3 weeks is not even close to long enough to wait before attempting an assist feed ... you'll end up doing more harm than good.

Try a live hopper mouse in the cage with some crumpled up newspaper over night ... and stop messing with him.

Here's a link to an article that I wrote for my website a few years ago ... it might help as well.

http://www.8ballpythons.com/journal/...ingseating.htm

Good luck ... and remember, assist feeding is a last resort ... not something that should be attempted because you don't feel like waiting any longer.

Hope this helps.

-adam