Eating rat alive (not killing it first)

So, I've had a ball python before, but not a baby one like I just got at a reptile expo a couple weeks ago. His feeding was the day after we got him and he ate his rat alive, didn't even try to constrict it. Yesterday was feeding number two, and this time he tried to constrict it but apparently didn't do well enough, because he started eating it and it was still alive once again. He's also eaten it backwards both times, which I've seen is a little more common, but what is up with him not killing his prey before swallowing it? Is this something I should be concerned about? I've never seen this before.

ETA: His first feeding was a pinky rat because they had no fuzzy mice at the only pet store in town.. yesterday he ate a fuzzy mouse.

Howdy...plenty of snakes eat their prey without killing; even a ball python doesn't strike or constrict each and every time. He's probably too small right now to be eating a rodent that could cause much damage, but you never know. Always supervise while feeding live! :}

Probably happening because a pinky rat is WAY too small. My Ball Python hatchlings eat rat pups for their first few meals.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rickys_Reptiles

Probably happening because a pinky rat is WAY too small. My Ball Python hatchlings eat rat pups for their first few meals.

---

x2


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the feedback. The breeder was feeding him fuzzy mice (and therefor recommended I do the same). The pinky rat I fed him last week (because the pet store had no mice fuzzies at the time) was pretty much the same size as the fuzzy mouse I fed him this week, in which he did the same thing of eating it without killing it first. With the fuzzy mouse he did at least try to constrict first. The size of the rodents I've been feeding him are consistent with the size of his body.

Rat pups is where you need to go. small adult mice would do fine, but if you're set on live, be aware that they can and will fight back.

Sent from my warm hide using Tapatalk

I don't think it has anything to do with size...they're not robots; they deviate from the norm once in a while.

Offer a larger size if you can...

(Crap, sorry about the extra post!)

With BP (not talking of other species who take live literally :rolleyes:) this happens when the prey is way too small.

Pinky rats and fuzzy mice are way too small for a BP, hatchling are started on fuzzy rats and hopper mice and quickly move to bigger prey size.

Feed a prey equal to your BP's girth size (widest part of your BP's body)

And take it from someone who was a hard sell on F/T or P/K, my life has gotten so much better and easier switching to frozen. I was doing live because it was "more natural" then it was pre kill because I refused to hop on the F/T bandwagon, and now I do frozen.

When you start getting snakes worth a couple thousand a piece, or your collection hits the multiple dozen range, it makes life so much easier and safer for the snake, and the owner.

I couldn't imagine feeding live for as many snakes as I have now. All I do now is pick out the right size, fill up a couple 5 gal buckets with rats and add hot water. Then once the water has become cold I refresh with hot again and we are good to go.

Hop on the bandwagon, trust me, it's a nice ride lol

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 3

My first ball python was a large imported boy, who would only eat live. He would grab a big rat by the head and slowly get to work, no constricting at all. Rarely, but it happened...all I was trying to say.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chavo

My first ball python was a large imported boy, who would only eat live. He would grab a big rat by the head and slowly get to work, no constricting at all. Rarely, but it happened...all I was trying to say.

---

That is surprising, did he never take a bite? In my experience as soon as claw, tooth or talon offer the snake discomfort they will do what is necessary to subdue that prey before continuing. Seems like swallowing a big, living rat head first would incur some nasty retribution from the rodent which would in turn trigger that snake to react accordingly. Many snakes will not bother to subdue helpless prey and swallow it alive. It doesn't get much more helpless than a pinky rat.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chavo

My first ball python was a large imported boy, who would only eat live. He would grab a big rat by the head and slowly get to work, no constricting at all. Rarely, but it happened...all I was trying to say.

---

I'm not even sure how this would be possible. Even my hopper rats go CRAZY when man handled. I cannot imagine an adult rat just laying there while being eaten. Sure, they would suffocate eventually, but until they do I'd imagine the rat would bite and claw the hell out of the snake in an attempt to get loose.

If the snake senses that the prey is too small to be of any threat, they will just swallow it without striking or constricting it.

It's because the prey item you're feeding is way too small. You should get a scale that measures in grams and weigh him. Feed 10-15% of his body weight I'd he's not that big

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

He's 74 grams


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

one thing i see people do in frozen-thawed feeding videos is that when the snake just starts to eat without constricting, you pull at the rats tail or use tweezers to pull at it and wiggle it, and that causes proper constriction. when the snakes feel that the food item is struggling or pulling away, they get the message and hit it like a train.


the problem is i have no clue how this could apply to live feedings. when the rat already has a really bad day, giving the tail a hard pull or pulling at the fur with tweezers may only add to the suffering.

but maybe teaching the snake that the food item may get pulled away unless properly constricted can get them conditioned to always properly constrict.

and maybe the most humane way is to switch as many as possible over to frozen-thawed or pre-killed.

i guess i make threads die :confusd: . i post, and silence strikes. maybe im too serious :D . anyway i would like to hear some more.