my baby carpet python won't eat dead food

[dragonteen]

been trying for months but he just won't do it. i don't like having to feed the mice to him that way, i feel crule, even though i know it's a natural thing. and i'm not keen on the idea of buying live rats or anything larger for him when he's older, by the way, besides rats, what else can i feed him when he's all grown up, assuming he's eating dead prey by then. (sorry if my questions seem silly, but he's my first snake and i'm learning as i go.)