I have a dilemma...

i have an adult male that hasn't eaten but 2 meals in 6 months. fear not, thats what they do.

How about going to the pet store and getting the used bedding of Gerbils and using that to scent the rats?

I have never, ever seen a gerbil get bigger than a rat. They get bigger than mice, but not by much. Definitely smaller than rats.

Ginevive...I'm with Marla and would consider gerbils only as a last resort. The "used bedding" suggestion from Raj is a very good idea to try. However, if you're willing to commit to feeding gerbils full-time, and you can get them easily and relatively inexpensively, there is nothing wrong with trying them as well. And they're not terribly hard to breed, either. I did it as a kid without even trying. :shock: They're a LOT cleaner than mice, or even rats.