Agressive Feeding Response In Cks!!!

[gonesnakee]

Here's a picture of "White Widow" my breeder female Banded CK. She is named as such because she has eaten a previous mate a couple years back (ask Ryan & Sheila about that story). Anyhow she sometimes gets a real strong response to bite based on snake smell. The other day while cleaning she kept trying to tag me while I was trying to clean her tub. She had just ate the previous day, but it was a smaller meal as she was to be doing some more breeeding right away. Obviously she wanted more LOL Anyhow when I put her down after she missed me & grabbed herself. She let go the first time after 5 minutes (with some help) & grabbed herself again right away. Seeings how she was not content to let go again & I had the camera there I thought I'd grab some pics. Most people don't beleive you when you tell them that some snakes food response is so strong that they will try to eat themselves. Ya they aren't all the smartest LOL Anyhow it took 10 minutes of prying, cold water etc. before she would let go again & then of course she tries to get me right away as my hands are both right there making her let go of her tail. They will usually let go of themselves in a few minutes, but this girl was trying to unlock her jaw & does have history LOL So I didn't want to take any chances on her starting to swallow herself. Its happened before folks. Mark
<img src="http://members.shaw.ca/gonesnakee/DUH.JPG"width="600">

[Lrptls]

omg, that is crazy! i did not know a snake's feeding response could be that strong. she is nuts! it would be really bad if she did try to consume her self, i'm thinking that would kill her, i would imagine she could feel her self being eaten though =S. that is so weird. i wouldn't trust her at all when breeding, shed probably try to eat the male while mating. that is really amazing and a little scarey. can't even trust her cause she might eat herself!!

[FireFoz]

wow thats really scary! I would certainly keep an eye on that one when she's together with another snake!

[Scales Zoo]

Duh! I was sitting here going "what do you mean ask us" - but now I remember... And I wonder how much other stuff I've forgotten over the years...

Here's the story.

We bought out an entire collection of milks and kings - and when they were shipped to us, they were shipped in 2 boxes. That meant there were about 10 snakes in each box.

Each snake had it's own pillow case, but the pillow cases were not in seperate containers (as they should have been), but just laying on top of one another.

Anyways, we were checking the snakes and noticed one snake got out of the pillow case, but founnd 2 empty pillowcases. I could not find the other snake.

We contemplated what we should do. Should we tell the airport that there is an escapee - or just shut our mouths and leave. I was looking all over for the snake, in the styro box, out of the styro box, under the pillowcases - and when I was done, I started over again.

By the 3rd round of this, I was getting quite concerned and Sheila says "I think I know where the other snake is"

I say "well don't just stand there, tell me, help me look, do something - grrrr!!!"

I then realized that the other escapee, which Sheila was holding, and showing me, was huge - very fat. It had eaten the other snake!!!

When we got home we did an inventory to figure out what snake in the box was eaten - and coincidentally, she ate the male that would have been her mate.

She digested it fine, and did not regurgitate the smaller snake.

And then we sold our kings, that one to Mark.

I really like the name "White Widow" - very clever!

Ryan

[Lrptls]

jeez, i would have been freaking too "wheres my snake??" I woudln't have first thought, maybe it was eaten, but if i saw the huge lump i would have thought uh oh...lol this snake is crazy

[gonesnakee]

She's actually is usually very well behaved. just watch your fingers when she's hungry LOL I try to wash my wands if I think of it before dealing with her too so she doesn't bite me because i smell like snake. Its funny because she is fine while breeding too. Ya maybe she is a freak LOL Mark :grab:

[Vanan]

lol! Seems to be a familiar sight with CK's. Had a male which always had a chewed up looking tail. Them be psycho snakes!

[KingFfaj]

Originally posted by Lrptls
i'm thinking that would kill her, i would imagine she could feel her self being eaten though =S. that is so weird.
Actually, if a snake does start to swallow its own tall, i think they stop when they get to the vent, My male ck has some scaring bellow his vent, and he used to do it quite oftern before I gat him,(wasnt sure if he was so weak from mal nutrition that he couldnt tell if it was food or not, or if he was trying to kill himself) I know know that there just avid feeders. But then again, imagine chomping down on your own balls:eek: ohh thats gotta hurt!