I would make sure it's nice and hot like 100F or a little higher. I usually take the hottest water from my sink and dunk them for 20-30sec before I offer. All I do with mine is poke the nose of the rat into her hide (if she's not already out and interested which she usually is) and then I very slowly move the mouse left to right or up and down as I move it towards her. If she hasn't taken it by the time it gets to her nose I GENTLY boop her with the rat and she nails it. Sometimes I can barely get the rat in her cage before she comes probing out towards it, so obviously different personalities, but gently tapping the item to your snakes nose should be fine.