Why Do Snakes Attack Themselves? (Snake Eating Tail Meaning) + Video Included

A snake attacking itself by biting its tail, the mythical tail-eating serpent, is a symbolic image that’s based on real-life habits. Ouroboros (or Uroboros) is a well-documented behavior that occurs in wild and captive species of snakes. However, a snake devouring its own body or tail continues to be a relatively uncommon behavior. But why would a snake bite itself?

Snakes can attack themselves when they are overly stressed, aggressive, hot, or hungry. It may be that the snake is confused and mistakes its own tail for prey. Snakes can bite themselves when they cannot see well, such as when they are shredding, or when they believe their tail is that of another snake. A snake may also try to bite itself if it is unwell, whether that is physically or mentally.

While the act of self-cannibalism may seem absurd to humans, to a snake, it may seem entirely logical. Especially if it believes its tail is that of another animal. It may think the tail belongs to a predator or its prey. There are many snakes that eat other snakes (kingsnakes, coral snakes, etc) so ‘confusion’ over a food source is a common explanation.

Do Snakes Bite Their Own Tails?

You would be forgiven for assuming that this behavior is an urban myth. After all, what would a snake achieve from eating itself?

It isn’t a common behavior. When a snake bites its tail in error, it will recoil from the experience. If it continually does so and it becomes a habit, there will be an explanation for why it happens.

Why Do Snakes Try to Eat Themselves?

Explanations revolve around the following:

1) Stress

Possibly the most common reason why a snake would eat its tail is stress and agitation. This is most likely if the snake is living in captivity.

Snakes are easily stressed. They like to live a certain way and need a habitat that meets their needs. A snake uncomfortable with the temperature and humidity, for example, will quickly become unhappy. This stress can turn to disorientation, and a snake may eat its tail in such a circumstance. Other things that could cause stress for a snake include:

  • A terrarium that is too small or large
  • An erratic or inappropriate feeding schedule
  • The substrate does not feel organic or natural
  • An insufficient alternation between light and darkness
  • Excessive handling or handling at the wrong times

A captive snake that you cannot see is usually a contented snake. Most reptiles would rather hide and burrow than expose themselves to humans and the threat of predation.

Can a snake bite itself and die?

2) Food Confusion

Confusion and excitement surrounding food is another common explanation for snakes biting themselves. This could take many forms:

Disorientation:No food is leading to disorientation. It’s instinctively biting anything that moves in search of food.
Extreme hunger:The snake is so hungry that it eats itself for nourishment. In the wild, a snake may be unable to hunt due to poor health or a debilitating injury.
Snake can’t stop feeding:The snake’s metabolism is running too fast. A wild snake may not just eat one mouse, for example. It would eat an entire nest of mice. This is instinct, as the snake does not know when it will eat again.
Ophiophagy:The snake may be mistaking its tail for that of another snake. This behavior is common in cannibalistic breeds, such as kingsnakes and king cobras.

3) Misplaced Aggression

Another reason why a snake may bite itself is through sheer aggression. This is not the snake striking out against itself. Instead, it is mistaking its tail for another snake in its territory. After all, snakes are asocial by nature.

This is particularly likely if a captive snake’s terrarium is too small. If it cannot stretch out, it may mistake its own tail for another snake.

4) Poor Health

Some snakes begin biting themselves towards the end of their lives. This could denote a neurological condition, or it may suggest that the snake is in pain. If this applies to a pet snake, take it to a vet immediately.

If you notice a wild snake biting itself, walk away. Call animal control if you are worried about its welfare. Approaching it could result in a snake bite.

Which Species of Snakes Is Most Likely To Bite Themselves?

According to The New Encyclopedia of Snakes, the American rat snake (pantheropis obseleta) is particularly prone to eating themselves. There are at least 2 recorded cases of self-cannibalism.

Snake Eating Tail Meaning

Why Do Rattlesnakes Bite Themselves?

The Christian missionary E. Stanley Jones popularized the image of a rattlesnake biting itself. Jones memorably claimed that “a rattlesnake, if cornered, will become so angry it will bite itself.”

Jones was preaching at the time, suggesting that he was speaking metaphorically, but he had a point. A rattlesnake can bite itself out of sheer excitement, leading to confusion. The noise generated by a rattlesnake’s tail could provoke a predatory response, such as biting.

Will a Snake Die if it Bites Itself?

Different snakes have differing levels of resistance to their own venom. More often than not, venomous (poisonous) snakes have some degree of resistance to their own venom toxicity.

Also, unless there’s a neurological problem, a snake will usually bite once (or stop biting), realizing its mistake. So, the snake won’t issue enough venom to cause its own demise. Also, not all snakes have venom glands.

There’s more than just the venom of the bite to consider. When a snake sinks its teeth into its tail or body, puncture wounds and bleeding will occur. This could lead to a anemia or the snake bleeding to death.

Photo of author

Lou Carter

Hi, I'm Lou. I’ve always been fascinated by snakes and reptiles. That’s why I set up snakesforpets.com – to answer every question that you could ever have about snakes as pets (and how they survive in the wild.) I hope that you find this website useful!

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