I've never had a ball python swallow food without killing it first, but that's what my cornsnake and milksnakes usually do, unless I really wiggle it around and make them chase it around the cage first, then they have to "kill" it. With something that size I wouldnt worry, and hopefully once he moves up to larger prey, if you're still feeding live, he'll be smart enough to strangle it first so it wont bite back!