Boiling water will cook it! Just use slightly warm water or even a quick blow dry before offering. Also, don't just dangle the food. You want to grip it with your tongs on the scruff of its back so you can present it in a more life like way. I usually have it "walk" up to the hide the snake is in and it's usually grabbed pretty quick that way. I'd try at night while leaving the lights off in the room and also trying to keep yourself out of the snakes view as much as possible.