Feeding time!

This post contains pictures of a snake eating a mouse.

So the spawn loves Karana, and is a very responsible pet owner.  She helps with every aspect of the care.

Including feeding.  Although she's definitely more of an observer during feeding time.  Karana is a very eager feeder.

She's usually curled up in a ball when I first get her out of the tank.  Her colors are a bit dull right now because she's going to shed soon.

And here she is in her feeding bin.

It doesn't take her long to realize where she is, and her nose is up, looking for food.

As soon as she sees the mouse, she's ready.

And she strikes!

Of course the mouse is already dead, but she still curls around it and squeezes it for a few minutes, to make sure it's super extra dead.

While Karana is "killing" the mouse, the spawn takes the spray bottle and sprays down the tank.

When we came back, Karana had already started swallowing the mouse.

The spawn knows to stay back, and she very patiently and quietly watches.

She curls her neck into a tight S shape to push the mouse down into her stomach.

And then she's done.  It's a good idea not to jostle or handle snakes right after they eat, so we gently put her back in her tank so she can digest in peace.

She knows the routine, and goes into her tank as soon as we hold the feeding bin to it.

And she immediately goes into her hide box, where her heater is, to relax and digest her food.