so, since it WAS getting rather close to 3 weeks, and i was getting frustrated, i did a semi-assist feed after watching several videos on it. i call it semi assist, because rather than me putting it down his throat, i really only had to open his mouth and get the mouse near it, once the mouse got close to his mouth, he clamped shut on it right away, and even started swallowing while i was still holding him. i immediately placed him back in his cage, closed everything up, and put a towel over the front. heres hoping he keeps it down