Why a gerbil? I know that there are several care sheets out there that recommend gerbils for tough feeders claiming that they're a more natural food for ball pythons. Those care sheets are wrong. The gerbils that are sold in the pet industry are from mongolia and are no more 'natural' prey than any other rodent. You really don't want your snake to develope a 'taste' for gerbils especially at pet store prices. I suspect a live rat or mouse would have worked just as well and would help to make the switch to frozen/thawed rats or mice a bit easier and then you probably won't feel the way you do now. There is no reason to use a gerbil for scenting.