frozen food question

[pythonownerguy]

This is the first time doing the frozen mice deal. I have normally gave live food but the shop nearest me isnt very cooperative with keeping the proper size mice and is very unreliable at best. I went to Petsmart and got a 6 pack of frozen mice. Do I let them thaw on their own or do I help the process in some way ?? ANy help would be greatly appreciated.

[crepers86]

You can let them thaw on there own, that's my recammonded move. You can use warm water let it soak in there for a bit and it will thaw it out faster. Just make sure by feel that the mouse is fully thawed, and that none of the innerds are still frozen. then when its thawed just put what I do is heat up a wet wash cloth in the microwave just before serving. Sometimes when doing a quick thaw you get blood that leaks out of the mouse and it can make a miss, thats what I like about petsmart and their little baggies the mice are packaged in inside that box. Way better then Petco

[Skittles1101]

I thaw by either leaving in the fridge over night, or taking out and thawing on the counter for a few hours before. Then when I go to heat up I place them in hot water for about 15 minutes to get them to temp. I keep mine in ziplock bags so they don't get all wet and gross.

[pythonownerguy]

Yea, Petsmart has their mice in baggies so I'll let them thaw out on their own and then drop them in hot water for awhile and hopefully they will warm through

[Skittles1101]

I suggest getting f/t rats from expos near you, or searching craigslist for a local breeder. You are paying WAY too much at any of those chain stores for f/t rats...

[AK907]

I suggest getting f/t rats from expos near you, or searching craigslist for a local breeder. You are paying WAY too much at any of those chain stores for f/t rats...

Amen! Also, like she said, get RATS. Mice are not much of a meal for a ball python.

[sandersnd44]

I thaw mine out by sitting them on top of the enclosure( my snakes are in 10 gallon tanks with a 3/4 covered top) to sent the area to get them in feeding mode. Then just hit it with a hair dryer to dry them off and warm them up.

[crepers86]

Sanders I never thought of the blowdryer deal, that sound fun. When I had the zilla cage with the screen top I use to do that sometimes put it under the heat lamp. but I have since switched from that. sometimes local private owned pet stores are the best. for one Medium rat at Petco is $7.56 i get live medium rats for $6.25 at my local. How ever they have they breed their own stock of rats and mice, they have a provider for frozen hoppers and adult mice and they are only a dollar. but I did find out that they will freeze some rats upon request and only charge me $2.17 so yeah they are cheaper from a local private store. From Time to Time I do find people on CL that do sell feeders

[Redneck_Crow]

Another thing you can do is go to a reptile show/sale if there is one near you. You can pick up frozen rats in bulk, and they're quite cheap that way. I think I paid $13.00 for a bag of 10 medium rats at the last one I went to.

[AK907]

Edit: ^That is the way to go most of the time. Rodent Pro has always done us right.

i get live medium rats for $6.25 at my local

Jeepers! On the off chance we run out of our own stock we have a local shop that sells live medium rats for $2.40 and several breeders in the area who charge $1-1.50.

OP, like has been said, there is no right or wrong way of thawing them. Whatever way works best for you. I only use f/t for our corns and I prefer to just set them in a bowl of hot water. Its quick and easy. Good luck!