Tonight I attempted to feed my new ball for the first time. He has been a bit shy since I got him, although not overly so. The breeder I bought him from fed live, but I figured I would at least give a good attempt to get him onto frozen/thawed, since it is easier for me. I brought him out of his hide and showed him the mouse, and his head and neck immediately went into "S-shape". Mind you, I didn't stick it directly in his nose. I just wanted to get him out of the hide so he would see it. I shook it around a little, did the "zombie dance", and he struck it a few times. But I think this was fear striking and not food-striking. (When my female strikes to eat she will immediately wrap herself around the prey.) Then he started hissing at it, which I figured was a sign he probably wasn't going to eat. I left it in there and he has hastily retreated into the hide. I don't have high hopes for him eating tonight.

A few questions...
1. Should I bother leaving it in there overnight? Because if I remove it soon, I can salvage the mouse and give it to my corn, who will probably take it.

2. When is the next time I should try to feed him?

3. Should I try f/t again, or pre-killed? If I do pre-killed, I don't have a CO2 chamber or anything, so I'd probably have to use the "whack" method, or just stun the mouse and feed him live/stunned.

4. Was it a bad idea for me to have taken him out of his hide to show him the mouse - do you think this just scared him further?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

-Icygirl