Garter snake biting itself?

Question

i have a 1 1/2 year old garter snake thats biting itself. I feed her adult frozen mice but her head is only around 1/2 in wide. is that bad? She is almost 2 ft long. i checked her cage for anything sharp then i looked at the cuts and they were shaped like a U like from a bite. it cant be from a mouse since they are frozen. theres no other snakes in her cage. it was a about a week or two ago that i fed her, then i fed her again today and i found the cuts.why is she biting herself?

Answer 1

Garter snakes don't eat mice. They aren't constrictors. They eat worms and small amphibians. You can substitute small fish, but a variety of worms should be the main food.

Answer 2

dikmbbflj

EDIT: sorry bout that i didnt know what i was righting i was so tired. SSRY. umm try to put a video camera on it like 24/7 if u can. SSRY AGAIN

Answer 3

My Burmese Python does this sometimes. I'm not really sure why exactly but my conclusion is when they eat they wrap their prey. I think they use their body to help guide their prey in. Concluding, they bit themselves occasionally. I also think I would deffer from feeding the garter snake mice, I mean they prefer earthworm, frogs, and small fish...  I would call a local Exotic Vet. and ask about the stress question. Also keep a close eye on the snake, and see when it is that he/she bites itself

http://critterguy.museum.msu.edu/Care/Sn...

Answer 4

It really is not normal for her to be biting herself.  She might, if she had a pain she didn't understand, and was attempting to defend herself.

First touch her everywhere while she's in the tank, and see if she reacts.  If she doesn't, then lift her, and gently probe her entire length with your fingers.  See if she reacts to gentle pressure anywhere (don't freak if she bites out of defense).

She could have a tumor or growth causing her pain.

If she still acts fine, stop the pinkies, and try to fill her up on guppies or rosy minnows from the pet store.

Until you isolate the trouble, strip her tank to basics, and keep it very clean.  Leave her a place to hide and be secure.

Watch her closely, and if the problem persists a week after her next feed, then take her to a vet.

I hope she's feeling better soon, an it's nothing serious.