[chairman]

I do put my mice directly in the water. It doesn't waterlog the mouse but it does reduce the scent. I then use tongs to dangle the mouse until the snake grabs it. And by dangle I mean anything from holding the mouse perfectly still to actually making the thing dance a little bit, just depends on the snake.

Some snakes need their mice dried with a hair dryer when you use this method; drying the mouse increases the amount of scent again (so does rubbing the head with paper towel).

I have a Japanese rat snake that is a little shy. He doesn't like being dug out of wherever he is hiding to eat and generally refuses to eat if I did him out. So, for him, I pour a small amount of the soaking water (like a tablespoon or two) right inside the cage door to draw him out of hiding.