OH HAPPY DAY! Alexander Ate His 1st Frozen Mickey YAY!!!

[Arsinoe]

I had Alexander outside today and it was nice and warm for once so I decided defrost his last frozen mouse and give it another try. I actually let it defrost outside on a black storage bin so it took no time at all to get it warmed up. I set up his feeding box with a red shirt I wore to work one day and didn't care for, so it had my scent to it still. I then took a red flower and a sprig of leaves from his tank. I put him in first and bumped him in the nose a couple of times with it, which he did not like and hid his head.I closed the box and slid it in a spot where the ferrets sleep, for privacy...They were outside getting sun......And sometime within 15 minutes it was all gone. I'm surprised I didn't hear him belch.

Then I gently put him in his tank and he's snoozing away in his den now.He had a big day and a big meal too.

Now I can have the convenience and safety of frozen with out worry about him starving or getting hurt on live. I'll go to Petsmart after work tomorrow and pick him up a nice supply.

So someone said he could probably go onto adult mice now. Correct? I don't even see a bump inside him from eating Hopper size. And it was a nice fat white one too. Or should I stay with hoppers and feed him every 5 days for the time being.

[NightLad]

Congratulations on the successful feed!

I’d check on the next reptile expo in your area if you want to pick up a bag of frozen mice for a good price. You will pay far less than you will at pet stores. If visiting an expo is not possible for you, than there are some good online retailers that sell feeder rodents in bulk. Again, the price of buying 50 or so at a time can be substantial when compared to pet store fees. And you won't have to worry about running out!

After defrosting I always check the internal temperature with my finger prior to feeding. Just to make sure. I turn the mouse on its back and press on its bellow with a finger, just below the rib-cage. Then I move my finger upwards into the ribcage, gently so as not to rupture anything, and then feel to make sure there are no cold spots. If there are, I let it defrost for a while longer.

I defrost by putting the frozen mouse in a ziplock and leaving in it hot water from the tap for about an hour to an hour-and-a-half. I never use boiling water. I find that this length of time allows the body to defrost completely and return to a warm state. If it is defrosted but the body temp is too cold, than I just put the ziplock in some more warm water for a bit.

My snake is picky about temperature, which some are. He does not care about size or gender or colour, but if it isn’t warm enough he won’t touch it.

Remember not to handle him for 48 hours while that mousey-meal digests!

Have a good one.

[Arsinoe]

Thanks!

I just have a small dorm fridge, so smaller amounts of mice is better if I want to use the freezer too. I called everyone in the area and Petsmart is the best price for the amount I want to buy at a time. They buy bulk wise and pass on the savings.

I checked out the internet sites and saw how good prices were. The first leg of my research...How much food was for snakes. I didn't know if it was expensive or not.

Again the size question. Is it best get hoppers still or get the adults now at his age?

[Kaorte]

I would move to adult mice especially if you plan on buying a lot of them at one time. Hatchlings will eat hoppers for a few meals (about a months worth) and then move to adult mice.

[Arsinoe]

i would move to adult mice especially if you plan on buying a lot of them at one time. Hatchlings will eat hoppers for a few meals (about a months worth) and then move to adult mice.

thanks!

[Snakefreak64]

oh whata feeling!!!, good for you (and him)!!!

snakefreak64

[Arsinoe]

Alexander ate his 2nd frozen Mickey this morning.

I had given him one Sunday but he didn't want it and pooped in his box...This was the first time I had seen both kinds of waste material from a snake. I'm sure he's pooped before, but I wasn't going to dismantle his home just to be nosy.

Anyway Tuesday evening he was out and he was exceptionally animated and he even got away momentarily. I figured he was hungry, but it was late and I decided to wait till morning. I was right.He even ate with everyone snarking around and playing near his feeding box.

So I guess he's a 7 day feeder.I was going for every 5 days, but I guess not.

A bit oh hint.............Instead of dropping your mousey in hot and drying it. Just put it in a baggie, make sure it won't melt and dip him in the mug of hot water. He stay nice and dry that way

[BuckeyeBalls]

A bit oh hint.............Instead of dropping your mousey in hot and drying it. Just put it in a baggie, make sure it won't melt and dip him in the mug of hot water. He stay nice and dry that way

Thats what i do but i still hit it with a hair dryer on the head so its the hottest part