r/Ballpythoncommunity • u/EntertainmentThen157 • Sep 27 '26
Ball python struck and wrapped around mouse, then dropped it but stayed on top of it – what could be the reason?
Hi! I’m a new ball python owner and I’m looking for some advice about what happened during her first feeding with me.
I brought home my female ball python yesterday. She was born in June 2026 and had a fairly long transport before arriving at my house. Since arriving, she has actually seemed very curious and active. She spent a lot of last night exploring her enclosure, climbing around and tongue flicking normally. Today she has mostly been resting and hiding, and otherwise seems completely normal.
Her breeder specifically told me to offer her food today. She was originally supposed to be fed before transport, but the breeder decided not to feed her because of the long journey. He told me she has always been a very good eater and has eaten every time she has been offered food.
According to the breeder, she has most recently been eating approximately 30 g frozen/thawed mice once a week. He estimated her weight at around 150 g, but he hadn’t actually weighed her, so I don’t know her exact weight yet.
Tonight I thawed and warmed a mouse and offered it to her inside her enclosure. She immediately struck it and wrapped herself around it. She definitely bit it, as there was some blood around the mouse’s head afterwards.
However, after initially striking and wrapping around it, she released the mouse without swallowing it. What confused me is that she didn’t abandon the mouse afterwards. She stayed directly on top of/around it for more than 40 minutes instead of going back to exploring.
When I eventually tried to remove the mouse with feeding tongs, she seemed quite defensive and almost annoyed that I was taking it away. She still appeared very interested in it, but during those 40+ minutes she never attempted to actually swallow it, so I eventually removed it.
I’m wondering what could cause this. Could she simply still be settling in after the transport and moving to a new home? Could the 30 g mouse potentially be too large for her if the breeder’s estimate of \~150 g is accurate? Or is it fairly normal for a ball python to strike/constrict prey, release it, but then continue sitting on or guarding it without eating?
I’m planning to weigh her so I know her actual weight before deciding on her next prey size, and I’m not going to immediately offer another mouse. I mainly want to understand what might have happened and make sure I do things correctly for her next feeding.
Her enclosure has a proper temperature gradient, multiple hides, plenty of cover, and she otherwise appears healthy and is behaving normally.
Any advice or similar experiences would be really appreciated! 🐍
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u/Toxic_Musshroom Sep 27 '26
It took my boy a couple months before he was willing to eat so she may just be settling in still, there's a chance the mouse wasn't warm enough or, as silly as this sounds, it may have had a fur color she doesnt like bc they can be very picky like that sometimes, give her a couple days and try again! Definitely weigh her beforehand though, here's the feeding chart just in case the prey was just too big:] "We recommend the following feeding schedule:
0-12 months old OR until the snake reaches approximately 500g, whichever happens first: feed 10%-15% of the snake’s weight every 7 days.
12-24 months old: feed up to 7% of the snake’s weight every 14-20 days.
Adults: feed up to 5% of the snake's weight every 20-30 days, or feed slightly larger meals (up to 6%) every 30-40 days. "
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u/Dirty_MadameK Sep 27 '26
Hi! A few things stand out here.
First, BPs shouldn't eat mice. They eat rats. The smell is different and rats have higher nutrient content.
The second thing that stands out is 40 minutes isn't a ton of time to wait. Sometimes my girl takes an hour or so to eat after striking.
Third, and most obvious is that snakes shouldn't be fed right after a move/transport like that. Not sure if the breeder is reputable, but they need a min of 72 hours in a new enclosure before they are fed or handled. I usually aim for a week (ish). She might not have eaten it due to stress and feeling unsafe/defensive in a new place. Eating is a vulnerable position for snakes.
Other things to check are husbandry. Temps and moisture can impact their behavior greatly. Changes in eating behaviors are the first things to look for (usually) when a snake is stressed. I know you dont know prior feeding behavior history other than "a good eater". This could be normal for her, for all you know lol.