I'm glad that you worked things out and that it seems to be working for you.
Some of the things that YOU feel are untrue are actually well known for horrific injuries. If you had left a rat in there and your snake was in a fast... What do you think the rat would look to eat? If you leave hungry mice and rats around they will resort to cannibalism. In a cage with a snake that won't eat them? They can injure your snake.
I saw a milksnake who had it's tongue bitten off and numerous scars due to being left for a weekend with a live mouse in the cage.
My own ball python, a male who is 5 feet and 2600 grams was a live only feeder for many years. There have been times where he has been bit while wrapped. Thankfully never badly, but I am always there to watch when any snake is live fed to see where the bite can be and treat if necessary
You have been extremely lucky. Yes, only eating ASF rats is usually only when imported or when started on them... But some of your other discoveries listed here can cause a lot of harm in someone else's care.
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