None of these statements are true. 1) Rats do not have to reek if they are cared for and cleaned frequently and properly. I have repeatedly been in a room filled with hundreds of rats and at least a dozen mice, where the only smell was the wood shavings, because everything was cleaned at least weekly. 2) Mice have a distinctly different scent than rats, which is more likely to affect an animal that hunts primarily by scent and heat than color. 3) In addition, a BP hatchling would have to be excruciatingly small to not be able to take a rat. I fed my hatchlings (smallest was 54g) rat fuzzies as their first meal two days ago, with no issue.