Feeding ok?

Jake doesn't ball around his mice. At his feeds, he never strikes at the tongs, so we end up laying over on his hot side so that it stays warm and shut the lights off, cover the top so that the smell stays in. Usually in 5 mins or so, he's out. We generally are doing something else and just "notice" he has eaten. But last night we actually watched him. He struck the tail, pulled it by the tail off the paper towel. He struck the face, and just started to swallow. Granted the mouse was a hopper, so it took him longer (his first hopper, the others have been fuzzies) but is it ok that he doesn't coil? Does he just sense it's dead and doesn't need to coil? IDK, hubby said a lot of sick snakes don't coil, but dang he doesn't act like he's sick. He stays in his hides most of the day, and when we turn the lights off, he's out exploring, basking etc. So, should this warrant a vet or is it ok?

My biggest female which I've owned for 2 years will only eat off the tub floor. She's struck and eaten a meal only once and I almost passed out from shock that day. The important part is that they eat, how we get there is not important.

i have never heard of a snake being sick because it doesn't constrict a f/t mouse. Maybe hes just lazy and knows its dead and doesnt feel like wasting energy lol. But I would say as long as hes eating, I wouldnt worry.

Well, when I feed my snakes if I just leave the F/T item there they will just start eating it. If I dangle it on tongs I get a really good strike and coil. I usually wiggle the prey item around while they are constricting so they "kill it" more.

I think a hopper mouse is a bit too small for a 19-inch ball python.

He had a hard time with the hopper, so I don't think I want to do anything bigger. From time of strike until he was fully swallowed took about 10 minutes.

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Originally Posted by ChristinaP

He had a hard time with the hopper, so I don't think I want to do anything bigger. From time of strike until he was fully swallowed took about 10 minutes.

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how much does he weigh?

Mine don't usually coil a f/t mouse that is just laying there, and only sometimes do they strike one that I dangle. Your snake is not sick.

also, 10 minutes is about right, nothing unusual

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Originally Posted by ChristinaP

He had a hard time with the hopper, so I don't think I want to do anything bigger. From time of strike until he was fully swallowed took about 10 minutes.

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I have a 17 inch BP that I just recently started on a 5 day schedule and he has been knocking out rat pups.

Your snake would be fine with mice weanlings, or rat pups.

Also, if I just leave a F/T mouse laying there for my snake to eat, he doesn't coil it, but if I feed it to him with the tongs he always coils.

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Originally Posted by llovelace

how much does he weigh?

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I have no idea, I haven't weighed him. But I can tell he's gained weight because he's bigger around than he was when we first got him. I'll get some pictures tonight and put a before and after. He's doubled since we've gotten him, but hasn't shed yet. What kind of scale would you use to weigh him?