I feed all my ball pythons live so my experience will differ from yours, but every snake is different. I remember my first feeding. I was very inexperienced and I just thought my snake would immediately strike and go for the mouse. It didn't end up going that way at all. I had to dangle the mouse for her for about 10 minutes or so for her to even strike. And once she did begin to eat it she go confused and was eating the tail end rather than the head and had to drag the mouse all over the box to get it how she wanted it. Definitely a learning experience for both of us.

Now we have both gotten better and she is much quicker. But have fun! I love feeding night! Let us know how it goes!