Having trouble eating...not feeding...

thebolt · 07-17-11, 10:11 PM

So I'm feeding my baby ball python for the first time with thawed hopper. Didn't take to long to convince the ball to go for the food and attempt to kill it. But the ball is swallowing the hop backwards...and has been trying to do so for nearly 2 hours. I've seen plenty of people say it can take as short a time as 30 seconds for a ball to swallow their food. Is this a problem or normal? He sure seems to be trying...there is just a hind hopper leg caught outside the corner of his mouth he's struggling with...

infernalis · 07-17-11, 11:28 PM

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SnakeyJay · 07-17-11, 11:42 PM

Welcome... Ive seen my snakes do this plenty of times, your ball should get it down eventually.

marionsclan · 07-18-11, 01:59 AM

Could also be that his teeth are stuck in the hopper. If he doesn't make any progress at all then you may need to help it a bit with tongs. Snakes can tire themselves out trying to get the prey down.

stephanbakir · 07-18-11, 06:05 AM

Welcome, let the snake be, he should figure it out.

Jenn_06 · 07-18-11, 06:17 AM

he should be ok some snakes are just slower then others, one of my snakes can take about a hour or so to get there food down.

Lankyrob · 07-18-11, 07:35 AM

I can feed my BP first then feed all my other snakes and come back to him after the other 6 have eaten and he will still be swallowing - and that is with the prey head first!

brylecc1989 · 07-18-11, 09:37 AM

I definitely wouldnt worry about it. welcome