Why do rattlesnakes bite themselves

Some snakes have also been seen munching on their own shed skin, says Murphy. For this reason, it is wise to do extensive research before mixing different species of snakes in the same enclosure. Home Diseases A-Z. Written by: PetMD Editorial. Published: March 01, Image via iStock.

Help us make PetMD better Was this article helpful? Yes No. Various reasons can cause this, ranging from possible neurological conditions to physical pain. Getting too close could result in a painful or poisonous snake bite. Discuss the behavior with your vet, and be open and honest about how your snake is living. So often, snakes that eat themselves are suffering from extreme hunger and the inability to hunt.

Call your vet right away! While we might not always understand why our scaly friends behave the way they do, we must try to identify the cause and get them the help they need. If a snake is biting himself, something is wrong.

That's why! It may be that the snake is confused and mistakes its own tail for prey. Snakes can bite themselves when they cannot see well, such as when they are shredding, or when they believe their tail is that of another snake. A snake may also try to bite itself if it is unwell, whether that is physically or mentally. While the act of self-cannibalism may seem absurd to humans, to a snake, it may seem entirely logical. Especially if it believes its tail is that of another animal.

It may think the tail belongs to a predator or its prey. You would be forgiven for assuming that this behavior is an urban myth. After all, what would a snake achieve from eating itself? When a snake bites its tail in error, it will recoil from the experience.

If it continually does so and it becomes a habit, there will be an explanation for why it happens. Possibly the most common reason why a snake would eat its tail is stress and agitation. This is most likely if the snake is living in captivity. Snakes are easily stressed. They like to live a certain way and need a habitat that meets their needs. A snake uncomfortable with the temperature and humidity, for example, will quickly become unhappy.

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