The all too familiar feeding problems with ball pythons

I know as I said I am learning and I feel horrible about it now eating. As far as not knowing its because I found my snake was only eating if I threw a rat in there and put a blanket over the cage if I didn't hear the food being eaten within 5 I'd check on them. I don't want to do that that's why I'm trying to figure out other options

Nobody's trying to make you feel bad, just understand that it could've been the snake that rat was chewing on. My smaller bp needs extra privacy, but I can still leave enough exposed to monitor the feeding.

no I know I'm just want to make my snake very comfortable. I do usually monitor the feeding as much as possible.