Assist feeding is only for emergencies. Read here http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet . If you have any more questions feel free to ask. Petco is not going to be much help. I hope the frozen rodent was thawed and at proper temp before being fed to the snake. Young snakes can eat as often as every five days an item that is the diameter of the largest part of the snake's body. Normal feeding schedule is weekly. Ball pythons can go off food for what seems to us a long time. Adults can go off food for months. Young ones will often stop eating during a shed cycle or when their environment is not right. Care more about how your animal looks, weighs and is behaving than about how often it is eating. Post a picture and we can tell you if it looks healthy or not. Ball pythons do not need to bask. Primarily they should be provided belly heat as it is stated in the care sheet. Hot side and cool side temps are very important if you are not in a situation where you can use ambient heat.