Well, I performed my first "assist feed" tonight. I traded an adult female BP for a subadult female BP I found in the local reptile store last week whose color and pattern I like better than my adult. She had an RI, and is very skinny. I can see her ribs. I let her settle in for a week, got her RI cleared up, and have been offering her a meal for a few days now. She does not act even remotely interested. Live, dead, doesn't matter--no interest. I decided that if I want her to live, I'm gonna have to get her to eat.
So, I whacked a rat, made sure it was good and dead, and held my BP securely, hoping I wouldn't get bit. I slowly pushed the rats nose between her upper and lower jaws, and she bit down. When I let go of her head, she constricted. I put her away, and she finished the meal on her own! I was really happy I didn't have to shove it down her throat! She just needed to taste it, I guess, to decide she wanted it.
Damn finicky female!
Maybe I'll name her "Princess!"