Hello everyone, long time lurker, and I've finally started keeping some ball pythons! The types are listed below.
As the topic suggests, I have a question regarding feeding. When I thaw out the mice (will be trying to switch to rat fuzzies when I can make it over to the next local swap), there have recently been small cuts on the f/t that I don't believe I have created. When I go to feed, if I don't notice these cuts, when the snakes strike (especially my BB, she is an aggressive feeder), a complete, and disgusting, mess ensues...
Is there anything that I can do about this? is it something wrong that I am doing, or is it something from the F/T themselves, such as the supplier. Below is my feeding routine:

Get hot tap water (as hot as it will get)
put frozen mice in a ziploc bag (4 of them in one bag)
thaw mice in a cup of hot tap water
Once they are thawed out (I will generally check in about 20 minutes), I take them out of the bag, and place them on paper towels, as occasionally they are wet.
F/T mice go under a heat lamp for 5-10 minutes (I found I get a better feeding response, I bet because they have a chance to smell their meal and get hungry)
Feed!

Is it possible that putting the thawed mice under the heat causing some gas or something to expand in the gut, and it rips the skin? I've never seen this sort of problem in any of my youtubing... so its something that I'm doing in my routine that should be avoided. Opinions on a better thawing process please?

Thanks!