Balls can live 40-50 yrs. I am thinking a couple years here or there is not gonna influence his life that much.

Stop stressing him out trying to feed him live so often. He is likely missing because he is defensive, not hungry.
Give him a week to chill and then leave a prekilled (really dead, not stunned) in with him overnight. Go smaller prey vs large as he can take.
You are heading into fall and he may be getting a jump on winter fasting.
Relax. Take a breath.
I had a male that ate 6 or 8 meals in the mid summer and didn't eat 8 months of the year. He grew, he bred and he thrived.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

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