First ball pythons, need advice on feeding?

[Spikeanoid]

The BP's did not have a hide when the breeder had them but I gave each one its own snug hide. If I try to feed them, will they know food is there if they are in such a small space (their hide) and come out?

Generally they do. Occasionally I'll have to lift up their hide to get their attention. See what works best for you. If they don't seem to know food is there, go ahead and take out their hide. The only reason I suggest keeping them covered is because I had a problem feeder who it was obvious felt insecure when I took the lid off to feed her. I stuck the food in with tongs while keeping her lid on and she gobbled it right up (I did have to remove her hide to get her to come out, though).

Also, I watched the guy in the video dangle/shake the rat on a pair of tongs in front of the BP with no lid on the container or anything.

After the first couple of feeds, my snakes no longer felt insecure when I removed their lid. Keeping the lid on is, at least in my experience, only necessary the first few times for tricky eaters.

While dangling is very helpful, too forceful of dangling can scare the snake off. Just a tiny bit of wiggling, or even laying the rat down and nudging it with tongs, works best to simulate movement of the rat.

Its to a lot to digest (get it?) but it's extremely rewarding so keep at it!