Feeding help, sideways mouse?

First off, if I'm asking a question that's been asked before, I apologize. Nothing is more obnoxious than reposting in forums. I searched for a similar post first, and didn't find one. But if this question has been beaten to death I'm terribly sorry...

I'm a new ball python owner. I went to feed my ball a second time today. Her feeding response was excellent both the first time I fed her, and this time as well. Both times she took the prey immediately. I'm feeding f/t pinkie mice. But this time I encountered my first feeding hitch: she took the prey sideways. She seems determined to fit the thing sideways down her hatch. I tried gently grasping one side of the pinky with hemostats, but she's not letting go with her jaw and I didn't want to apply any kind of force.

So do I let her continue to wrestle with the thing? Will she eventually give up and spit it out? Should I re-offer it to her if she does let go? Basically, what should I do here. Like I said, this is my first ball python. Any advice would be greatly appreciated here...

I never intervene in a feeding. The snake can figure it out on its own.

Sometimes they start off taking it wrong, but will switch it around. Others times they drop it and start over.

I had one bp that ate butt first for the longest time. I just figured the butt was the tastiest part of the rat... never eaten a rat so I cannot say.

Just let the snake do it's thing, and it will figure it out in time.

Bruce

While I was posting she managed to get the thing down. The whole process looked far more stressful than her first feeding though. She was panting. Thanks very much for the quick reply!

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Originally Posted by bushonk

I'm feeding f/t pinkie mice. ..

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Don't know how old you BP is, but even the small babies should be able to eat mice hoppers at least.

I had figured she could probably eat something a little larger. She was previously being fed the pinkies, and so in an effort to not change everything right away I thought I'd give her a few feedings on what she was used to before trying to switch. She's a champ at taking food *knock on wood* which is a huge relief (a champ except when she takes the pinkie sideways, but she seemed to manage even that!).

Thanks for the input though. I'm afraid most of my friends are afraid of snakes (why?), so any input is most appreciated! These boards are an amazing resource!

I have a two-month-old baby, and he was started on hopper mice. Now he's eating small adult mice once every 5/6 days, and they don't even leave much of a bulge. Their skinny necks can take more than we could possibly imagine, I tell you.

A good rule of thumb is that you want your rodent to be about the same size around as the thickest part of your snake. When I first started feeding I was amazed that my little girl could eat something as big as she could, but once it gets past that skinny part in the neck, you can't even see a budge anymore. When you pick up your mouse/rat either under the front arms or by the tail, that is a good time to judge the size....they always look fatter when they are sitting all bunched up. ^_^

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bushonk

I had figured she could probably eat something a little larger. She was previously being fed the pinkies, and so in an effort to not change everything right away I thought I'd give her a few feedings on what she was used to before trying to switch. She's a champ at taking food *knock on wood* which is a huge relief (a champ except when she takes the pinkie sideways, but she seemed to manage even that!).

Thanks for the input though. I'm afraid most of my friends are afraid of snakes (why?), so any input is most appreciated! These boards are an amazing resource!

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Glad she got it worked out. :)

I would agree with the other posters, you can move her up a size or two. If she will be moving to her third feed I think you can bump her up a size, and then another at the next feed. You know she has a strong feed response and that is the important part, especially for a newly homed BP.

Good luck with her.

Bruce

In an effort to not waste the four remaining pinkies, can feed her in succession (two per feeding) until the pinkies are gone? Or should I just scrap the remaining pinkies? It's not like they're expensive, but they were alive once.

I know, I know, total whiny hippie. I'll stop now... :oops:

Thanks again for all the input! This board is amazing!

giving her two until your done should be fine, i have done that before just cause i dont want to waste food =] lol