spotted python not well

[butcha1]

i have just fed my python and he didnt eat like he normally would it took him ages to get down and he normally smashes 2 mice and when i went to give him the second one he struggled to open his mouth, and it as like his mouth was stuck and could only open one side at a time plus it would not strike the mouse he just grabbed at it and would not eat it.. any ideas??

thanks Brenton

 

[Varanoidea]

Could you provide more information for example his temps/hides/enclosure size. Could he have gotten his lips caught on his teeth during the first feed?

 

[The_Geeza]

Well he was eating so I wouldn't wry... They can have jaw realignment issues but they usually clear up quite quick... Don't fret just yet ... Take a look tomoz and I bet its fine

 

[butcha1]

his enclosure is about 50 cm(L) 20 cm(D) 20cm(H) he has one small cave, he is about 30 cm long, and the temp is between 28 to 30 celsuius

 

[Riffherper]

Snakes dislocate their jaw to eat which could explain the mouth issues. Sometimes snakes will randomly take longer to eat a meal. This may be due to a number of factors. Sometimes mine smash a second one and sometimes they take it softly. Sometimes they just don't want a second one. As stated earlier if all looks physically fine now don't fret.

 

[Pythoninfinite]

30C may be a bit cool - try upping the temp to around 33C. As others have said, feeding responses can be quite inconsistent - I have Roughies here which sometimes smash their food, at other times they're just not interested, and this can be for up to 8-10 weeks. Nothing to worry about.

Jamie

 

[Lawra]

Snakes dislocate their jaw to eat which could explain the mouth issues.

They do what now?

 

[Riffherper]

They do what now?

you may have heard the term 'unhinge'. You know how they sort of chew and yawn after a meal that's them putting their jaw back into place. If they couldn't unhinge their jaw they would not be able to eat items several times the size of their head.

 

[andynic07]

They do what now?

Very flexible tendons


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[Pythoninfinite]

Very flexible tendons


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Very elastic ligaments actually... !

 

[Lawra]

Very flexible tendons

Very elastic ligaments actually... !

Thanks guys
[MENTION=37197]Riffherper[/MENTION] I read a while ago that pythons dislocating/unhinging their jaws was a common misconception, that's the only reason I asked.

All good

 

[reaver]

No your right Lawra they can't un-hinge their jaw they can just open it really wide because of their quadrate bone(I think that's what it's called) and they have a split jaw which stretches.

 

[andynic07]

Thank you @Pythoninfinite this is how things get messy when the wrong terminology is used. This site explains the snakes mouth in basic terms that are easily understood along with a picture.

https://www.highlightskids.com/science-questions/how-do-snakes-open-their-mouths-so-wide

And yes [MENTION=27969]reaver[/MENTION] the small bone is called the quadrate bone

 

[Lawra]

[MENTION=27969]reaver[/MENTION] I knew I wasn't crazy! You've also given me something specific to research, thank you