hi i know there pets , i will get hung for this but try a fresh killed gerbil, as people keep rats an mice as food and pets , it must of eaten to get to get that size , but leaving it with out water for a week not good idea im my humble opinion , try wiggling the food warm, i see your point gerbils are pets but sure you could cull one to feed the snake but once its ate a gerbil, it may never go back to mice or rats size and age would help;how long youve had it , how it ate last time ect or have you just got this snake????? pls ppl dont hang me for the gerbil remark its just cheaper to come from you, belive me i know its hard, ok if not a gerbil offer it a fresh mouse