hey guys/gals!

here I am again, asking noob questions before I get my BP. Just want to know all I can before getting it.

Some of these questions were already asked by me on other threads, but never got an answer, so I'm gonna try again.

1- How long will a 10 gallon Glass tank will last (in terms of his/her growth)?

2- I have heard most people use 2 identical hides... Is it wrong if I use 2 identical ones (one on the cool side the other one on the hot side) and a 'cool-looking' one in the middle?

3- If feeding ontop of certain substrates is a concern and a reason not to get it (due to fear of the snake ingesting substrate), why not put the food in a"plate" of some kind until they eat? then you wait for the BP to get out of the plate and remove it?

4- Still can't decide whether to get a male or a female

5- I have read that it is a good idea to keep sharp (think more of rough, not blade or rock sharp) surfaces inside their enclosure, to help with the shed, but im scared that it might damage their 'skin' if they pass through there a lot.

6- I went to a pet store last week and asked an employee to let me handle a BP that caught my eye. She told me that she would prefer not to, since it was always striking at people (employees and customers), but I said sure... Once she tried to pick it up, the snake was striking at her, but she managed to get it, and it curled up in a ball, but once I grabbed it, the BP was super friendly with me, kept running around my arm, and wrapping itself in my wrists. By the way, this happened twice (2 different days with 2 different employees) (I know this sounds a little stupid/childish) but is there a chance the snake likes me, or was it pure coincidence? I know this sounds like a made-up story, but it isn't. the only 2 things that kept me from buying it were that It costed $100 (for a regular that they even didn't know if it was a Male or Female), and that I told a forumite that I would buy from him (at 40 bucks)

7- whats the deal with the ASFs? are they like treats? or just rats that will prolly boost my snake's appetite?

I think thats all for now.
Again sorry for the questions that might pop up a lot, and please excuse my noobnes, but I really want to get everything straight before I buy it


THANKS!