'They are notorious cannibals': Snake swallows other snake

TWO blue bellied black snakes were caught in a tasty tangle at a Dalby property yesterday.

The property owner couldn't believe their eyes when they came across the scene that afternoon; a-four-and-a-half-foot black snake half-way through devouring a slightly smaller version of itself.

The photo was forwarded on to Darling Downs Snake Catchers 24/7.

"I've never come across it myself personally," snake catcher Gunter Glaser said. 

"However black snakes are notorious cannibals - most of the venomous ones are.

"We get more blue bellied black snakes in the Darling Downs than their red bellied counterparts, so coming across two together is not so unusual."

Mr Glaser said the snake had positioned its prey perfectly, streamlining the consumption process.

"You do wonder how they fit it all in," he said.

"They generally try to eat their prey from the head down, as that streamlines the meal for them.

"He'd probably be right for the winter period after that. They have long stomachs, so as long as he doesn't regurgitate it, he probably won't need another feed until spring."