From my own personal experience, on top of everything mentioned here. i have a few 'shy' eaters that will not accept dangled prey but if left by the hidebox overnight ends up gone the next morning. The hardest snake i have to feed is a 4 year old ball python. It has an INCREDIBLE feeding response that scares the hell out of me. The first time i dangled F/T food in front of it was the last. It went straight past the mouse, up the tongs and wanted my 98.6 degree flesh. Live prey has never lasted more than 5 seconds after being dropped in. It will also not eat if prey is left overnight. The way i feed the snake right now is thaw out a rat all day. heat it under a lamp until it is alive temperature. Wait until i can drop the rat right in front of the door of the hide box. If i drop the rat to where it covers the door the snake comes shooting out with the rat in its mouth and constricts it. if i leave a gap it pokes its head out right past the rat as if its not even there. Ugh not fun.

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