Retic "playing" with food

[chairman]

I have two young carpet pythons that tend to do something similar to this. They'll hit the rat, wrap it, then hold it for an extended period of time before eating it. I'll leave them alone overnight and they'll eat.

Snakes are quite vulnerable while eating and immediately after eating. My guess is that these particular animals are being cautious, waiting to eat until the coast is clear. They have already wrapped their prey, they know a dead rat isn't going to go anywhere. Yours is probably eating after several presentations because the "dead" prey keeps moving around, a highly unusual behavior for dead animals.

I'd try covering the enclosure with a blanket or towel before feeding, offering the rat, then finish lowering the blanket into place. The snake may eat more quickly with the extra security.