How long does it take for your BP to feed?

[depewcod]

I got my first baby BP Silvan (normal) three weeks ago from a pet shop here in town. I didn't do a ton of research before I got him but since then, you guys have been such a great help in making him happy! He's been just about all I've thought of these last few weeks! I love the little guy. I'm sure you guys know the feeling.

He refused to eat the first week I had him, but since then has eaten twice. Both times he ate the mouse (a hopper) backwards and it took him over a half hour each time to get it down. Just wondering: how long does it usually take your snakes to eat once they finally decide to go for it? Will he get better at eating as he gets older? It worries me that he can't find the head.

[llovelace]

He'll figure it out, How much does he weigh? what size mice are you feedng him

[depewcod]

He is 70g and is eating 8g hoppers.

[Jeo123]

They do take a few times before they finally get the hang of eating. Mine can finish in about 5 minutes sometimes, though every now and then she'll get a weird initial bit and take a half hour.

I've never had her give up or anything though.

[pythonownerguy]

A mouse/rat with my old PB would have a life expectancy of maybe 5 seconds. My new BP lets it move around and then when its right in his face, he strikes. Give ti time and your BP will get the hang of it.

[kc230]

I was in the same boat. I didn't really do much research before I got mine either. Probably not the smartest thing to do, but I had to have him right then and there I have learned a ton about them though in just a couple weeks. Never thought I could get attached to a snake, but he's my little buddy now. I brought mine home on a Saturday and then a fed him a frozen to thawed hopper I think it was either a Monday or Tuesday night and it took him about 15 minutes to grab it and finish it. He has always been a really good eater though. The only time he refused a mouse was the day after he shed. That was my bad though. They don't usually eat until a couple days after they shed. Now it takes him 5 minutes to get the thing down. He doesn't mess around haha. He's pretty good about striking at the hoppers head but if he gets the belly he will twist it around. I usually lay the head of the mouse straight and put the snake so that they are nose to nose basically. Maybe that might help a bit so your guy doesn't eat it backwards. Sorry for the novel

[Obscurus28]

Also like kc230 said about the mouses direction when eating since it is a baby you could try to flip it for him, mine was having trouble searching for the head a couple times and i helped him out, he has never bitten me so i say just be careful and do what thou must. it really is alot better to eat head first because everything bends smoothly when they do. goodluck and congrats on the Snakey! show us some pics!

[Mike.P]

Some are slower than others... But as long as he eats it, and it doesn't come back up, then I wouldn't worry. He'll get better as time goes on. I had one in the past that would take FOREVER to strike, and then about twenty minutes to eat it.

In contrast, the lesser I have now... Strikes within ten seconds, constricts for about two minutes, and has it swallowed in about 3-5 minutes (small rat pups.) He's a little piglet! lol. Guess I got lucky with him, he's an awesome snake all around. But yeah, don't sweat it. Since he's eating, it'll be fine.

[cmack91]

dont worry, he'll figure it out as he gets older, has he tried to eat it sideways yet? or actually, has he tried to eat himself yet? mine has lol-hes a little sometimes, but i'd have him no other way

[DooLittle]

I have one that the rat barely hits the tub and he is on it, and it goes down just as fast. I would say not much more than 5 minutes. My other guy is so mellow, he takes forever. Kinda like oh look a rat, hmmm, maybe I will eat him. He takes around 20 minutes. I think they figure the head thing out. My little guys has struck them in the middle, but he always turns them around. I think pointing the head at them can help. I always offer f/ t rat head first.