Congrats on your new snake! He's quite the looker.
I know it can be hard to feed live to snakes, emotionally. I have to distance myself from the whole thing, not allow myself to get attached to the rodent. I've had lots of pet rodents in the past, especially rats. I'll admit.. the first rat that my first snake, Harvey, refused... is now a pet even though I promised myself I wouldn't do that.I've gotten all but one of my snakes to eat frozen/thawed now, and most of them took to it right away - it's easier and also a lot cheaper for me.