Yeah, I agree with you on taking stuff out. My tank doesn't have as much as yours does, but I take out the hides (I leave the small logs I have in with Stryker, they don't really get in the way). I feed both live and F/T and when I feed live, the rats hide in the hides...it's frustrating. Plus, my snake is kind of slow..either that or a crazed stalker. When I drop the rat in, he tongue flicks it and follows it closely as it wanders around the cage, almost like his tongue is attached..Then, when he feels ready and the rat is starting to get annoyed, he lashes out and strikes. If I kept all the hides in, Stryker wouldn't be able to do his psycho stalker dance.