Ratsnake doesn't coil around prey

[FollowTheSun]

This is not a real problem since she only ever has been fed frozens. She's about 9 months old. When I first got her she was eating frozen pinkies and would just simply find the face of the mouse and then eat it. I can get her to strike sometimes, if I wiggle the mouse, but then she lets it go and eats it. She prefers to carry her prey to her hide to eat them. I'll usually just set the mouse down and she'll get it and then drag it backwards into her hide like a dog who's just found a really great bone. haha! But do you think she'll ever learn to coil and squeeze the prey? I wonder if this is a learned behavior, or maybe they start doing that when they get older. Just curious.

[Bogertophis]

Not only is it not a problem, but it's a "plus" that she is completely used to f/t prey. I'm sure she was raised that way, rat snakes are EASY to feed, nothing like BPs.

Consider it a blessing that she is content to just eat, not tackle her prey. Their instincts when they hatch serve them well, & initially they will go "thru the motions" to
constrict, especially if their first food is a live pinkie...but when fed f/t mice, most rat snakes learn VERY quickly that constriction is just not necessary. Please NEVER
give your snake live prey to see what happens, because she could easily get hurt (if it's a mouse of any size with eyes open, they fight back by biting). You should be
content: you have what many would be happy to trade for...a snake that is perfectly happy just to eat f/t prey, no fuss! She actually HAS learned...not to waste her
time & effort killing food that's always dead. And she is likely a calmer pet to handle because of this, don't fix what isn't broken, lol.

[FollowTheSun]

That's awesome to know, thanks! It is super cute to see her carry her meal to her hide! I will never do live prey-- it's just not very pleasant, and as you mentioned, not as safe.

[Bogertophis]

Yeah, I think that's hilarious that she takes her food "indoors". But that's instinctive for safety...a snake out in the open while it's swallowing prey is very
vulnerable to it's own predators.

[DebbieDecker]

Yeah, I think that's hilarious that she takes her food "indoors". But that's instinctive for safety...a snake out in the open while it's swallowing prey is very
vulnerable to it's own predators.

I was thinking my ball python was a shy eater, but your explanation on instinctive behavior makes sense since he's otherwise comfortable around me. He always hesitates to eat his frozen/thawed rat when I'm watching, so I turn off the light and leave the room, I go back to check 15 minutes later and he is always finished and gone to siesta in his hide. He doesn't coil his prey either, he did the first feeding after I got him in January but he hasn't ever since.

[Bogertophis]

I was thinking my ball python was a shy eater, but your explanation on instinctive behavior makes sense since he's otherwise comfortable around me. He always hesitates to eat his frozen/thawed rat when I'm watching, so I turn off the light and leave the room, I go back to check 15 minutes later and he is always finished and gone to siesta in his hide. He doesn't coil his prey either, he did the first feeding after I got him in January but he hasn't ever since.

And maybe it also depends on how close to a hiding place they are when they grab prey: it wouldn't be practical to drag a rat very far, but snakes instinctively try
to eat fast. It's common for snakes not to like being watched when they eat, though many learn to relax in our presence, it's nothing "personal".

As far as the age-old question ("to coil or not to coil?") they appear to learn in time that all their prey comes "ready to eat" so they don't waste time constricting, again
it's an effort to eat fast for safety. That's why it's so dangerous to suddenly feed a snake "live" that is used to eating only f/t...their guard is down & it's more likely for
them to get bit.