I had that problem too and what I started doing was holding the mouse/rat at the scruff of the neck so that when they strike, the basically get the head in their mouth (not always but usually). You can also keep the mouse in there over night if its f/t but I usually throw it away in the morning if they haven't eaten by then. Last time I fed Nibs he actually ate the mouse tail first and then last night Cody grabbed, squeezed, dropped, and then spent about 3 minutes trying to find a good place on the rat to start. I did like you did and heated the head of it more than the rest too, so I think you got it right except I would have left the mouse in over night. Maybe try to feed again in two days or and not wait an entire week if he seems to be hunting.