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Why do snakes turn on their backs when they die2007-11-24 2:04:50

My husband's Desert King snake died in the middle of the night and she was on her back. I couldn't find any info when I googled it. She also had never bit anyone, but twice in the last 2 months she bit my husband. Was this a sign that she was getting ready to die? He had her for about 15 years, and she was over 40 years old (she was 2 feet longer than they usually get)

Answers:

ya it was probably a sign that they would die when it started to bite, it was probably in pain and knew it was going to die and might just wanted to be alone. but when they die i think it's a defence thing, they go on there backs when preditors in the wild and fake dead to make the enemy to lose intrest, and so that may be a reason why your snake died on it's back.

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i think to be more dramtic.

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I had a ball python for many years & two king snakes that are still alive. Sam (the python) died a couple years ago, but he didn't roll onto his back. He died in his usual resting position, curled around his favorite rock & underneath the dome of the bark cover. He never did get cranky, nor did he bite me in the weeks & months before he died, so I'm not sure about how to answer your question exactly.

The fact that your snake bit your husband might have been a sign of distress, but that's not necessarily the case. Remember how easy it is to slip into those 'stupid human tricks' without even realizing it? Maybe she scented something on him, or maybe she was startled, or perhaps it hurt her to be picked up (if there was something medically wrong)