I put the box with the 2 holes down with the live rat on top of the screen lid for about 20-30 mins. I come back in there and he's usually looking at the screen trying to get closer to the box. Open the screen drop the rat in and usually he's dead in under 2 mins and being worked to swallowed. I always watch make sure the rat is dead and not biting my snake. I haven't had any problems yet knock on wood for feeding. I try to keep the same feeding scedule that I got my snake from. Speaking of that tomarrow is feeding day I feed every monday or tuesday.