Oh great.

[Red357]

Just fed my ball python a rat pup but when he wrapped around it it started to eat it from the back. Butt first. Now it's seems like he's having a hard time getting it in. It's about half ways but now it's been sitting there for like 10 minutes doing nothing.

[Luvyna]

BPs can be such derps sometimes! He should be fine (as long as the prey size is right). If he can't swallow it backwards he'll spit it out and get it facing the right way eventually. Mine did that once, coiled around the head and then couldn't find the head so he tried to eat it rear-end first for 20 minutes In the end he let go of the mouse completely and finally found the head.

He also might be nervous, some BPs stop eating if you stare at them. It might help to just leave him alone in the dark so he can figure it out.

[Red357]

Update.

It took him about an hour to finish it. I guess it was taking a break when I wrote this thread. Right after he stood up straight and went to town. I think it was the right size. I just think that taking it backwards made him struggle a bit. All is good though.

[Luvyna]

Glad to hear it went well for him! Yeah maybe he just needed a breather, it seems like every meal is a wrestling match for snakes lol

[Bogertophis]

Update.

It took him about an hour to finish it. I guess it was taking a break when I wrote this thread. Right after he stood up straight and went to town. I think it was the right size. I just think that taking it backwards made him struggle a bit. All is good though.

Rodents go down so much easier head-first...it usually takes the snake a while to get the back legs to fold in enough to swallow when they start swallowing from the
tail end. Silly snakes...it's not only ball pythons that goof up sometimes. I'm glad yours got it down...sometimes they do give up.