Odd eating behaviour

[jenaero]

Had something odd happen for the second time. Wondering if anyone else has seen this.

All my bp will eat is live ASFs. At the last feeding a few weeks ago, she struck, constricted and somehow the rat got up and walked away. After that, she tried to just eat him, thinking she'd killed him already. I took the rat out and re-introduced them after a minute or so and she struck/killed/ate just fine.

Yesterday, I offered the first ASF and she took him no problem. The second one, she again tried to eat without striking/constricting when he was so obviously live. What's up with this?

[p3titexburial]

Hrm. That's really odd. It seems like it's completely skipping the killing process and going directly into "swallow" mode. And it's not like you've been feeding f/t where it's been conditioned to just eat without striking.

Maybe someone more experienced will come along.

What I'd be worried about is the ASF biting the python in defense because eating without killing first is just a recipe for disaster. ._.;;;

[Aleria]

Was the second one offered both times or was it the first asf you tossed in the first time she did this?
It just seems like maybe if you're feeding multiple prey items it might be confusing the snake into thinking it already killed it since it did already kill the first one. Just a thought.

[jenaero]

Years ago when I first got her she was on f/t. After several fasts (the last was a whole year and resulted in force feeding) she'll only take live ASFs so I usually feed her 2 per week, as she's still regaining weight lost from the last fast. Not to mention, generally the ASFs available are fairly small. All feedings are closely supervised. I've been feeding her 2 prey items each time for quite a while now, and these are the only 2 incidents so far...

[filly77]

I've noticed one or 2 of my hatchlings doing this in the beginning, how old is your snake? Is your snake young?

Sounds like a good candidate for F/T

Edit:
NM I just read your recent reply about having her for years.. there goes that theory lol