I've never heard about not getting your scent on the prey. Personally when I feed f/t, I tend to hold the mouse in my hand to warm it up faster than it just sitting on the counter. That is of course if I have nothing better else to do than to warm up a rodent. I've never had a refusal from my corn snake with all that 'me' scent on it but of course she is not a ball python. Not sure if there are differences there. Our newest additions, the ball pythons are only eating live and we do not have to stun or pre-kill. We make sure the mice are dropped on the opposite side of the cage and sit and watch. We don't use gloves or anything like that. Just pick the mouse up and put it in the tank. The snakes know if its dinner or not. Smelling you isn't going to make them not eat.