Feed at night...BPs are ambush predators that feed at night, optimally when some clueless prey passes near their hiding place- so try to duplicate this- offer food at night, dim the lights & don't be obvious about being present- offer f/t or f/k prey from tongs with slight jiggle only when you see them peeking out of their hide as if looking for prey.
New snakes should never be handled until they're feeding easily at normal intervals for at least 2-3 meals*- they NEED time to settle in, re-homing is stressful & frightening for snakes. I know this* was mentioned above (post #2) but it bears repeating as it's the mistake most often made by new snake owners, & it can result in the snake taking MUCH longer to settle in & eat for you.
Also, don't jiggle the prey excessively & never towards the snake, always go "past" the snake so as to elicit a slight "chase". BPs are shy & lose their nerve when rodents appear to fight back more than they expect.
Best results are achieved when you ASK exactly what a snake was fed previously & you duplicate that. (mice or rats? size/age category? live, f/k or f/t?) Same goes for similar living quarters.
Also, it's best to NOT offer food too quickly: wait a week or two before you offer food to a new snake- they won't take it anyway (or most likely won't) & the more you offer, the more stressed they feel while they're still trying to "settle in". If they refuse a meal, don't offer for AT LEAST another week or more. Prepare to be patient...BPs aren't always cooperative for beginners.
You didn't mention how big (or old) this snake is? Don't stress it now by weighing it, even if you have an accurate scale, but if you have a hatch date, that's something else you needed to get when you bought this snake. That & a feeding record is usually provided by reputable breeders & sellers- those who CARE about the future lives of the animals they raised.
HOW (not just when) you offer dead prey (f/k or f/t) matters greatly to BPs: thaw in cool water to reduce spoilage, & once it's soft throughout (feel by hand to make sure it's fully thawed), then warm it to lifelike warmth by briefly immersing in very warm water (NOT hot or boiling!), & many also like to use a blow-dryer
briefly right before offering. BPs USE their heat-sensing pits- most accept dead prey ONLY if it seems warm enough to be alive. And don't over-do the motion.
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