Im in the same boat as you right now. Only I have bought a live rat cuz he has only ever eaten live mice. Got home with the rat to find Jerry in full blue. Now im trying to onvince myself this rat named lucky is not very cute and is still food for when he sheds. and ya im with you the live small rats look huge. but lucky is still smaller then Jerys widest girth. i think ill thumpthe rat onte head before feeding since this is his first rat