I just purchased my first ball python a few weeks ago and I tried to prepare myself as much as possible for him but inevitably I have long random questions and would appreciate some help from experienced owners. Sorry in advance for this post being huge :S

He's a lemon pastel ball python, I was told about 6 months old. His warm spot temp is 89F and the rest of the tank is room temp at 72F. He has a water dish and appropriately sized hides on both warm and cool sides of the tank as well as climbing sticks and fake vegetation for cover. I'm using cypress mulch for substrate.

He eats perfectly when I feed him. I'm feeding him mice for the time being but I want to switch to rats as soon as this batch of mice are gone as I've heard they are a more complete food source.

How often should I feed him and how much? I work at a zoo and we feed our full grown balls about once every 2 weeks 2 large rats each or whenever they start moving around they're enclosure looking for food. Should I do something similar with my little guy?

Also I started out without a hygrometer thinking I could mist fairly frequently and more often when he sheds but now I think he might be dehydrated. His eyes got cloudy a few days ago and his skin was dull but he stayed like that for a few days and never progressed further. So I read up on soaking your snake and gave him a short bath in warm water yesterday and today his eyes are clear and his color is bright again. Then I noticed one of his eyes was dented and read that those are all signs of dehydration. I soaked him again today and he took 2 looong drinks of water, which is a reassuring, and seems comfortable just resting in it. He was in a small bowl that he can touch the bottom of with his head out and he didn't try to get out for about 40 minutes. I took him out cause the water got cold but was he okay in there indefinately? Would he move if he's uncomfortable? I will get a hygrometer asap.

Thanks so much if you read all that and for any info/advice