I just wanted to see if this was normal.

I have a baby ball python who was brought up on frozen/thawed. It eats just fine, it's just the way it eats is what I find strange. I heat the pinky mouse up in a plastic disposable bowl with super hot water. I let it soak and soak until it's no longer hard at all. Then I proceed to hold it with my tongs I have and dangle it by my snake. He shows absolutely no signs of aggression really, no striking or anything.

All he does is moves slowly towards the dangling mouse and slowing opens his mouth and takes it from me gently. He doesn't try to constrict it or anything, just starts swallowing it right away.

Now, the very first time I did this there was a strike (See Video), but it hasn't happened since. (Nevermind the crumpled newspaper, I was just trying to take up space in a larger tub until I got the holes in his smaller house so he wouldn't get stressed.)

YouTube - Ball Python - 1st Feeding

I don't find this to be a problem at all, just found it kind of interesting.

ALSO, do you guys think he could eat larger than a pinky? It seems like he gets them down really fast and was wondering if I should move up a size.