[Warning: overly long and somewhat anxiety-ridden post below]

Well, I tried feeding her again last night (after a week of no touching--just cage maintenance). She passed up another thawed mouse. I decided it might be a good idea to start monitoring her weight to make sure she's not losing-- she currently weighs ~192 grams. She's reportedly about a year old and is little less than 2 feet long. Does this sound like a reasonable weight for starting off?

Also, are there any particular techniques to getting her to eat a frozen/thawed mouse? I thaw it in warm water (in a baggie) then hold it under warmer water to make it a bit more attractive. I've tried to minimize annoying her by just dropping it in and leaving it as long as over night, then tossing it in the morning. I'm thinking that the next time I try to feed her I'll wait until she comes out of her hide to go exploring (which she generally does a few minutes after I turn the lights off at night) and try dangling it in front of her. Any other suggestions? How long should I wait before trying again?

I've only had her two weeks, and only really left her alone the last one week (prior to that, I took her out a couple times before I read it wasn't a good idea, plus taking her out for some cage overhauling). So I suspect I probably shouldn't be worried yet, but I'd feel a lot better if she ate just once. She was, according to the breeder, eating f/t weekly; though I didn't think to ask his method. How important is the size of it, as far as getting them to eat initially? What I have look like they might be a bit small for what she can handle, but I wouldn't really expect that to be a big problem.

And as far as housing goes, the temps seem about right (though I still need a dimmer for the heating mat). Humidity stays on the low side, but she doesn't like the sound of the spray bottle-- I'll try to make her a moist hide when I can. She has two hides, though I bought them before reading they should be identical. The one on the warm side has a hole on either side of it, but I've placed it so that one hole is facing a covered side of the tank. The other has only one opening. Prior to shedding, she stayed in the one with two holes, near the warm side, but since shedding she's always been in the one on the cool side. She stays in there just poking her head out until I turn off the lights for the night, at which point she goes exploring, then back to the cool hide again. Does this sound like I need to worry about making them the same?

Thanks for reading and any advice you might have. I was partially rambling and I apologize. I just want her to be healthy and happy. I've not yet dropped in the wads of newspaper, so I suspect I should try that when I get home.

By the by, my apologies if this thread should be in the husbandry forum instead of this one-- Mods, please move it if that's the case.

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Will