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Snakes With Mouths Open  

Snakes with Mouths Open 

Reviewed by Petco’s Animal Care, Education and Compliance (ACE) Team

snake with mouth open

If you’ve been a snake parent for a while, you may notice your pet occasionally rest with their mouth hanging open. This action is called gaping, and your snake may do this for various reasons. Let’s go over a few of the reasons why they exhibit this behavior and what it can mean if your snake’s mouth is hanging open.  

Hunting prey or finding a mate Also called the Jacobson’s organ, the oral vomeronasal organ is only fully developed in certain animals. It detects chemical cues, which can help the animal track down prey or detect a potential mate. Sometimes snakes must hold their mouth open to improve airflow or use their tongue to capture these cues. For more information on how snakes navigate their environment, check out our guide Can My Snake Hear Me? 

After feeding Since snake food is typically swallowed whole, you may notice their mouth hanging open before or during digestion.  

They’re in respiratory distress Even though gaping can occur with healthy snakes, you should always consult your vet when you notice this new behavior—especially if it happens frequently or outside of feeding or digesting times. A variety of medical issues can make it hard for your pet to breathe, and gaping could be an indication of illness.  

FAQs about snakes with mouths open 

How does my snake open their mouth so wide?  

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Contrary to popular belief, snakes do not dislocate their jaws to eat. Instead, their skulls are uniquely structured to separate during feeding. You can learn more about how a boa constrictor eats with our Boa Care Sheet. 

How does my snake regulate their body temperature?  

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The environment is the key to a snake’s temperature regulation. It’s crucial to provide your pet with a temperature gradient that includes both hot basking areas and cooler shaded areas in their habitat so they can thermoregulate. Learn more about how improper humidity, heating and lighting can adversely affect your pet snake with our guide Reptile Scale Rot. 

Does my snake stretch?  

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Snakes have hundreds of small bones throughout their body that make them extremely flexible and able to stretch out their long bodies. When choosing a reptile terrarium, always make sure your pet has more than enough room to stretch out to their full size.  

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