Hello Rick! I'm pretty much a newb too. I adopted an 11 year old Ball. He has eaten live mice his whole life (from what the previous owner told me) and is very docile. I've not been bitten for the three weeks I've had him. This has been through 2 feeds. He's shedding right now though so I haven't really been getting him out. I will have to though tomorrow so I can change his substrate.. But I don't think that feeding live will necessarily do that. If there's another more seasoned herp here that knows better, correct me.