I feed in a separate tank, but when it comes to feeding time the snake is picked up with a snake hook. I have had a few bp's over the years; all of them where on live prey. With my new one's I have been putting them in a separate tank for feeding, and feeding f/t. It's been 12 years since I owned my last bp. Every time I switch tanks I sit, and think back to my last BP that I never switched tanks, and that snake was not aggressive. Not tank aggressive; nothing of the sorts. I can't believe that the care for BP's have changed that dramatically over the past 12 years. One thing I always do before handling my snakes is wash my hands. Every time. Maybe that is the secret of it all?? I dunno. Little off topic, but now I move to a separate enclosure to feed both my BP's. I have two in a 55-60 gallon cage with multiple hides, and basking branches. They get along great. Actually they share hides together.