Please, please help me feed this ridiculously picky creature.

[GoingPostal]

His tank isn't open, there are coverings on the two mesh quadrants that don't have heaters on them. After reading the many replies on this thread, I am planning on re-securing those covers to make it more solid, and making a special cutout cover for the sides with heat. I cannot try live, it is not a viable option for me. I would not be opposed to adding more decor and increasing privacy, but I cannot change his tank.

In your pics it looks pretty intimidating to a young ball python, bright lights, open hides that aren't identical, glass tank that's a lot larger than a snake his size would need. It's clearly not working for either of you if he's not eating and you are struggling with temps and humidity that badly. Can you add smaller hides with only one entrance that match each other so he's not picking favored hide over proper temps? I'd also drop the light, stick with CHE or a heat mat so the light isn't an added stressor. If you are toggling it off hour by hour that's going to be bothering him as well as making your temps change hourly. Stability and security is all he's looking for. With a snake that isn't eating, especially a young one live HAS to be an option and long before force feeding should ever be done. I bred feeders for many years because there's no local pet store and have driven several hours to pick up feeders on multiple occasions when a picky snake wouldn't take anything else.