It really works better is the newspaper isn't "balled up" ... just crumple it loosely and fill the cage ... it should give your snake lots of tight places to crawl through and explore.

Leave it in there for a week without disturbing it or the snake except to clean the cage and give fresh water.

After about a week, when you're ready to feed, the best thing to do is to create a routine that your snake can learn to recognize. Feed on the same day and time each week. Do the same things every time your feed. Make the same sounds every time you feed. You will create cues that your snake will learn to recognize as feeding time.

Bring the mouse home and place it somewhere close to your snakes cage for about 30 - 60 minutes ... let him smell that the snake is in the room. It often helps to feed at night when ball pythons are naturally more alert and active.

Leave everything in the cage and drop the mouse in. Close the cage up and step back. Observe, but sit still because dancing around the front of the cage trying to see if the mouse has been eaten will pretty much freak your snake out.

If you "hear it" you'll know your snake has eaten. If not, wait about 20 minutes and remove the mouse.

Wait another week and try again.

Make sure your temps are correct ... 82-84 on one side, 92-94 on the other ... a warm snake is a hungry snake.

Don't TOUCH until he/she is eating.

-adam