Ok as you know I fed my ball yesterday night, and it went into its hide curled up all night and today, digesting. The mice was slightly smaller than the girth of the snake. I had offered one slightly bigger and one slightly smaller and it chose the smaller one.

Now, this afternoon, the snake all of a sudden came out again even during daylight, and it is crawling around, very active already! It is slithering its tongue and looking around like mad. Does this mean it didn't eat enough? I know I probably shouldn't feed it again now, but should I feed it two mice instead of one next time around?

Just make sure it has enough fresh water every day and wait about 5-7 days before feeding again. Even if he is still a bit hungry its better to wait a good 5 days before feeding again.
You can try feeding two mice next time. I find that if he takes one and then you offer him the next one just after he's finished swallowing the first, he might snap up the other one as well. If you wait too long or let the other get too cold, he might not take it. (I warm mine up with a hairdryer before feeding).

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Andrea

Hi. I don't know how to "offer" the mice. I have tried to put it in front of its nose with a pair of tongs and that just scared the **** out of the snake. All I could do was leave the dead mice in the enclosure and then leave and two hours later its gone. Can I just leave two mice there?

if you make it "twitch" slightly the snake should be more enticed to eat it. At least, that's what I have to do with my ball python.

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http://dragcave.net/user/manhirwen

It may be that the rodent wasn't large enough and its still hungry. If the rodent is less than the girth of the snake at the widest part next time try it with either a bit bigger one or with two.

Most likely though its just the snake exploring and looking for a way out of the enclosure. Typical snake behavior. They do this a lot! And its almost a constant thing whether they are hungry or not. Thats why we stress that if there is a way out of the enclosure the snake WILL find it.

When you try to feed with the tongs don't approach the snake with the mouse "head on", bring it up slowly, slightly to the side and keep it a couple of inches away from the snake and let the snake come to the mouse. If you take it and immediately bring it straight into the snake's face it is like the mouse is attacking the snake instead of the other way around The snake may feel intimidated and try to flee rather than feed. As the snake gets used to your feeding routine just placing it into the feeding container will trigger a feeding response it will key on the prey a lot quicker. Watch your hands at this point. Their eyesight is not the greatest and in their mind,.. warm and moving,... equals food!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Alright Merlin, so lets say it was still hungry. How would I get it to eat two? I can't get any mice that's bigger than that that's not way too big.

Also, I don't see how I can feed it with tongs. When I put it in the feeding box, with the lid off, I tried to feed it with tongs, but spent 99% of the time stopping the snake from getting out of the box! I had to end up putting the mouse in there, closing the lid, leaving it in the dark for a while, to get it to eat the darn thing. Obviously I can't use tongs with the lid closed. How can I accomplish this?

If the snake wil take one in the closed box and the mice are too small it will take two in the box.
Perhaps you should look into getting a larger/taller box.
As the snake gets used to you and the feeding regimen it will settle down and realize the box is where the food is.
I actually feed mine on a towel in the middle of the living room floor!
But they are very socialized.
But I started at the same place you are at now. Again,...patience.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

How big should the box be then? My snake is about 16 inches.

Tall enough so that the snake can't immediately climb out.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Does it matter the horizontal size and depth? I don't mean ridiculous big/small, but does it need room to stretch out in a big box to want to eat? Or will a big box make it not find the mouse as easily and smaller is better?