I acquired a striped ball python from a local pet store. He was nice looking and nice thickness in the main part of the body. We estimate him to be 7 to 8 months old. I have had him for 3 and half weeks. He fed the Wednesday before I acquired him. He has not eaten at my home at all. I am keeping him in a aquarium type enclosure. Temp on the cool side is in the mid 80s. Humidity is 70ish. He has a towel over the cage to reduce light entering. 2 hides (one on the cool side and one on the warm side) which from time to time he travels between. I have tried several things to get him to eat. He was in his new cage unhandled for 1 week. It is now been 4 weeks. Here is the list of what I have tried.

1) Feeding in a feeder box. Offered 2 kinds of rats of appropriate size on 2 separate nights.
2) Feeding in his cage where he lives by introducing the rat to the cage near him.
3) Feeding in his cage where I introduce him to the cage after I have taken him out of the cage for a moment.

I am starting to get worried that he might not eat and have even seen videos of people getting a snake to eat by placing the rat in the snakes mouth (dead rat in this case, I have been trying to feed live to far). Not sure this will be the best rout?????

He still looks reasonably healthy so far. He is very scared of being handled and strikes at least once when held. He also has struck at the mouse but was more in fear than hunger. I am open to suggestions here. There is so much conflicting information on the internet. Some say that they can go months not eating. This young cant be health????? At what point should I truly be worried? What else should I try?