Well usually you can put something in the cage first on which to feed a ball python (judging from those I've kept in the past) but there's no way I could have done
that with the BCI I had for years...I could barely open her cage to get the rat in (being held by tongs) lol...the same goes for my large Florida rat snakes now.
Their food never touches the cage floor, but I picture most BPs waiting in their hides, with their faces poking out expectantly...however, even BPs don't all read the
same manual ("How to be a Ball Python").That's where my suggestions were coming from...to be "adjusted as needed".