The digestion process.

[scales.jp]

I feed my python every Monday morning, after thoroughly cleaning out his tub and giving him a bowl of fresh water. After that he cruises around his tub for a few minutes, then coils up on his warm spot (around 90°F/32°C). Occasionally he'll submerge himself in his water bowl for a short time right after eating.

I don't touch his tub again until I change his water the next day, 24 hours later. I avoid touching him if possible, but sometimes he'll spread out over the tub floor when I'm filling his bowl and I have to move or lift him out of the way before I can put it back safely.

This got me thinking about the "don't handle your snake for 24-48 hours after eating" rule. Other than possible regurgitation, what might happen? I'm sure a mouse is pretty gooey after 24 hours of digestion at 90°F, but what about big snakes such as retics or Burmese pythons swallowing goats, or African rock pythons eating antelopes. Horns and hooves must be pretty tough to digest, so how do snakes protect themselves from internal injury when they move to shelter after eating such big prey?