New Ball Python Hasn't Eaten!

[AlfredoBP]

Hi everyone, I have recently adopted my first ball python after months of research and planning. I thought I would be prepared to handle their picky eating habits, but man, is it stressful! I am willing to try everything, even feeding live as a very last resort.

He came in the mail March 25, and I have offered 3 times (every 7 days) since then, but no luck. I've read many other threads and checked my temps (controlled by thermostat), humidity, etc., and he has plenty of hides and foliage and seems adjusted to his enclosure. I'm not handling except for a minute or two during enclosure clean up or to check his weight once a week. He is 165 grams, no signs of mites, respiratory infection, or possible shed. Breeder says he has eaten f/t small mice and rat pups for him, so I've been offering small mice, and will try rat pups next feeding day. Even sent pictures of the setup to the breeder and he said everything looked good and to keep trying.

I thaw in the fridge during the day, warm it up inside a ziplock bag and a bowl of warm tap water, then use the hairdryer trick and offer it around 11 pm or midnight, after all the lights have been turned off (except for one small lamp that is not near his enclosure so I can see). I do the zombie dance a little ways away from his face, but he just does a few tongue flicks, moves his neck into an S shape for a few seconds and then just goes into his hide, if he is out. After a while of trying I just place it outside his hide overnight to see if he might eat it while I'm not looking, but still nothing.

I know ball pythons are notoriously picky eaters, but as a first time ball python owner, it's very frustrating! I will take any advice to get him to eat. I love him dearly and it pains me to know he is refusing food. Any information will help! Am I doing something wrong?