I just do not want to take the chance I have seen snake mutes and they looked the same and it was on the top of the container the rat pup was in and not the pup itself. I ended up trying to feed it twice with no luck. My snake is a Mouser I guess and only takes f/t or live mice without hesitation. He wouldn't even look at the rat he actually rested his head on the rat pup and then went to the other corner on the enclosure.