ball python underweight and not eating

[Scelery]

Thank you for all the advice and support! You have no idea how much it means to me.
I've been reading all the posts and tried all the things you guys recommended


Last night I was able to get a pinkie in him.
I rinsed the prey with cold water first before putting them in the warm water to thaw it.
I didn't know about the nose pitching trick. Thank you for that! --It's a lot nicer than pushing out the brain guts--




When I fed him last night, I went in from the top of his enclosure instead of opening up the front door to try and feed him. That way, his tank is still covered, and he wouldn't be able to see me. I also minimized the amount of wiggling so I wouldn't scare him off.


I did offer him both a fuzzy and a pinkie last night. The fuzzy first and then the pinkie right after (I hope that's ok?)


He didn't take it either, sadly.
I didn't want to wait another five days of him not eating, and the probability of him eating the next time I would offer it seemed unlikely.
so I decided to force-feed him last night




I was hoping it would be more of an assist feed, but I end up having to push it down his throat a little


He did start eating it by himself once I got it halfway down his throat. The prey did go into his belly. I checked on him this morning and saw the little bump still into his stomach, so he didn't regurgitate it. I'm happy that he didn't.
I am gonna wait the five days like you guys said, and then try and feed him again.




For his next scheduled feeding, I want to try and do the same thing I did yesterday night. Offer him a pinkie to see if he would eat it by himself and if he doesn't, force-feed him again? Just until he's almost at a healthy weight and just not skin and bones.
Or do you think that's a bad idea?


I know he should be eating fuzzies or hopers because of the calcium and nutrition they have.
But I didn't feel comfortable force-feeding him something that big. I was scared he would be more likely to regurgitate it because of the size.


Every time I tried feeding him a fuzzy before, to me, he just looked scared of it? He would always back away from it and go into his hide.
The one time he did strike at it, he dropped it right after and went back into his hide.
so that's why I decided to go with the pinkie instead




I don't plan on handling, weighing, or bothering him at all until he starts constantly eating. I want him to be a healthy little boy.


Also, I did order the small box hides yesterday. They should be coming in tonight!
Do you guys think it would be ok if I change out hides today? or do you think I should wait? It hasn't been a full 24hours yet since I feed him.
I don't want to stress him out more than he probably is now, and I know changing their environment does just that.


I'm hoping the reason he isn't eating is because of the hides that are currently in his tank. So I do want to change them as soon as possible if I can.


He's been a little less active once I completely coved his enclosure, but he is still roaming around during the day (My room is really quiet, so I can hear him when he's out and about.)


I'll love any advice or criticism anyone has for me
Thank you all again!