Food fight again -- locked mouths.. (sort of)

[RedSidedSPR]

Ok, last time I posted this you guys said there was nothing to worry about. It was just a nip on the back.

This time... They bit eachothers mouths! That was kinda scary.. They didn't hold on, just locked up real quick and let go... but it was a little concerning. They continued eating right away, so I don't think anything is wrong..

sigh.. Should I be concerned THIS time?

[Starling96]

same thing happenes to me
maybe take out 2 snakes and feed one the take him out and put another in

[RedSidedSPR]

I usually dont have a problem I feed like you said, or ton feed... This was a dish of worms/fish...

[Starling96]

yea
was it with the same snakes?

[Kantar]

I only had a couple problems with this, I feed my snakes in their cages.

Once I witnessed a strike on another snake when it was just finishing a meal but onto its head and they both squiggled around maniacly like a posessed noodle for a couple seconds and they both ran away from eachother.

Another time I seen a tug of war between 2 non garters on a jumbo mouse until it ripped in half and they were both happy.

I keep at 2 to 5 snakes per cage and I just have all the meals ready and they usually snatch it right away and as quickly as I can feed them all to avoid feeding frenzies. I try not to let them see the bag with the thawed mice in it because that sets them into a frenzy where they race around their enclosure at a million miles an hour and be cautious of eachother. They look around their surroundings so fast to make sure they get the food first. Its so funny

They should be fine

[BLUESIRTALIS]

My baby 100% het albino fl. blues do it all the time. They will start doing the death roll like an aligator. I think they are just fine. Just make sure you are with them while they are feeding or the biggest one could swallow the smallest one and then they will both die because garters can't digest other snakes.

[RedSidedSPR]

As long as they're not hurt.

I usually tong feed, or hand feed, and have never had a problem.

It was concerning, but they seem fine...

[RedSidedSPR]

How would i know if something WAS wrong?

[katach]

Our pugets do that. They are greedy any like to play tug of war.

[ConcinusMan]

You should never, ever, give them the chance to do that. Better keep a close eye on their mouths. Check daily for a while. Look for swelling around the "seal". Look for gaps, lumps, etc.

More than once I have had to treat (and it's not easy to do or quick to heal) mouth injuries from this. Treat at the first sign of trouble and the chances for recovery are good. Do nothing, and it could eventually lead to tooth loss, infections, mouth pain which causes them to stop eating, and possibly death.

Do everything you can to prevent it from happening in the first place. If it does happen, tapping firmly but gently on their heads should get them to let go. Never attempt to pull them apart.

This should be taken very seriously. There's nothing funny about it.