Depends to be honest for my ghost,I drop it in. He is a great striker. Always strikes at the face of prey and then constrict the neck then chest,it's routine wih him. He is on point. Once in a blue if he is extra feisty for food he will strike at then neck,like he did this past Sunday. But with my ghost!he don't mess around!as soon as he detects prey,he's out and striking within seconds most all the time.

my Black pastel,sometimes I'll dangle it I'm front of him,as he is not a good striker and he's picky and shy and a pain to feed..seems like when I dangle he strikes faster then when I place the prey in the tank.

each snake is different. I also monitor live feedings from the moment the feeder is dropped in until there 100% dead