Ball Python Hunting for Rat But Can't Find It?

[CloudtheBoa]

So this is the end of Bud's 10th week on strike, and he's been coming out in the middle of the day for quick cruises. I took this as a sign he was finally deciding he may want to eat, and went and got a few small rats from the pet store.

I thawed it out like I usually do; setting it out at room temp. This time I set it close to the heat lamp so that it thawed out in an hour, and then held its head under hot running water to see if he will take it like that. I'll be trying boiling water next, which is usually the only way that works with him. He's been spending an hour frantically circling his tub desperately looking for the rat, top to bottom, end to end. But, even when he comes into contact he'll just have a short hesitation, run his nose up and down the rat and then move on. He's obviously hungry, as he's been hiding all day and when I was thawing it he came out of his hide and was staring straight up at the rat (it was on top of his tub). When I put the rat in, I turned off all the lights and everything but that hasn't been helping him. He's always been a ratter, with only a few mice before, but he's always taken rats nonetheless and he hasn't had any mice in over a year.

For all I know, he may end up finding it after I post this. -.- Should I just leave it in overnight, or is there something else I should do to help him out? It usually doesn't take him this long, especially when it's heated. I'm doing everything exactly like I normally do, the only difference is that he's in a tub with a red light. I've got a UTH, though, that I'll be trying out again. I think it's only 13 watts or something, and the last time I tried it it couldn't even get the heat through the tub, let alone the bedding, with or without a thermostat but I'll give it a second shot before I get a CHE bulb. I'm saying this in case maybe the light could be affecting him?