leg last feeding, it took her forever to get it in!! the time before that she tried to eat the head and butt (at the same time), leaving the side of the belly protruding out the side of her mouth, looking like it was about to burst!!

N1T24M · 09-18-11, 06:08 PM

these animals have been around for millions of years, there's no need to readjust their food for them. the reason they mainly eat head first is because theyre ambush predators and will strike the face as soon as the animal turns to them. they're also opportunistic feeders (feeding on dead/weakened animals) in the wild and will eat whatever comes their way. they have no regards to eating butt first, it all goes in the same.
ive had some of my boas even attempt to eat it sideways, some have even accomplished this! they know what to do, trust their instincts dont work against them.

Snakefood · 09-18-11, 06:53 PM

your probably right!! I am still new to all this and she really looked like she was having a hard time with it all (when she tried to eat head and tail at the same time!!) All I did was pull the tail out and hold on to it for a few seconds till she had it all going in right. She flicked her tail at me a few times, but then went right back to eating it, no problems!!

Uncle_Rev · 09-18-11, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by presspirate

Another butt muncher! She'll be fine, it all comes out the same.

Bingo.

They will be ok. I have a BP female that ONLY eats her prey *** first. She is just fine.

SSSSnakes · 09-18-11, 09:30 PM

If they can't swallow it, they will push it back out and have another go at it from a different angle. Like what has already been said, they know what to do.

sassy_snake_lady · 09-19-11, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N1T24M

these animals have been around for millions of years, there's no need to readjust their food for them. the reason they mainly eat head first is because theyre ambush predators and will strike the face as soon as the animal turns to them. they're also opportunistic feeders (feeding on dead/weakened animals) in the wild and will eat whatever comes their way. they have no regards to eating butt first, it all goes in the same.
ive had some of my boas even attempt to eat it sideways, some have even accomplished this! they know what to do, trust their instincts dont work against them.

Exactly what I was going to post!

I have a few snakes that eat backwards and my boas and even my hognose often eat sideways! Takes them a bit longer but it works fine. The boas actually fold the rat in half

SnakeyJay · 09-19-11, 03:06 AM

trying to help them straighten the food out will just cause unnecessary stress during feeding as they are in a vulnerable situation during swallowing.. i tried it once with my corn n he wasnt a happy boy lol...

ZARADOZIA · 09-19-11, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakefood

Sometimes I think that direction (butt first) would be easier!! the legs all fold nicely that way. Ananta got stuck on a front leg last feeding, it took her forever to get it in!! the time before that she tried to eat the head and butt (at the same time), leaving the side of the belly protruding out the side of her mouth, looking like it was about to burst!!

My BP Sasha tends to do that some times. I have watched one burst..it is completely disgusting...

When she eats I just wait and watch her for signs of distress. I have only had to intervene once. She had a leg get caught out the side of her mouth. The leg was stiff, at an odd angle, and she was unable to get her mouth around it so I gently used my finger nail to ease her lower lip/jaw around the elbow of the leg. I do not advise this to those that are not 100% comfortable with their snakes during feeding time. Sasha is use to me being near her while she eats because I never leave her unattended. I'm just over protective...lol

**lady_bug87** · 09-19-11, 06:50 AM

I am always near when they feed and she wasnt stressed it took her a little while to swallow but she did it fine it was just kinda funny watching her sit there with its a** is her mouth lol