Are you putting the rodent in the cage or trying to feed from forceps? Mine used to run away from anything I tried to feed him from the hemostats. His first time feeding with me, I left the mouse overnight in front of whichever hide he was in at the time. When I got up in the morning, it was gone. The next few times I had to leave it in there but he'd come out a few minutes later and snatch it up. Now I just have to dangle it in front of him for a few seconds and he'll snap it right off the hemostat.