Hi,



I've been having a pain of a time with my little male red blood lately and since I feel like I've tried everything, I thought I'd post my predicament to see if anyone has any suggestions. When I first got the little bloods I started them out on f/t hamsters, since that's what I had that was of appropriate size (I since spoke to Kevin of NERD who told me that hamsters are a BIG no-no as they are VERY tough to get snakes off of once started). The thing was, though the female struck and constricted hers enthusiastically, the male just gently took his and swallowed it. It was very cute, and his temperment is as mild as his feeding response -- he's never struck. At ANYTHING. Which is sort of the problem.



The female EASILY switched over to rats a couple months ago, but the male will not eat rats. I've tried scenting the rats with hamster, braining them, and even draping them with hamster guts (yum). I have offered him a prekilled rat, which he was uninterested in. Whenever I offer him something, I generally leave it in his box with him, as he used to occasionally take his hamsters like that instead of off the tongs. If it's a hamster, he'll usually eat it, but not a rat.



He's starting to look thin and I'm getting worried about him. Is there anything that I haven't done or haven't thought of? I don't want to give him a hamster, as I'm trying to get him off of them. But I'm worried about his weight -- the female is about three times his size by now! Does anyone have any suggestions?



Sorry for the long post,
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Kitt

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