long squeeze

I have a 20 inch ball python and i feed her 1 live pinky rat every week or so. she always strikes and grabs it quick but it takes her at least half an hour to finally unwrap it. does any one know why or have any suggestions?

I would think a 20" bp should be able to snarf down a rat pink no problem. She's probably just making sure it's REALLY dead before starting dinner. As long as it goes down, I wouldn't worry about it. :D

A few of my snakes do the same thing. They just take their time.. lol

thanks i was just wondering

Some snakes are very very slow, and some are lightning fast. I've got one female ball that takes FOREVER to eat and a male who is the phantom eater. I can't walk away for 5 mins and he's already constricted, eaten, and retreated to a hide.

dexter likes to "love" his mice after it's dead. he nudges it, and chews on different parts... and then he finally starts to eat LOL it's funny to watch.

your bp should easily take a adult mouse at 20 "

One of ours has a definite difference. If we offer her a f/t rat she squeezes it much much longer than a live one. I have this wierd idea that she is actually waiting for the already dead prey to breath or something. With live she just nails it, constricts it quickly and snarfs it down. I swear with f/t she thinks the darn rat is holding it's breath or something LOL.


~~Jo~~

My male blood python used to explode out of his hide to grab the rat and he constricted it almost to the point of popping the belly.

Now.. he moseys out of his box and gently opens his mouth and gingerly takes it back in with him.

I guess he's learned that I'm not going to starve him now.

yeah, my male used to just chase after the rat and get 'em hard. now he doesnt do it as fast. i dont know why though. i think the reason is he might be wild caught and now in captivity he doesnt have to try as hard or somethin.