Ball Python in Hunt Mode

[KaaismyBaby]

I have a juvenile ball python. She is a female, and I'm not sure on her age. However, yesterday was feeding day, and I gave her an adult mouse in the morning. However, when I got home from school, she was still in Hunt mode. Frantically following whatever living thing passed by the cage, ie me, my mom, my dog. It's worrying me slightly, because two adult mice should be well enough to fill her up. Her hot side is about 90 degrees, and her cool side stays about 80. Any suggestions?

[Aste88]

It's common for snakes to remain in "hunt mode" for some time after feeding.

How much does she weight? The best way to be sure to feed appropriately is to know her weight and that of the prey you're feeding.

If she's already eating two adult mice you should try switching her to rats.

[danielwilu2525]

You should probably just stop feeding mice all together, if shes/he is a little baby then i'd give it a rat pup.

[cchardwick]

Actually you shouldn't be worried, that's a really good sign that you have a good feeding snake that is happy and in the proper conditions!

[KaaismyBaby]

You should probably just stop feeding mice all together, if shes/he is a little baby then i'd give it a rat pup.

I've been trying to for weeks, but every pet store around me only sells small and medium adult mice. They didn't have pinkies, pups, etc.

[noodlestsc]

Funny I just had this happen last night. I only got my 2yr old male normal 3 weeks ago and yesterday was the 2nd feeding.

I have him on f/t small rats. The first feeding for me (2.5 weeks after the last feeding with the previous owner) he stretched the whole process out. Quick strike and coil, but then "played" with it a bit dragging it around his enclosure and took a decent time eating it. Then he went to his warm hide and stayed hidden the rest of the night.

Flash forward to last night, 9 days after the previous feeding, and it was completely different. Instant strike and coil as soon as I dangled the rat in his tank. And within minutes he had the thing fully in his belly. He then went in to his hide, but everytime I walked in to check up on him for the next few hours he was at the opening of the hide watching me in full S shaped strike mode. I wondered what he was doing, I was seriously thinking to myself that this dude can't really want another small rat.

[Reinz]

My 14 yr old will sometimes stay in hardcore feeding mode for 1-2 days After her meal.


Elvira

(Yeah, yeah, BP's don't like to soak unless mites or if too hot. Tell her that! She will soak for weeks or months at a time, even before a shed, hmmm, imagine that. No mites or heat issues)