I'm still stuck with a live gerbil from last year. My normal feed routine is I take them out of their tanks while the rats defrosting. After they are defrosted I place the snakes in large plastic storage bin in my closet so it nice and dark. Followed by nice bloody warm rat. My redtail and dumerili have no issues what's so ever. Just my ball. After they have fed and the rat is nice and settled in their guts they get placed back in their enclosures.