A UTH provides a hot spot. Did you have a thermostat regulating it and one regulating the heat lamp so your snake wouldn't overheat?
Mouse pinkies would be way too small, ball python hatchlings typically start on hoppers and by six or seven months old should be up to rat weanlings. That's likely the reason he wasn't defecating, he was way underfed.
Heat lamp + tank + no cover = crappy humidity and a dehydrated snake. You either need to make a cover for the tank or toss it and use a tub + UTH.
Bubbles sounds like an upper respiratory infection which can take hold when the environment is too dry.
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