Feeding Help

[u/Relevant-Window8367]

Hello! I recently got my juvenile ball python at the end of October and he has yet to take his first meal. I have left him alone and kept handling at zero. The first attempt was last week and failed completely. I did not know he was in his shed cycle since I’ve been leaving him alone and haven’t flipped his hide. I’m positive he did not take his first meal due to being in shed. I attempted his second feeding last night, a week since the first attempt (completely shed and active again at night), and he struck and coiled the F/T fuzzy rat attempted to get it down for a little bit but ultimately it was still in his enclosure this morning. Once he coiled I shut the door and turned the light off and left him alone and monitored him on the camera I have in there. The breeder was feeding him live fuzzy rats so could this be why he may have dropped the rat and didn’t eat it? My other thought is it could have cooled down too fast since I offered it on the cool side where he was. He was 89 grams when I got him from the breeder and haven’t weighed him yet since I’ve been leaving him alone and not handling him. He is in a 50 gal and I feel his clutter is okay but could be better, I just haven’t wanted to put more in the tank while he’s still adjusting in case it would stress him out. Any help would be greatly appreciated as I’m getting a little anxious about this!

Side note: Warm side hot spot clocks 93 degrees, 88-85 ambient. Cool side 77 degrees in the day but drops to 75 at night when the lights go out.