New owner needing help

[theJuju]

About a month and a half ago impulse bought a normal ball python hatchling from PetsMart. I made sure I got all I needed for a happy, healthy BP though. I've done as much research online as I can, and I'm just falling in love with BPs in general.

But I do need some help. Well, first, is there a way to tell the sex of a ball python without taking it to the vet? I just sort of decided that she looked like a girl, and so I named her Chapel. But I'd like to know for sure what sex she is, though I can't really afford a vet visit unless 100% necessary due to an illness (hope not, though!).

Second, I noticed she went in hiding for several days and when she came back out she was shedding. So I looked up information on shedding and found out that she is having a poor shed. Her belly half is shed, but the top of her isn't, and some dead skin is on her nose and head. I tried to gently roll away skin with my hand as well as with a warm washcloth, but it didn't work. So I began more closely monitoring heat and humidity levels, and since then more skin is shedding in bits and pieces, and I'm hoping she will finish and have a complete shed next time.

Third, she hasn't eaten once. The PetsMart label said she was captive bred, which is good, but I've had her for a month and a half and have wasted 3 frozen pinkie mice now. I've tried different thawing and warming methods, I've tried moving the mice with tongs, leaving the mouse still with tongs, and even leaving it in the cage overnight and covering the sides. There are two things I haven't tried: scenting the pinkie with gerbil bedding from a pet store (which I plan to do next; I last tried feeding last night to no avail), and freshly killed. But I'm far too squeamish to try fresh killed, plus I'm not sure where I would even get live mice that tiny and young.

If gerbil scent doesn't work, what do I do? My ball python is getting skinny, and when she curls I'm noticing skin folds.

I just want a healthy ball python, but I need some help, and would appreciate any feedback. Thanks!

PS - By the way, the enclosure is a 20 long glass aquarium with a secure lid. I got it as part of a snake startup kit that included a thermometer and whatnot. I have a humidity mist, a couple of logs, a soak/water dish, and a hide rock.