Nobody seems to have mentioned gerbils for ball pythons. I've had ball pythons that preferred rats to mice, and ball pythons that preferred mice to rats. But none turned down a gerbil.
Cons to gerbils is slow breeding, small litters and relatively high price if purchased. But gerbil odor is much less offensive than either mice or rats.
I agree with others that frozen/thawed rats is the best way to go.
Good luck.
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