question about rats...

[iFlingP00]

I have a male and female ball python, both eating small rats.
(well, the rats are big for 'small'... but the pet store has issues.)
Ok, so... the last time my guys ate was DEC 26th. I offered them
food on Jan 9th, and again last Friday, the 23rd.
They have just decided it's not time yet, and I know balls are sometimes
finicky.
Setup: (because I know someone's likely to ask)
They're in a rack, in 30qt tubs, on aspen bedding, and each snake
has a hide. temps are 83 - 92, humidity is 56%, in BOTH tubs.

My question is this... until the snakes are ready to eat,
how can I keep two rats happy and healthy?
Right now I have them in a 10 gal tank, with a water bottle, food bowl
(with Kaytee rat food) and aspen bedding, with a small snake hide.
I also got them 2 'cheese chews', which I guess gives them
something to chew on that's good for them.

They may be food, but I want them to be comfy and happy until
the end.

[disabled.101]

An exercise wheel and maybe a second story with a tube running up to it.
But exercise wheel will suffice

[tigerlily]

I have a couple picky snakes that just will NOT eat during the winter. Most eat just fine throughout the year. Are these adult snakes then? I've never had problems with juveniles not eating, since those guys are just eating machines. Your best bet is to double and triple check your temps, and then offer food once a week. You can even skip a week here or there.

Also 10 gallons is a bit small for two rats. That would be my biggest concern for you rats.

[iFlingP00]

Yep, both adults. Female's about 3 years old, the male's about 6.
Last year when the temps dropped outside the female didn't eat
for about 4 months, but normally she's an eating machine.
Temps are spot on, always constant. I measure them with an
accurite in the tubs, and a temp gun every other day. So, I'm
99% sure they're solid.

I couldn't afford more than a 10 gal. atm... I kinda feel bad for them,
cuz tey look so bored! Right now one is in the hide, and the other
is outside the hide, just curled up on the the aspen.

I'd love to take them out and play with them.. but I don't wanna get attached, or get bit!

[anatess]

10 gallon is plenty of space for 2 rats. Add a wheel and you're set. A multi-level is cool too. Just put half of a cardboard shoebox in there, cut a hole the size of an empty roll of paper towel towards the front edge, stick the empty paper towel roll in there to use as a ladder, then put a little substrate on top of the shoebox and you're good. You might want to check that the rats are the same sex. You might end up with rat babies! Rats grow fast too. So, hopefully your snakes will eat soon!
Rats that age will bite, so you'll need to be careful petting them.

[Oxylepy]

I keep 1 rat per small plastic container, with food, water, and a hide. Then I keep the container in a dark part of the room and never really bother to check on them or do anything with them unless I think the substrate needs to be changed (the water will last them a week, and the food is usually a heck of a lot for them. So there you go, I don't bother with large spaces or exercise wheels, and I don't keep them for more than a week. They, like the snakes, want tight dark spaces, food and water. Although, unlike the snakes, they want companionship. So I suppose keeping more than one together in a larger container would be better so they could have someone to spend time with.

They don't really "need" exercise wheels or climbing devices. They're happy as long as they have the basics for life; food, water, comfort. If you don't ant to keep more than one at a time then you can play with them yourself and they are EXTREMELY happy about it, provided you know how to show love to a small animal. Within 5 minutes I have them licking and nuzzling me... this is why I stopped feeding live rats. I like them, they like me, I can't keep them as pets since their presence puts my snakes in feed mode (which is uncomfortable over long periods of time). Either I get them the day I intend to feed them to the snakes, or I get frozen.

[nova2door]

a 10 gallon is plenty of space for 2 small rats. i've bred rats 1.2 in 10 gallons for years. they do like a box or something to hide in.

[llovelace]

I started buying my rats in bulk so to speak, I buy 3 weeks worth at a time(9 rats, 3 diff sizes) they go into a 20 gal tank w/water & food. works great for me....so far

[iFlingP00]

Thanks for all the replies, everyone!
I actually have one more question, althought I'm pretty
sure I can guess the answer.

Is it normal for the rats to push their bedding up into their
food bowl? That seems to be the first thing they do when I
freshen up the food.

*note- both rats are female!*

[littleindiangirl]

Your rats will grow too big for any ball python in a week.

Are you planning on keeping them as pets? Otherwise, I see no reason to not gassing them and freezing, or taking them back.