I agree feed live and do baby steps. I have one snake (not my balls) that refuses to take f/t but she takes pre killed/fresh killed. It is a step. We started her out stunned (we just hit them in the head kinda hard) then moved to fresh killed. (Hope PETA dont see that lol).

If you do feed live, I take mine out and put in rubbermaid totes to feed. That way if something happens I can be right there. With all the cage furnishings, just seems easier. (Another benefit from that is when I go to put my hand in the cage later they dont think I am bringing food and try to bite).