why do snakes eat themselves

Snakes eat themselves primarily due to stress, confusion, or biological issues. In many cases, a snake may mistake its own tail for prey due to stress, overheating, or neurological problems, especially in captivity where the environment is not natural. Overheating can cause a snake to become disoriented and confused, leading it to bite and consume its own tail. Stress and metabolic factors may also increase hunger or cause unusual behaviors, prompting the snake to eat itself. Neurological damage or brain injury can also lead to this self-destructive behavior by impairing the snake's perception and motor control. This phenomenon, though rare, is more often seen in captive snakes and is not a sign of the snake going "crazy," but rather a response to environmental and physiological stressors.