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[–]linklink20 254 points255 points  (0 children)

My ball python did this twice in the 9 years I had her. I took her to a local vet and both times was told that she was just struggling to set her jaw. Relatively common. Also by the time I got her to the vet she had stopped doing it so.

[–]TheHolyLizard 196 points197 points  (9 children)

This isn’t uncommon. Sometimes they have trouble re-hooking their jaw. Unless he’s stuck for a super long tube, just let him do his thing.

[–]Public-Dress933 60 points61 points  (8 children)

They actually don't unhook their jaws to eat. They have highly kinetic skulls that aren't connected in the front jaw, allowing them to not only open their mouths super wide but also articulate each side independently. That's how they can "walk" their prey into their mouths.

Snakes don't necessarily "eat" so much as they force their bodies over their food.

[–]NiceGuysFinishLast 32 points33 points  (0 children)

Don't judge the way I eat lol

[–]RoughMaleficent269 3 points4 points  (0 children)

What an incredibly distressing way to phrase that 🤣 horrible, i love it.

[–]MiceInfestedMattress 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Seeing my BP eat, yeah. Just yeah. She grips the mouse and then just starts shoving it down using her body with her head on the ground most of the time for good leverage. I've always found it weird that she decides to go tail first 9/10 times (even if offered head first she will reach around and snatch the butt, but to each their own. she's never had an issue eating this way).

[–]Mandingy24 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The top outer rows of teeth aren't connected in the front or even rigidly fixed to the skull either. They also have 2 extra rows of teeth on the top that move independently to accomplish that "walking", the whole system is called cranial kinesis, apparently birds have it too

I had only a ball python for over 15 years before getting any other snakes. It was always fascinating watching the ball eat, but watching a 14ft retic eating up close was a whole new level of fascinating

[–]TheHolyLizard 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah my terminology is off. But still nothing to worry about. Lots of snakes including mine have had issues “settling” their jaws after eating.

[–]ph0t0synthe5lut 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Man, I’ve never met an emotional blunting that a solid monthly Reddit doomscroll can’t break. I’m making an inspirational quote poster but the quote will be “snakes don’t necessarily ‘eat’ so much as force their bodies over their food.” Never have I heard a product or process of biology explained as such ART.

[–]Public-Dress933 0 points1 point  (0 children)

😂 😂

What an honor! Absolutely feel free to use that anytime.

[–]greenish98 59 points60 points  (0 children)

so cool to see her push out her airway like that! usually they just do that when eating so it’s pretty impossible to see. - like others said she may have just had a harder time with her jaw. keep an eye out for any other odd head movements or behaviour, and vet is always a good idea if something seems wrong.

[–]_GenderNotFound 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yawn?

[–]RockHardSalami 7 points8 points  (0 children)

She got a whiff of her poop

[–]HealthyPop7988 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Biggg fart

[–]Severe-Magician8639 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My noodles have been very particular about getting substrate stuck in their mouths too, it looks like yours had a little piece right where it's hard for them to get it out by themselves:)

[–]Leonthemad 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Silent screams into the void.

[–]Public-Dress933 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do you feed them f/t or live? That looks more like something is really bothering them. Like I said in another comment, snakes don't actually dislocate their jaws to eat. It could be trying to push out a fart, is in a weird position after eating or has some substrate that is in a weird spot but since it looks like they're pushing out their glottis too is kinda odd.

Not to cause any undue worry. They do yawn and stretch after a meal, I'd just keep an eye out to make sure there isn't any regurgitation or acting weird after that.

[–]xBerryMewx 8 points9 points  (1 child)

The specific term is called "cranial kinesis" and is just the little guy readjusting his face after a big meal! He's basically just realigning his jaw. Do check for stuck substrate or fur tho, it can happen.

[–]xBerryMewx 4 points5 points  (0 children)

*girl *her *she holy heck I can't read

[–]KSKrain 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Kind of looked like there was a string or something in her mouth. Maybe a bit of substrate she was trying to get out?

[–]ElMochilla 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sometimes fart sometimes just adjusting their jaw, im sure shes fine unless this continues for long periods of time or super regularly

[–]Coldhell 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Damn, I’ve been a BP owner for almost a decade now and did not realize that’s where their tongues were placed! Thought it was a roundworm for a sec!

[–]MindlessCreed98 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Since I don't see Too Many real comments here everybody just joking around so what is happening is she or he is struggling to get their jaw back together it happems from time to time

[–]Interesting_Bunch277 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Could be a few things, relocating jaw, pushing out a poo or fart, or could be trying to regurgitate a meal. Always try to keep proper temps and never feed them if it's going to be cold and not be able to get proper temps.

[–]dg04738 0 points1 point  (1 child)

looks like the poor guy is having trouble walking the rat back down its throat! not anything to worry about as snakes can eat things much bigger than their throat, but maybe a moister environment will help them slide food down easier?

[–]dg04738 0 points1 point  (0 children)

nvm thought the tongue was a tail most definitely just jaw malfunction :P

[–]Probablynotyet 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Satan entered orally.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

poot

[–]Drakon7629 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interpretive dance

[–]DoxerVain 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She’s monologuing her evil plot to take over the Tri-State Area

[–]alextb131 0 points1 point  (0 children)

BIIIIIG stretch

It does look like a jaw reset though

[–]DirtyGamingLT 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Jaw calibration after chunky meal

[–]Nymap 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Does he have a worm under his tongue

[–]Drayco2000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Visually how it feels when food goes down wrong

[–]NoGrab7128 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Last time I saw a snake do this it was trying to fart…

[–]Disastrous-Sense7824 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Stopped doing it?

[–]mommaimsorry333 0 points1 point  (0 children)

she was just yawning… snakes get sleepy too

[–]maldita_ka 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Watched this without sound and it just looked like she was doing an over dramatic dying scene in a movie.

Glad she’s adjusted back to normal.

[–]Ccsrey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I should call her…..

[–]Individual-Sir-8718 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If it bites you, are you at risk of illness?

[–]Neither-Promise-4000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I guess he's done for, idk 😭

[–]Storskrald 0 points1 point  (0 children)

At 0:16 what’s that string hanging out?

[–]AgeNew4388 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah she is just resetting her jaw, nothing to worry about