500-700g? Yikes... Is that the target for a male of almost 6 months? He is quite a bit lower than that, only around 215g empty. Weighed him a few days ago.

I have tried leaving a F/T mouse in with him overnight, seems as soon as it cools down he's not interested in it. I warm it up it warm water and then dry it off so it's still warm when offering it to him.

I did the complete clean right before his last successful feeding, I'll try that again. Up until now I had been doing it once a month, hope it won't have to become a weekly thing. I have him in an aquarium setup with lots of hides and leafy foliage, aspen substrate. A bit more tedious to clean than the plastic bin setup since been reading about.

I've tried the braining technique, nothing. Also read about just trying to aggrivate him into striking to initiate the feeding response but I'm holding off on trying that out of concern it would turn him into an aggressive , striking snake. He's so docile and friendly and I'd really like to keep him that way

wpuld maybe switching back back to mice for one feeding kick start him back knot eating again? Or better not to go back after he has already been established on rats for several feedings?

just be patient and keep trying?

Thanks for the replies everyone!