A few more things:

Read this, it really will help you understand the proper way to take care of your new BP.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

Also you shouldn't try holding your snake at all until he gets 3 consecutive meals in him. You should wait 7 days from bringing him home before you try feeding him, then offer food every 4-7 days no matter if he eats or not. If he turns down the food you offer just wait until the next scheduled feeding day. They can go over a year without feeding so it is no big deal for them to not eat sometimes. I currently have one who hasn't eaten in a few months. As long as they don't lose and significant amount of weight then you are fine.

Speaking of feeding you should always feed a ball python a rodent that is about the same size as its widest point. If you have a scale (high recommend that you get one) then you can go by weight. Ball Pythons should eat a rodent that weighs 15% of their body weight.

So say your BP weighs 100 grams. You should feed your 100 gram BP a 15 gram rodent (100 grams x 0.15 = 15 grams)

Never leave a live rodent unattended with your snake. A rodent is just as likely to injure or kill your snake as the snake it to the rat. Feeding live is dangerous and poses risk to your snake. Feeding frozen thawed rodents is preferred because of this.