As far as picking her up and putting her in front of the food goes...I have to do that with my snakes sometimes even when they are very hungry...they just can't seem to find the food on their own. They don't actually know it's there until I put them in front of it...they are skiddish, so they see me put something in their tank but they are afraid to approach it not knowing it is food until I put them in front of it, then they eat. It is probably the same thing with Jade. So I wouldn't worry about that. Steve is right about the substrate, I tried putting paper towels over top of Hermes bedding and he just dragged the food under the paper towels...so it's good that you took the aspen out. She may have been very hungry the first time when she ate in front of you because she had not eaten in so long...now she is being a bit shy...no worries. Leave her alone for a bit. Maybe cover part of her tank with a towel...that is what I do for Seeley since he is so skiddish. She may eat if she thinks you can't see her.