As far as the snake not striking, that is most likely due to the fact you are placing the rodent in the cage and leaving it. I am willing to bet if your present the rodent to the snake by gripping the rat/mouse between its shoulder blades making it dance around a little you will get a strike out of your snake.

As far as the snake not eating these little buggers can drive you nuts as I recently found out. My snake had been eating rats like a champ for a good 9 months or so. He started slowing down and eventually stopped eating all together. His temps and humidity were perfect and I couldnt figure it out for the life of me. After about 10 weeks of him not eating I didnt know what to do. I love each of my pets like family members and it was killing me with each passing week. Talk about stress.

I eventually e-mailed a member here (shout out to fishmommy) and pretty much asked if she would like to adopt my boy because at this time, if he was sick I could not afford to care for him at the vet (i'm back on track as far as emplyment goes now). I was willing to give him away to insure his well being and I knew fishmommy would make that happen. Anyway, she said to try him out on mice because her snake stopped eating rats and would only eat mice. I went and bought a couple frozen mice and I barely got them threw his door before he was coiled around them. I felt so guilty that for 10 or so weeks of him not eating all I had to do was offer mice.

It was a learning experience that's for sure. Don't stress about the rat thing. Two mice are just as tasty as 1 rat

Good luck.