Ball Python taking+/coiling but not swallowing food?

[dakski]

bcr229 nailed this one.

My BP, Shayna, is 8 years old now and almost 2KG. For years she was a picky eater and often did what you are describing your BP doing. She would either flat out refuse, or leave the rat, or worse, pull it into her hide and let me find it later . I don't miss those smelly days (even the next day it can be yucky). I was feeding her medium rats and offering every other week. Half the time she ate she didn't even strike, and would just drag in her house and eat.

At year 6, and about 1,650 to 1,700G, someone on here, either bcr229, Deborah, or both, recommended feeding small rats versus medium, but on the same schedule. WOW. What a difference. She strikes her prey most of the time before I can even get it halfway in the tank now and even if she doesn't, she eats very reliably, aside from (seemingly smaller in duration) winter fasts. She has also gained weight as she is eating regularly.

Still a healthy and happy girl, but she's "filled out."

One other thought is about how you are defrosting and offering the prey. Remember to defrost the food in room temp water and then warm up with hot water or a hair dryer before offering. You don't want to cook the prey. It's a small possibility that IF you are defrosting it too fast or too warm, or both, that your BP nails it but then realizes it's not raw and loses interest.

If you use the same technique always and works sometimes and not others, it's almost assuredly just a prey size issue.

Good luck and keep us posted.