i just gently pressed on the sides of his mouth, like his cheeks, and he opened his mouth. Then i just put a little bit of the mouse in his mouth so that he could spit it out if need be, but he ate it down. He hadn't been eating crickets for a while so I wanted to give him something nutrient dense. Then I waited 2 weeks and he ate really enthusiastically so I think he is on a good eating schedule now.