I know it's dead

[MattB]

Has anyone else had a python that takes a mouse (thawed) and doesn't bother killing it before ingesting it. My little boy Carpet/Diamond (natural intergrade) just hites his target and starts swallowing as if to say 'I know it's dead, why bother with all that constriction stuff?"

 

[Chris89]

Yeah, 2 of my Stimson Pythons do that they don't bother constricting it or anything like that, while others I have constrict it and and squeeze the hell out of it for 10 minutes before they consider eating. Each has their own feeding response I guess.

 

[pythons73]

Most of mine dont coil around the food item,only to get a grip before they start munching on them.A few of these basically open their mouth and wait for me to place the rat-mice into their mouth,they are getting really lazy.My latest snake ive recently got,coils around for 5-10 minutes then starts to eat.

 

[Stephh]

yeah my little female coastal did this when I gave her her first feed since I purchased her. She didnt bother constricting the fuzzy, just bit it and started eating it. The last couple of feeds I have given her I have been holding the mouses tail and tugging slightly, she has since then started coiling the mouse and constricting now for a couple of minutes before she starts eating. I was a bit worried at first, but then realised "at least shes eating"

 

[KaaTom]

My big Coastl girl, strikes with a vengence and coils and rolls all over the place before she eats anything... funny to watch too, the rest of mine just wolfe the down

 

[Scaler]

Sorry if this is a silly question but does this depend on the type of snake also?
For example, I hear that BHPs are more carrion eaters, so i would understand if they dont do as much (if any) constricting?

 

[pythons73]

IMO,it doesnt matter as every snake is a individual,some coil,some dont.Some of mine just open their mouth,wait for me to place the food into the mouth.I do have a male Darwin that is awesome to watch feeding,so aggressive when its feed time,smashes the rat,coils around,literatually hear bones cracking,and he scoffs it down.

 

[jessb]

Our Bredli is like that. She just goes up to it, kind of pokes it with her snout then lazily opens her mouth and starts swallowing. If she was in the wild she would have starved long ago!!!

 

[woosang]

my little Diamond Jumps on the prey but swallows it backwards.. Odd thing..

 

[beefa270]

Mine always constrict..

 

[Bonustokin]

hehehe ive seen a few of my snakes do that on occasion. Not in a long while though

 

[Lovemydragons]

My bredli hatchling girl usually jumps and coils as soon as I lift the rat into sight. She coils and strangles it for minimum 30 minutes every feed.
The other night I thought I'd play with her for the first time and not make it so easy for her. Instead of just holding the tail with the tongs and letting go when she took it, I held the feet this time and wiggled the rat from side to side of her enclosure a couple of times, she followed it and grabbed it really hard and hissed so loud for a few seconds. Was quite funny, was like she knew i was tricking her this time. After 30 minutes I had gone in to check on her and she wasn't even holding it with her mouth anymore but hanging from her branch still coiled, she turned her head to me and gave me the dirtiest look. She strangled this one for over an hour before eating.

 

[Acrochordus]

My Stimmie, doesn't strike at it or squeezes it, he just opens his mouth and eats it, Thanks Tim.

 

[ShaunMorelia]

Our intergrade slams then coils his and downs it within 10-15mins.
And then last feed he tried to eat himself afterwards.....silly bugger.

 

[captive_fairy]

My diamonds strike and constrict sometimes, but other times they dont bother.

 

[Slytherin]

My MD is a funny one, usually he will smash it, coil around it, do some 'death rolls' and then proceed to kill it for aprox 20-30mins! :lol: When he thinks its all good and dead, he will inspect it, tongue flicking the whole time before he decides that 'this is the head' and starts to eat it. He always does this head down, hanging from a branch.

But after he's had a shed and gone without food for two weeks, its stuff all the formalities, smash it and get it down asap!!! LOL! :lol:

 

[grannieannie]

My year old stimmie usually tries to "kill" his first one, but sometimes just goes and eats the second one without playing with it. Sometimes he'll just "sniff" all around the food touching it with his tongue, then eats, but when he does that he doesn't always coil around it. He seems to do different things all the time, whatever takes his fancy depending on his mood I guess. He's only taken one backwards once, and he seemed to struggle with that.

 

[DonnB]

2 feeds ago my MD male (70cm long) didnt strike. He just cruised over tho the rat opened his mouth and stated to swollow. Was pretty cool to watch. But his last feed he struck hard

 

[Sock Puppet]

My 2 Bredlis always strike & coil for about 5-10min before going in for a feed. My male is funny, he's lately taken 10-15min to find the head, it's often just behind a coil, I feel like calling out, pantomime style "BEHIND YOU!" haha

 

[John_lisa]

my lil spotted when i first got her she kinda just grabed it coiled then eat in like 15 mins then the second feed i thought she was gonna try to get me (even thoufh i was useing toungs) she kept stricking like crazy then coild for like 5 mins didnt let go untill she started to swollow it i was very happy when she did that as its my first snake and her first feed was rather boring that was exciting lol

now she is shedding and wont eat lol