Maggie is right. My corn hides in some hollow wood that is on top of the heater after he eats. If he has a big meal he will ofter drink some water and sometimes get in the water before he gets into his hiding place.

they need time to digest and heat

Even if you feed it an appropriately size meal normally they will be excitable after swallowing it. Once you close the lid of their enclosure or place them back into it and they arent offered any more food they go into hiding on the heated side of their tank.

the baby is about 10 to 12 in long and as skinny as a pencil if not smaller.

Depends if its dead or not before you swallow it.