Eastern News

[Sid]

This was a total surprise for me, but something I feel that needs to be shared with all of you on the forum.

I have kept my share of Easterns for a number of years and never had this problem. One of my JV males turned canibblelistic. He ate three of his enclosure mates. I've no idea why, all were about the same size and all were eating really well, being fed twice per week. Never having seen or heard of this in T. s sirtalis, thought everyone should know.

Needless to say the bad boy is now in solitaire.

[guidofatherof5]

Wow, Never heard of that other than by a feeding incident. Usually, a large snake eating a smaller one. I can't see how he survived eating 3. Wow, again.

[Snake lover 3-25]

wait how did he eat 3 snakes the same size of him?

[Sid]

wait how did he eat 3 snakes the same size of him?

I have no idea how he manage to get down 3, but one day all were fine and the next three were gone and one (about 9 or 10 inches long) was bigger around than a pencil.

[Snake lover 3-25]

huh strange..... well thanks for telling us!

[Zephyr]

Yearlings, Sid? Or younger?

[guidofatherof5]

Any chance they escaped? How long had it been since you saw them in the cage? To eat 3 would mean he/she would have been huge. I don't remember where I read it but I thought that sort of thing kills the eater also. Especially when they are about the same size. I will have to try to find the book info.

[olive oil]

That is crazy! I didn't think that would be possible.

[zooplan]

They may be able to wrinkle the eaten sibling to their stomach,
but than they look like an accordion.
I´ve seen it for swallowing one snake, but I can´t imaging it for three.

[Sid]

To answer a couple of your questions... These were from different litters, all born within two weeks of each other in the latter part of July. So, JV and not yearlings.

I don't believe any of the 3 had escaped as one female from a group of the same age did escape about the same time. Water bowls and heat lamps at floor level were put out and the female was recovered...no males.

The whole thing had to have happened over no more than two days at most.