Question for the live feeders out there

[Gene Collins]

Friday on Clyde's normal feeding day I bought a rat pup on the way home from work like usual and when I got home I tried to feed him. He wouldn't even look at the rat pup. I gave it about 20-30 min and took the rat out. As I was putting Clyde back after cleaning his home I noticed his eyes are hazy I am guessing because he is pre-shed. All that aside my main question really is what should I do with the rat until he finishes his shed? I have it in an old lil cricket keeper with some aspen substrate and slices of potatoes for food and water. I just want to keep the lil buggar alive until I can feed it to Clyde. Is this a problem anyone else has had?

Side note...no offense but I don't want to hear any pros/cons about feeding live vs prekilled. Thanks in advance for any assistance

[BFE Pets]

if it won't be to big by the time he is ready to eat id say give it something more than a potatoe to eat. But if your pet store is herp friendly they may take it back and give you another one in a week or so after he finishes his shed.

[I-KandyReptiles]

I don't know rat sizing or how quick they grow. We can't have rats here.

I do feed mice though. And if everyone refuses, the mice go back in their tanks until the next feeding time.

I'd assume it'd be fine for a few days. Make sure it has lots of water and food. Potatoes are okay, but if it'll be a few days, I'd pick up a small bag of rat food. Since you'll be feeding live, I doubt this will be the last time you have to keep a rat for a few days

[gsarchie]

When you say rat pup it could mean a large range of age/size. If it is not yet weaned from it's mother it may not survive long enough to be fed. If it is old enough to survive offer it more than potatoes, carrots and lettuce are great and if you have any grains that would be fine as well (bread and crackers may work too). If it isn't going to survive without mom's milk you could kill it and freeze it and then try feeding F/T.

[Gene Collins]

thanks everyone. it is old enough to feed on it's own. I moved it from the little cricket keeper I have to an empty 10 gallon tank. Gave it a water dish and some dog food...at the recommendation of the pet store I got it from.