my roommates have snakes. two.. one boa about 7 1/2ft long and one python about 5 - 5 1/2 ft long. they feed the boa dead rats and the python mice. Never seen any of the mice react that fast then again most of them are smaller probably younger. the python is friendly as hell the boa we don't **** with. Python managed to snatch two mice at once one time. depends on how the snakes were raised. I guess the boa was bit once and doesn't go for live s*** anymore also was raised mostley eating dead food.