I'm going to get torn apart for this but Wheatley, we've had snakes on and off for
10 years but I am only just getting into ball pythons. My personal, unscientifically supported (probably wrong haha) opinion is that comparing intelligence is subjective. Mammals and birds have a large capacity for abstract learning whereas snakes brains focus on instinctual behaviors and learning. They become accustom to routine and flag smells and places in their brain( safety, danger, food). I feel like good handling and husbandry allows a positive label to be assigned to the handlers smell and sounds. I do 90% of our snake care and they react more positively to me than my boyfriend or child. My corn snake actually comes out of her hide only when I'm misting and watering and comes to the top of the cage. I open the top and she crawls onto my hand. Maybe its instinctual( most likely) but I pretend she wants to spend time with me. To answer your actual questions: you handle her on poop day, he poops. Do not assist feed an animal that is regularly accepting food. Try to switch to rats. It may be really easy for you.

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