New to feeding... am I doing it right?

I recently got my first snake a royal python. He is 3 months old and has a relatively good feeding history in the past. He has eaten 80% of the times it has been offered. The times he didn't eat was when the food size increased and he refused. This is what I was told by the man at the shop. He is in an appropriate sized RUB. I read up a lot on royal keeping before buying. He has a hot and cool side each with a hide. Humidity is at 70% as I believe he is about to shed as his skin has dulled and his eyes are clouded. Temperature is 32 celsius in hot side using UTH controlled by a thermostat. Cool side is 23 celsius which i know is a bit cool but it's cold here so struggle to raise the ambient temperature. I've left him largely alone since arriving so he can settle, he's been here a 5 days. He only once has been disturbed to go get him sexed.

He was due to feed today and has always strike fed since his second feed according to his records. I researched tips and how to do this. I thawed a small mouse (what he has been fed as he refuses large mice) warmed it to body temperature using a hair dryer and held it using tongs. I held it in front of his hide where he was. He seemed really interested. He came and got really close with tongue flickering. But he never went for it.

A few questions. How long should I hold the mouse there for as I don't know if I maybe gave up to soon?

How much space does he need to do this as his RUB gives minimum space with both hides, there is little floor space. I thought maybe he is too crowded?

My suspicions are he's adjusting to his new surroundings and possibly preparing to shed (not 100% as I'm new to snakes and I may not be correct about skin dulling and eyes etc) but I can't help but think I maybe did something wrong or did something I shouldnt do as I am new to it all.

I have left the mouse in front of his hide and will see if it is gone by morning but don't like the idea of drop feeding as it just gives more time for bacteria to develop in the mouse... plus it doesn't look as awesome.

Anything anyone can think of, suggestions. ... advice? Thanks
Nick

He could be adjusting and if he was handle and sex in the mean time it could cause a slight delay.

Usually I always recommend to wait a week and NO handling before proceeding to feed their new animal, another important thing is feeding the same type prey previously offered.

After that it's really about how you offer as well, I would recommend thawing at room temps near the enclosure (this is called scenting) to entice the snake to eat, once thawed warm the prey up with a hair dryer, now when it comes to the way you hold the prey it can play a part as well, young animals seems to be a lot more interested when the prey is held from behind the neck and move around like a live mouse/rat would move versus dangling by the tail, sometime that little trick make all the difference in the being willing to switch or eat F/T.

If you see the snake is already interested in the food, holding the prey by the scruff of the neck and having it "twitch" a little and sometimes move a bit along the ground, imitating live prey, can help a lot.

Having their noses facing the snake's mouth can help too, so he has a good strike and is close to the head.

Brilliant thank you for these tips I will try them. Will he have enough space in a crowded rub or do they not require much space to feed? And how long do I try to get him to strike before I drop feed. Do they usually take them within minutes or can it be much more?

How do you put the feeder in front of your snake? I use to dangle by the tail but what works better in my opinion is grabbing it (with tweezers/forceps whatever you use) by the back of the neck/shoulder area or by the butt, and put it face first (horizontally) in front of the snake and if you want you can dance it a little. I try not to hit the snake i just put it up close and let the snake come up to it. Sometimes they take it immediately sometimes it takes a minute or more. (Makes me jump every time even though I know it is coming, they hit it unbelievably fast.) You have to make sure it is warmed up real good. 90 or 100 or even a little higher. By the time I get the mouse/rat in there it has cooled to just about right. Some people after trying first, with no success, leave it lay there for hours or even over night but that has never worked for me personally. Also at this time I like to keep my F/T feeder dry, I think it keeps the scent (and blood sometimes) there for them to smell. If I soak in water, I bag it air tight, and weight it down. Or you can just leave it out to thaw till soft and then heat it up by light or hair dryer (Prefer Heat light). Some put it in the fridge the previous day or morning before to let it thaw and then take it out and heat it. I might in the future try serving them up wet and warmed but for now I keep em dry.

I have quite a few ball pythons now and I usually only give them about 30 seconds to a minute max. Then I'll note it down in my log book and move to the next snake. Sometimes I'll go back with frozen thawed one or two more times for a quick try and sometimes they will take it, usually not. Then I'll follow up with a live rodent and they usually always take that one. You can sometimes try touching the rodent to their side for a second or two. Sometimes I've had luck actually dropping the rodent accidently and that's when they grab it LOL.