New owner and site member, BP Dehydrated from store.

[Karokash]

I don't understand the connection between removing water bowls and feeding him.

If he's not striking at the food, just leave it in the enclosure with him and check back in the morning.

As far as the recommendation to assist next week, assist feedings are stressful. I wouldn't assist feed him until long after you've tried a live feeding. If he doesn't eat this week, leave him alone for a week, and next week drive and get him a live mouse.

There isn't really a direct connection. It's just to keep him from dragging it through the water, which has happened for a couple people, and making a big gooey bedding/rat ball to eat.

Also, like I said he did strike. It just didn't hold. When he struck his head flung the mouse behind him so I picked it up to try again.

I don't want to attempt assist feeding unless it's necessary to his survival. I'm getting a scale to measure weight loss but even with snakes being able to go months without eating, I'm sure they have limits too and it's possible he is at his since I have no idea if or when he has ever eaten. And he is obviously hungry.