How to move on from assist feeding?

[John1982]

Just to be clear - the snake hasn't eaten since you received him? If so, adding in fact that the last owner was a bit sketchy and not available for questions, you can't be sure the snake ever ate on it's own anyway. Converting assist feeders varies from snake to snake. Some will only need 1-2 to get kick started. Others will need weeks or even months before they figure things out.

Since you're assist feeding f/t and you have no other option but f/t, converting is easy enough - though difficulty has nothing to do with length of time. He could eat on his own next offering, or in 2 weeks, or in 2 months or even longer. Here's how I'd do it if I were in your circumstances. I'd try a few things before assisting again though.

First thing I'd try before assisting again:
1) Wait until late evening, early night.
2) You want to do this while he is relaxed in his hide.
3) Warm up rodent to roughly 37-38C. It helps if you have a temp gun.
4) Leave f/t rodent outside but within a couple inches of hide entrance.
5) Come back in the morning - if rodent still there discard it.

Second thing I'd try about 7 days later:
1) Wait until late evening, early night.
2) Same as before, preferably when snake is relaxed in hide.
3) Warm up rodent to roughly 37-38C. It helps if you have a temp gun.
4) Dangle in front of hide for a bit, see if you can't get a response.
5) If no strike after a couple minutes of teasing, leave rodent overnight.

I'd do the above 2 methods with mice and rats if they're both available to you. One more month without food, especially since he just got assist fed, won't make or break this guy regardless.

At that point I'd probably go back to assist feeding. Here's what I'd personally do with the restriction of only using f/t rodents.

1) Wait until late evening, early night - preferably with snake in hide.
2) Zombie dance warmed up rodent.
3) Leave rodent in front of hide.
4) Turn out all lights, leave room, come back in 4-5 hours.
5) If rodent still there I'd then assist.