Ball Pythons are not very smart LOL

[Bogertophis]

He gave up and didn't eat it. In fact he went to his other hide. I know snakes don't show facial expressions very well, but I felt that he was very discouraged or embarrassed or something. I removed it and discarded it (shame to waste but oh well) and will try again in a couple of days. I still need to wash the dried rat innards off his face, but I am going to wait and see if he rubs it off by himself first.

Oh no, sorry. Silly snake...he obviously was interested...did you try wiggling it a little with tongs? I would have. (& maybe a touch of blow-dryer heat?) You could also
"wash his face" with water sprayed, but he might rub it off on his own?

I know what you mean about "discouraged or embarrassed" but I think it has to do with them feeling confident, and also un-observed* (for their safety from predators).
Ball pythons have so much going for them, but I wish they weren't so weird to feed. (*hindsight-feeding at night is usually best also)