Ball python eating differently

[piper]

Hello,

I'm not sure if this is normal or what it is but.. The last 3 times I have fed my ball python, she does the same thing, constricts and after a few minutes, she'll unravel herself and leave the mouse laying there. The last 2 times I warmed it up for her and put it back in, walked away and sat down on the couch and the mouse was half way gone.

Last night I decided to not take it out and see if she'd eat it. I went out and came back and it was gone. Is this normal for them to constrict then leave it there for 10 minutes or so and go back later and finish?

Thanks

[Somed00d]

Perfectly normal.

[anendeloflorien]

I don't know about "normal" but I do have one girl that only eats live and she'll do something similar. Usually she'll bite, constrict, kill the rat, then drag it into her hide and wait a few minutes before she eats it. I wouldn't worry about it being "normal" as long as she is eating for you she should be fine!

[Inknsteel]

It's definitely normal. Your bp is constricting the mouse, then releasing it and checking for any dangers in the area. They are most vulnerable to predators when they are eating as they are completely defenseless... Just leave the mouse in there and your snake will finish the job. If you take the mouse out, you interrupt the feeding process and will most likely get a refusal that night...

[piper]

It's definitely normal. Your bp is constricting the mouse, then releasing it and checking for any dangers in the area. They are most vulnerable to predators when they are eating as they are completely defenseless... Just leave the mouse in there and your snake will finish the job. If you take the mouse out, you interrupt the feeding process and will most likely get a refusal that night...

You know that makes a lot of sense, because she's always looking around and she'll go back and stick her face in the mouse fur, go back look around some more. At one point it looked like she was absolutely not interested in the mouse what so ever!

She's only refused once and it was the first time she shed with me.. Last time she was going blue, I still offered a mouse and she took it.

Thanks

[simplechamp]

she'll go back and stick her face in the mouse fur, go back look around some more.

She most likely is also snooping around to try and figure out which end is the head and which is the butt. They prod the rodent with their snout to feel for the hardness of the skull. Mouse butt isn't very appetizing, even to a snake!