I think it would be OK if you were sure the rats were pesticide free. I suggest you trap and freeze the rats for awhile to kill any internal or external parasites the rats may have that could affect the snakes. However, I would be more afraid of the rats having poisons in their systems from extermination efforts. Even if the rats are alive and not showing signs of being poisoned, they may still have enough toxins in their systems to affect and kill snakes. I had a work buddy of mine tell me he fed wild rats to a gopher snake he was keeping and suspected he killed the snake by feeding it a rat that had been poisoned. If you are not sure the rats are pesticide free, then pass on using them.

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