Lifting hides is always tricky business. I only ever do it at night when they're naturally active and with the lowest amount of light possible. I take it off slooowly so i don't spook them. Once its off i just stay still and talk softly to them (i'm not sure if talking actually helps, but my logic behind it is that if i were a real predator, i certainly wouldn't be making so much noise on purpose). After a minute, i'll slowly reach over and stroke a part of their midsection outside of strike range. This usually makes them tense up, but imo its better to "announce" that you're going to pick them up, then to surprise, them with it. Once they're in hand, they typically relax after a few seconds and start roaming around my shoulders. Everyone else is right though, 5 minutes isn't enough time to let the panic subside. It would probably do better to have 2 long sessions per week.

If i need to feed any of my BPs while theyre in their hide, i'll use the tongs to kind of make the prey walk past the opening a few times. It makes them go "Whazthat?" and they'll start to peek outside the hide. I'll keep letting them "sneak" up on the rat until they have enough body length to strike and constrict. Sometimes they'll be facing away from the hide door, so those are the times i sloooowly lift one edge of the hide juuuust enough for them to peek from under it to spot the prey. Works almost every time!