If it makes you feel better, your snake not eating is probably easily changeable by fixing your husbandry.

If you haven't already, please check out this care-sheet: http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules/...warticle&id=59

It sounds like you did in fact get some bad husbandry advice from this "wildlife officer/breeder". Hot rocks are never ok for reptiles. They have only been known to cause burns and even deaths.

There are so many important items that you need when keeping a ball python, but I would say proper hides are up there fighting for #1. If your snake doesn't have two identical tight fitting hides with small entrances, you are going to be dealing with a stressed snake who probably has no interest in eating.