I have found that it verrys from snake to snake.In the wild ballpythons eat dead food if they come across it.

all of my boas are just placed in a rubbermaid and the food (f/t) is just placed in with them,and gone within a hour.I have two bps that well eat like that also.
my female het albino won,t even look at a f/t rat(really sucks because live rats are illegal here)but she hits on live mice like there is no tomorow.My pastel well eat f/t sometimes of tongs but if you leave it in with him %80 of the time it just stays there.And for my jc rats are just out of the question,but I pritty much need a slingshot to get near him with a chick or mouse.
it all depends what the snake likes most are started on live some switch to f/t some don,t