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Ball python drowning mice
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by pygmybait on November 24, 2003
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I have recently whitnessed one of my Ball Pythons actually drowning its food on two seperate occasions. I have never heard of this before. This is the only snake that I have that gets live mice(he will not accept pre-killed for some reason). Three weeks ago (11-02) and last night, when I put the mouse in the enclosure, he struck and grabbed the mouse by its head, did not coil around it, but actually held the mouse under water for several minutes. He then swallowed the mouse down without hesitation. Have any of you ever seen or heard or read about a snake doing this?
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RE: Ball python drowning mice
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by LarryDFishel on November 24, 2003
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Not really, but I had a green burmese that if I fed live food it in it's enclosure which had a large pool, it would almost always end up in the pool. It did coil and constrict, but it seemed to be intentionally dragging the prey into the water. I always sort of wondered if it was trying to drown it, but it might have had more to do with lubrication.
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RE: Ball python drowning mice
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by TomT on November 25, 2003
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Constricting snakes don't always squeexe prey to death as the name would have you believe. While the "pressing" behavior you have observed is not common in Ball Pythons, it is a common means to dispatch prey for other species.... including but not limited to Racer(s), coachwhips, and some kingsnakes to name a few that I've seen do this behavior. I believe that it is coincidence that the snake happens to be pressing the rodents against the bottom of the water container rather than some other location within the enclosure. Of course, I could be entierly wrong, and you may have a ball python that likes his food drown instead of suffocated....
It would be interesting to hear if this continues over the long term. I'd also like to hear if the snake does this if you move the water container to a different location... which might indicate it is drowning on purpose if it continued...
TomT
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RE: Ball python drowning mice
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by Parcelmouth on November 25, 2003
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I have a Burmese python that I have seen do this one time as well.When he struck and wrapped he was right by the pool in his enclosure and ended up in it.The rabbits face and head were not under the water to begin with but the snake actually turned his body so the rabbits head would be underwater.He has only done this once.I thought it was very interesting that he rotated himself wrapped around the rabbit so it would drown even while he was constricting it.
J.S.
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