im new with bp and my male,around 10 months old,has not been a problem feeder.i feed live mice,2 a week,and tonight was the first time i got him to take from tongs.untill tonight i tried tongs,i hold the mouse 4 or 5 inches from him and let him come to it,but he had no intrest untill i let the mouse run around freely.you could try that.i do not have identical hides,but he does use both of them with no problem.my guy i belive was stressed when i first got him,arond a month ago,but after covering the sides of my tank with fake plants and giving him time he seems to have come around.good luck you have got lots of good advice from more experienced bp owners than me!