Yeah there are always alot of ? As far as feeding in an enclosure that is all the way up to you and what you are comforable with. I feed all of my snakes in there enclosures and have no issues with them, i stick my hands in there and clean and mess with there bedding and i get no aggression from them even on feeding day. I believe after time they begin to know your smell and in no way associate you with food. As far as using his hides just give him time.