BP dragged rat in water then ate it

[bpmutuell]

Good evening,

Tonight was the 3rd time I feed my BP since I got him and I witnessed a fascinating process involving the BP struggling to eat the weaned rat for 15min and then he dragged it in his water bowl. Was it intended or by chance? Well he put it there for 5 minutes and constricted it a couple of times may be ensuring he was dead and then started eating it again. And after dragging it in the water, he did succeed and finished eating his favorite meal.

Anyone experienced this? Is it common for BP to drag their prey in water to be able to ingurgitate easily or was this a coincidence?

Thanks.

[Oxylepy]

I had my adult male eating a rat and while trying to get it down he ended up submerging the rat in water and finishing it off. This was yesterday. Honestly, considering a ball python is about 4' long and its tub or tank is usually as long or shorter than the snake, a bit of thrashing can easily lead to prey in the water dish.

[bpmutuell]

Mine is just 8mo old and he had plenty of space, he could have dragged the rat to the opposite side; that's why I was wondering if he did it on purpose or not. Especially he was really struggling to start eating it. The last couple of times it was instant but this time may be the rat was a little bigger and I thought may be there some instinct or intelligence behind what happened )

[redshepherd]

It's by chance... I've had snakes drag it into the water and then "lose" the prey when they let go, because they forgot they left it in the bowl. And then I have to reheat and reoffer. They're not very bright animals when in feeding mode LOL.

So now whenever I see them get close to dragging it in water, I use tongs and put them further away (while the snake is wrapped around it), or I take the water bowl out altogether before offering food.

[MissterDog]

It's by chance... I've had snakes drag it into the water and then "lose" the prey when they let go, because they forgot they left it in the bowl.

I died. They're so derpy omg. Derp herps!

[JodanOrNoDan]

It's by chance... I've had snakes drag it into the water and then "lose" the prey when they let go, because they forgot they left it in the bowl. And then I have to reheat and reoffer. They're not very bright animals when in feeding mode LOL.

So now whenever I see them get close to dragging it in water, I use tongs and put them further away (while the snake is wrapped around it), or I take the water bowl out altogether before offering food.

^^^^This. They are not doing it on purpose. Once they begin constricting brain is off. I have moved animals around plenty of times while they are constricted around a rat because they fell in their water bowl or whatever. Like red said, if you don't want the rat in the bowl take the bowl out before feeding. Especially if you are feeding live. Stupid rats almost always want to take a bath before dinner.

[sneksNferts]

Kevin does this once in a while. He's a bit of an idiot sometimes when he feeds. Sometimes he "loses" the head and he'll drag the damn thing around trying to figure out which end is which and sometimes that ends up happening through the water dish. I always change the water when it happens too, just to be safe.

[Bmocken]

HA! This very thing happened last Friday and I was a bit concerned at first. My BP was trying to get the mouse into position and ended up in the water. Eventually he got out and took care of business but it did make me wonder if he would stay in feed mode and not hey I'm drowning.

[Reinz]

Snakes during feeding is akin to two guys fighting indoors. All that is 110% on the guys' mind is giving a beat down and keep from receiving one. They knock holes in the wall, break furniture, and destroy decorations. At the time they could care less and are usually totally oblivious to anything outside of the fight.

Same thought process or lack of one with snakes.



Esmarelda a little too excited about dinner.

[Meerna]

Back when I first got Emrys and had yet to replace the glass tank he came in with a tub, he had a huge water bowl to help keep his humidity up. One of the first times I fed him, the rat ended up in the water bowl and i seriously thought he was going to drown himself trying to eat it underwater.