Snake wont contrict or bite its food

I have a Blood python that doesn't constrict its F/T mouse. It just casually slithers up to it and swallows it. I do heat up the mouse with a heat lamp. I was wondering if anyone has seen this behavior before. The snake eats fine, at least once a week. The snake is about 5 Months old. I took a 10 year break from snake keeping. I am looking to get back into it and start breeding some bloods. I have tried everything to encourage her to constrict her food, but nothing I do works. I mean should I try to get a live mouse and kill it right before feeding her? Honestly I don't think this is an issue since the snake is eating just fine. I was just curious if anyone else has seen this before?

This is normal. Reptiles are survivors and most won't expend energy they don't have to. So, if they sense the prey is dead but edible they won't waste their time or strength "killing" it.

Nothing at all to worry about. If there's no reason to fight, why waste the energy???

Not trying to be rude, but that's kinda "Snake 101". I would take a few years and learn about these animals before considering breeding.

Please know I'm putting the animals first, and breeding is a large responsibility.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Nothing at all to worry about. If there's no reason to fight, why waste the energy???

Not trying to be rude, but that's kinda "Snake 101". I would take a few years and learn about these animals before considering breeding.

Please know I'm putting the animals first, and breeding is a large responsibility.

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I have bred before, but not Pythons. I was breeding Corn Snakes. I just took a 10 to 12 year break. With the Corn, and Kingsnakes I never had a snake not constrict is food. That is why I was asking. I realize that this is a newbie question, but I am not a newbie to snakes. I had a collection of about 16 different snakes, and 2 iguanas, and a Savannah monitor. If this was my first snake, or I hadn't bred before I would not be looking to breed now.

I've kept many kinds of snakes for many years, & bred some of them including kings & corns...this behavior of not constricting prey that's already dead is both
normal & common among snakes...& fairly smart on their part. As already noted, constriction would be a waste of time & energy, therefore counter-survival.

Please never throw live prey at any snake that's used to eating dead prey, in the hopes of watching them constrict: they are FAR more likely to get injured by
doing so. In my experience, many snakes fed f/t also become far better (ie. calmer) pets also...a win!

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I've kept many kinds of snakes for many years, & bred some of them including kings & corns...this behavior of not constricting prey that's already dead is both
normal & common among snakes...& fairly smart on their part. As already noted, constriction would be a waste of time & energy, therefore counter-survival.

Please never throw live prey at any snake that's used to eating dead prey, in the hopes of watching them constrict: they are FAR more likely to get injured by
doing so. In my experience, many snakes fed f/t also become far better (ie. calmer) pets also...a win!

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Thanks for the reply everything oyu said is what I found online in my research on the subject. I just figured I would ask, as there is no harm in asking. I realize this question is very basic and I could answer it on my own, but again, in case I missed something in my research I figured I would ask. Thanks guys for all the replies and taking the time to write them.