Quote Originally Posted by hazzaram View Post
I think you should wait at least a week before feeding a new snake. But you should also realize that some snakes have unique feeding habits and you'll have to learn what your snake's are. My female yellowbelly is so dense when it comes to feeding. A f/t rat could be sitting right on her or in front of her face and she won't be able to find it. She'll go crazy because she can smell it, but she can't find it. I usually have to pick it up and dangle it in front of her face 2-3 times before she'll finally strike. My albino male is a great eater and never misses a first strike and my rainbow boa is super shy. She will not eat in front of anyone and I have to leave the pinky in front of her hide. It's always gone by morning.

You'll come to find out your snake's feeding habits with time. Sometimes it takes a bit of experimenting Good luck.
you might not want to feed in front of a hide, one forum user had a snake break its neck on the hide when she did that...

jessicak give it a week and try, if he wont strike right away its ok give him 5-10 min watching closely, also try to feed at or around sunset that is the time they are most active in the wild. if feeding dead rub the animal along a wall of the enclosure and then hold it with tongs by the shoulder fur and wiggle it some or by the tail with the back of the head towards the snake and gently move it side to side a little bit above the substrate. many snakes like even their non alive food to be moving before they strike.