Concerned about young ball python

[NYDragon]

I got my ball at the Daytona show in August. So he's still pretty little. He hasn't eaten on his own since I've had him. I've tried f/t mice and rat pups, freshly killed, and live. I've tried live three times now and he still won't eat. Last week I took him to a reputable reptile store/breeder and they assist fed him for me since he dropped a little weight. He kept it down thankfully. I thought since he did eat, maybe he would take live but I've had him in brown paper bag for 8 hours and I just checked on him, its still there I'm not comfortable assist-feeding on my own (I have a bad health issue that can cause me to not be too dexterous with my hands ) And that store is about an hour away. (His setup and whatnot is correct, I've checked here before on that). Any advice on what to do? Thanks!

[AkHerps]

Give us a run down on your setting again, or give us the thread with the info.

9 times out of 10 it is a husbandry problem, but sometimes it can be a problem with parasites.

Sometimes assist feeding can do more harm then good and scare the snake into not eating.

Bad assist feeding experience can sometimes = fear of that particular type of feeder.

[NYDragon]

I was afraid of the assist feeding but they made it look like it was nothing. They had his teeth in the hopper in a matter of seconds and he had swallowed in 5 minutes. I was really shocked. He didn't even struggle too much. He's currently in a 10g that is covered on all sides. Two identical hides and some plants which he tends to climb at night. Warm side is 93 or so and ambient temps are around 79-83 give or take. And he's on fir bark I think (I can't quite remember but I think it was fir). Humidity is around 60% right now. I was told to try putting him in a bin but I recently lost my job and have no way to get another heat source for it But like I said, his enclosure is covered on all sides. He acts like he's hunger and actively hunting. I'm just really concerned about him. I thought he would take live after digesting the hopper since he's actively hunting again but nope.

[steveboos]

Sounds like he just doesn't quite know what to do yet. A couple more times assist feeding should get him in the right mood. It's fairly easy to do, but i know how some think it can be nerve racking. The housing is fine from what it sounds like, but i honestly think he needs some encouragement first and maybe some help eating.

[AkHerps]

Try crumpling up newspaper and putting it in his tank, no holding and no disturbing him except to give water. Try in about 5 days a live adult small mouse in his tank when it is really dark, like in the middle of the night. Turn off the lights and try to put it in there a couple hours after lights out.

Don't leave it in over night, but you can keep it in their for a couple hours, just check in on them, or sit and watch.

[NYDragon]

I haven't handled him in a few weeks and just check in on the tank once in awhile to make sure temps are still fine and change water. I've done live three times now. Its like he doesn't know what food is. I left him with a fuzzy overnight last night and he didn't take it. I'm just afraid of hurting him when assist feeding. I suck at it and he's pretty tiny.