8 foot snake. Okay? I'm trying to feed her. Open her cage, have the rat in the tongs, drop the rat immediately. Great. Wonderful. Now I can't dangle the rat. I can work with this though. Use a snake hook and thread it through the wiring. I can now wiggle the rat.
She. Can't. Find. The. Rat.
For five entire minutes. She keeps looking at me like this is somehow my fault.
She finally finds the rat. I see her two brain cells. They are not comprehending the situation. I attempt to help. It is still not processing. She just stares at it. Stares at me. Stares at it again. I have gone past annoyed at this point. I am now full on arguing with a python. Bargaining. Insulting. Begging. I have had better luck with toddlers.
After what must have been close to ten minutes after the original feeding attempt, she strikes.
Gets bedding in her mouth.
I am near tears now. She will not try again. She has bedding in her mouth. This requires a tantrum. She will not let me help. Just looks at me like I've offended her family. Like it is somehow my fault she missed the rat a whole three inches from her face.
Attempts to spit it out. Several times. Her mouth was not designed for this. But she tries. Gags several times. Ends up staring at me with her mouth open. I attempt to guide her to her water with a snake hook.
I am behind a cage door of chicken wire.
She gets herself stuck. This deserves another tantrum. Calming down is not an option. Just letting go is not an option. She will not let me help.
Am done. She can figure it out.