New Female - Got Some Questions

[Skittles1101]

I think you should leave her in her own enclosure next time, she should also be on rats by now. From the picture she looks small for 3 years old, but definitely too big for hopper mice. I'd attempt with a rat pup first. Was she on mice when you got her? I'd also advise against using boiling water at all. Boiling water is far too hot. All you need is hot water from the faucet and leave it in for a couple minutes if it's already thawed...boiling is a little overkill and could potentially hurt your snake.

Don't worry about being nervous, I think it's normal, and I think you'll get over it

[mattchibi]

I think you should leave her in her own enclosure next time, she should also be on rats by now. From the picture she looks small for 3 years old, but definitely too big for hopper mice. I'd attempt with a rat pup first. Was she on mice when you got her? I'd also advise against using boiling water at all. Boiling water is far too hot. All you need is hot water from the faucet and leave it in for a couple minutes if it's already thawed...boiling is a little overkill and could potentially hurt your snake.

Don't worry about being nervous, I think it's normal, and I think you'll get over it

Reason i didnt leave her in there was mainly because a) its aspen bedding, didnt want her to eat any of it and b) im still a bit anxious that if i start feeding in the cage she might bite me if i go to pick her up or check on things in the cage. Even though so many people have told me it won't happen. I plan on switching my substrate to coco-husk plantation soil so it should be ok to try next time.

Good tip on the boiling water part, ill avoid doing so next time. I guess this feeding attempt wasnt the biggest failure. I actually got to hold her and check to see if she was warm enough (she was) and check to make sure there were no mites or poop in the hide. As well, I got two striking feeding responses from her, although she missed both times, probably because the prey was so dang small. So thats good, right? Means she's willing to eat, so i guess in a week or so ill try and give her a rat pup.