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I bought my ball Donny a rat a few days ago and he hasn't wanted to eat it yet so I've put it up in a temp cage. Honestly rats and their incontinence grosses me out, and the damn thing makes noise, but I've started to feel bad about feeding live. I know most people are against it anyway but I have never done pre-killed before. And the damn things are kind of cute, so that complicates it. I think the breeder I got Donny from fed pre-killed, though, so I am hoping he will be willing to switch back.

Another concern is I know the pet store near here sells pre-killed mice, but I don't know about rats. I am unsure if they will be big enough for him. I want his head and everything to grow proportionately. Any suggestions?

Most stores if they have frozen mice they will have frozen rats and some stores will do fresh kills also. he should take the pre-killed with no problem if that is what he has grown up on. If he wont take it right away leave it on a upside down Tupperware container for a few hours and leave the room or cover his enclouser he should eat. Jay you should have yours on rats its harder to switch them when they get bigger to switch them from mice to rats. Just a suggestion.

I thought I read somewhere that they need to eat prey complimentary to their size so their heads will stretch and grow. Not correct?

I think FT is also better because it minimizes the chance of your animal getting injured by it's prey. I have seen some constrictors with some nasty bites from rats that needed some vet help.