Brand new ball python, not behaving 'normally'

[hellorocketship]

Hello! This is honestly my first post here. I grew up with big, big Burmese pythons and one or two reticulated pythons as well. However, my husband really, really wanted a ball python, so I figured why not, and we got one. We bought him and brought him home in the beginning of October(the eighth), and he ate less than four days later (the eleventh). He ate a small mouse, about 2in in length. He was about 2.25oz after his first feed/defecation and is about 14-16 inches long. He hasn't eaten since, though he has not lost any weight. He actually seems scared of the mice. He's only ever had f/t mice from what I can tell, and seems to be very young (about 4-6 months?).
He is constantly climbing the sides of his tank, and the foliage we have in there, so much so my husband bought a reptile tree so that he wouldn't get stuck and would enjoy himself. He has three hides in the tank, one over his undertank heating pad, one under his lamp and one next to his water bowl. His tank above the heating pad (not under the lamp) is about 70 degrees, and under the lamp it's about 80 degrees with the humidity staying at about 60. He is super friendly and doesn't mind being held at all, loves climbing over and over your hands or just sitting on your body.
He seems active and happy, I'm just really worried about his lack of eating. He won't take pinkies, or the regular size mice he ate the first time. I'm used to feeding really large pythons really large very dead prey, and I've never seen a problem before. I honestly don't know what to do to encourage him to feed besides assist feeding him which I've only had to do/see once or twice with a really, really sick snake.

Thank you so much if you got through this saga, and please tell me if you need anymore information to help.

[alessia55]

Welcome to the forum! Please read our sSNAKESs forum rules.

[kwhitlock]

I'm not a ball expert by any means, but maybe it being winter time he is starting to not eat also heard that young balls will go off feed for a while! I would just offer him good until he ends up taking it. As long as he isn't losing weight don't see a reason to force feed.

[kwhitlock]

Oh and welcome!!

[Lankyrob]

Under the lamp should be 90-95f and cold end no lower than 78f. I would imagine the snake is trying to find some heat

[KORBIN5895]

I actually think it may be too hot. It sounds like over two thirds of the tanks is a hot spot. If it was cold it probably wouldn't move much but the climbing suggests he is trying to escape the heat.

If you aren't measuring the heat where the snake actually is then you are asking for problems. Get a laser temp gun. Also I wouldn't hold it until it has had a couple of meals.