Help! Hatchling 'Frozen' While Eating?!

[Bittersweet2]

We've had a hatchling bp for a week and a bit, bought (I know we shouldn't have) from Petco. After my daughter fell in love with her, we discovered that she had mild belly rot and have been treating her per the vet's instructions with diluted betadine and silver sulfadiazole. Petco said that they had just received her and that she was five months old; however, she only weights 60 grams and is about 18" long. Petco states that she had a f/t pinkie two weeks ago.

Five days ago, we tried to feed her a f/t fuzzy, left overnight and she did not eat. Tonight, we gave her a live fuzzy, at sunset while leaving her alone in the dark. More than an hour and a half ago, she was constricting it and about an hour ago, my daughter quietly checked and the mouse was in her mouth. Over an hour later, she seems frozen in place, still breathing, but with the mouse still partway in her mouth.

Is this normal? Is it worrisome? Is there anything that we can do to help her get that mouse down or do we just need to be patient?

Thanks so much for your help!

[EarMice]

I don't like the sound of that. Has the mouse moved at all?

[Bittersweet2]

In case it helps, she is housed in a 20 Long with three sides covered, paper towels for substrate, with a UTH and black heat bulb. Cool side ambient temps are 78-80 and the basking spot is 88-90. The top is partially covered and the humidity is between 50% and 65%. She has a number of hides, some potted plants and a water bowl with fresh water daily. She often sleeps in her hides, but also sleeps on top of them or curled around a flower pot.

[Bittersweet2]

I think that the mouse was killed quite a while ago. The mouse is bloody and crushed.

[EarMice]

If the mouse hasn't moved down her throat for how many hours, I'd give her a good look over (without picking her up, but moving her head if I need to) and make sure she isn't punctured or anything. If she's alright, I'd probably completely cover her cage with a towel so that she can't see out of anywhere and leave her alone for another hour and check on her.

[Bittersweet2]

My daughter is checking her over now. It's been at least two hours, likely longer, since she began to swallow the mouse. At this point, she is still in the same position with her body constricted around the mouse with the head in her mouth.

[Bittersweet2]

Okay, so when my daughter gently tapped the mouse's foot, it wiggled a bit, so it is still alive. Perhaps the snake is not so good at constricting? Is there anything that we can do to help or should we just wait?

[EarMice]

Yikes. Can you get a picture?

[Bittersweet2]

I have a photo but cannot figure out how to insert it. The poor mouse's tail is moving and it is now making tiny mouse noises. It's been over three hours now, so I think that we are going to just see if she will let go of the mouse and we can dispatch him ourselves. The idea behind the live feeding was just to get a thin snake to feed, but, in retrospect, f/t again might have been a better approach. I've just never seen a snake that couldn't kill it's prey. Thanks for all of you help!