Feeding my Ball Python

Question
Ok...so the lizard didn't do anything for him. We have a 60 gallon cage so it's plenty big. We have a tree for him to climb on, a hollowed stump for him to hide under, and a watering hole for him. It is warm enough during the day and night. We have had him alittle over 3 months and he is about 3.5 or 4 foot long. So I guess maybe the force feeding thing is our only other option, but I don't have a clue as to how in the world to go about that. Thank you so much for your help this far and I look forward to hearing back from you on this.
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Followup To

Question -
I was just wondering how to feed my Ball Python. We got him from a vender at a local Trade Day, not thinking about it...and we can't get him to eat. Someone mentioned to us that maybe they got him wild and that's why he will not eat anything. If this is true and he does need a lizard what is the best way to go about this. I am desperate.

Answer -
Dear Ashley,
Trade show buying can be tricky,but aside from that ball pythons are notorious for not eating or being stubborn eaters
if he is indeed a wild caught it will only be that much harder,you can offer him a small lizard and see if that sparks his/her interest.if not there is another method called force feeding. but first let me know how long you have had your ball python,and lets make sure his tank is set up ok, temprature should be around 80-85 degrees in the day time with an area to bask of about 90 degrees,at night tank can cool down to no lower than 75 degrees if you have an area to bask at around 80 degrees(at night)also lets make sure that there is a nice climbing branch and also a place to hide either a half log to curl under.or a small box with doors cut on both ends.. ok.. feeding .. balls are most active during dusk and dawn hours so try to feed around those times. you can also go as far as to cover the glass with news paper during feeding to give the snake a sence of security or privacy as they feel most vunerable during feeding.

         please get back to me
         and we will get thru it together.
         thanks -Tommy

Answer
HI Ashley,
ok .... the problem with balls most prevalently wild caught is that they wont eat sometimes for a year, wich is not good
where they come from (afica) they dont recognize mice as food But they do eat gerbals,(this may be tuff, i know they are cute)so if gerbles are leagle where you live lets try that first,also lets make sure that he is being fed at night
or attempted at night,some times a ball can be fooled into eating, try taking him/her out of tank for 5 or 10 minutes,while he is out if you can get a gerble put him in the tank, if no gerbles are available get brown or even multi colored mice (there are no white mice in the wild....cover the outside of tank for privacy
and put your ball back in the tank and wait to hear what happens,this has worked for me on several occasions,you can also try another trick get a clay planter pot and knck out the bottem,and let your ball go inside,if his sides touch all around thats ok he/she will feel more secure , with a pair of forceps or hemo stats dangle a BRown or multi colored mouse over the hole and he/ or she may take it.
and if this does not work we will then talk about a couple of different force feeding techniques that will help.remember though it is very harmful to force feed any snake that may be dehydrated, let me know if his/her skin looks wrinkly and dry as apposed to shiney and smooth.

has your ball done potty at all? if so and you can get a ficle sample to your local vet have it checked for parisites as this is also a big problem with wild caughts.
ok keep me posted and good luck with these techniques,and if they do not work we will then go to the next step.

         thanks
         tommy