need advice, feeding issue (not what you think)

I'm having a problem with feeding. I feed live cause my snake doesn't take FT and the problem is that the rat hides either in a corner where a hide is,on top or behind a acurite thermometer and he has trouble sizing it up and doesn't strike. Sometimes I have to force the rat to move to an open area. Well, this past feeding day, a rat tried to hide from my snake. The rat cornered itself behind the thermometer and every time my snake go near it would fight back. Finally my snake gave up and I took the rat out. My snake has 3 hides. 2 reptile basic hides and a piece of flat cork, which he's always under. What should I do?


BTW, I've had my snake since January and he's only missed 2 meals, both from the reasons above

Also he's in a animal plastics T8 cage

I personally would take those things out of the enclosure until after the snake eats if I was having problems. Just leave the one hide that the snake is in and take the rest out. Worth a try I think. I don't feed live though, so maybe someone that does will have a better idea.