Feeding

[Reptile King]

I tried to feed her again tonight. This time after thawing the hopper mouse I dried it with a blow dryer. I dangled it in front of her (gently) and she began flicking her tongue but staying inside her cave. I tried this for approximately 10 minutes but to no avail.....she did not eat. I left the thawed hopper head first in front of her cave and left the room.

Approximately 30 minutes later I returned to her aquarium and promptly discovered that the hopper mouse was still there.....in front of her cave.

I grabbed the hopper by the tail with feeding tongs and tried one last time. In a matter of seconds she striked and coiled around the mouse. IT AMAZES ME HOW FAST THEY STRIKE!! I backed away and this time did not replace the lid.

I sat back and watched her eat her weekly dinner. After she swalloed the mouse I put the lid back on and left her in peace.

Is it common for ball pythons to stay in their hides all the time after they eat? Her warm spot is 90 to 93 degrees. She stayed there all week last week. Even at night she would not come out. Since I've had her I think I have been feeding her too small of prey (rat pinkie, mouse pinkie) and she would roam the enclosure. After her first hopper she has been staying put in her cave. Can this be attributed to her being satisfied hunger wise?

Sorry for the long post but I wanted to give an update. Enjoy your holiday weekend!

[BeastMaster]

Simon hunt's from his hide and then drags his "prey" into it to eat after "subduing" it.

It is pretty cool to watch him fly out of his hide to nail a mouse and he doesn't always go inside to eat, just sometimes.

You should have waited a week before offering food again. Offering a prey item to soon after a refusal could result in unneeded stress for your snake.

[Reptile King]

Simon hunt's from his hide and then drags his "prey" into it to eat after "subduing" it.

It is pretty cool to watch him fly out of his hide to nail a mouse and he doesn't always go inside to eat, just sometimes.

You should have waited a week before offering food again. Offering a prey item to soon after a refusal could result in unneeded stress for your snake.

I should have waited. Live and learn I guess. How long should one wait after a refusal? A few days to a week? I just don't want her to go hungry.