Background: I have several ball pythons in a rack, of various ages, that I have had for some time and all eat well. I also have a variety of other snakes and reptiles that all feed properly, and have kept reptiles for 20+ years.

Problem: I recently purchased a ball python that was supposed to be "09", but on arrival the python is small enough that I have to wonder if its this years early hatch maybe- much smaller that a couple other '09 hatch bp's I have. It shed shortly after I received it a few weeks ago, and I have since tried to feed it twice, where it snapped up a warm f/t mouse fuzzy (slightly smaller prey item than I might offer ordinarily) and swallowed it down quickly. The prey was ingested 12-18 hours and then regurgitated both times. Caging, temps, hides, humidity, etc., all could not be better- dark and cozy. I have dealt with reluctant eaters in the past that eventually came around and thrived, but this one agressively snaps up food and then regurgitates- twice in as many weeks.

Anyone have some thoughts or input as to how to get (her) to keep her food down?