I keep two rhamphiophis species - rubros and rostratus.

One of my rufous' eats only live and she never really subdues the prey. She bites, chews and swallows, usually with the prey kicking and screaming most of the way down.

She's even bitten, chewed and released when startled or in blue and the rat weanlings breathe a bit hard, bleed pretty heavy, but seem to have no other reactions.

I have always fed my rubros f/t until today. I had a leftover small mouse (suboc was in blue). I decided to give it to my youngest male red head.

What happened next startled me. The rubro grabbed the mouse and chewed on it briefly - I mean less than 15 seconds. He then spat it out. I figured he wasn't hungry or got freaked by the battle that the mouse was putting up - but I was wrong.

He withdrew to the top of a branch over the mouse and waited. I was amazed to see the mouse flop over on it's side, kick and twitch for about 20 seconds and then die. The rubro then found him and chugged him down.

This is totally opposite the behavior I have witnessed in rufous beaked snakes. Rubros are also rear fanged, are also rhamphiophis and are thought to have similar venom. While studies have been done on rufous beaked venom, I have yet to see one done of the red-headed beaks.

I know not many people keep beaked snakes, but for those who do - have you ever witnessed this bite, chew and release behavior? I'd love to know.