cheers mate.i've got the setup in a 4 foot vivarium with a 50w daytime bulb and a 50w night glow bulb.i guess i'll stick to a live rat for a while then.i'm just worried the rat will harm the snake ie bites.my other 4 snakes all take f/t with no problem so feeding live is a new experience for me.is there a possibility the snake could have a RI with the slight weezing/red blotches? thanks for the advice