Two Questions: 1 ethical, 1 on husbandry shedding

[new2herp]

1) How safe are frozen mice to humans? Can they carry disease? Can I safely and in good conscience keep them in the freezer which I share with others (who are ignorant to this fact)?


2) "Ellis" has very cloudy looking eyes, is more nervous than usual, and so obviously is in shed. I have been misting and have a moist towel over his cage, and the humidity has been up around 70 in preparation for the big shed. I've read about "soaking" him in warm water. How does one go about soaking their snake? Should I confine him to a closed, ventilated container filled with water for brief periods? That seems like it would be very stressful...

Thanks for the help!

1) Yes, it is safe. I store my rodents in the same freezer I and my family eat out of and we're still alive, lol.

2) Soaking isn't really necessary if you are misting and the humidity is OK. I only soak if the snake is having trouble getting its shed off.

[JamminJonah]

lab mice are usually used and they are bred in pretty good clean conditions so it wouldn't be a problem... i keep them in the same freezer as my roomates food and he doesn't care.. plus freezing temperatures are not conducive to bacteria or viral life... which is why we use them in the first place.

[beaglegod]

Yeah new2D2, sounds like youve got the humidity high enough to get a realy nice shed.

[JLC]

Yes...keep them in a discreet container in the freezer, and they will get along fine with your frozen cows, frozen pigs, chickens, and whatnot.

You should have a fine shed with what you're doing right now. Wait and see how it goes before deciding to make it even more work than it already is. :wink:

[CTReptileRescue]

1) How safe are frozen mice to humans? Can they carry disease? Can I safely and in good conscience keep them in the freezer which I share with others (who are ignorant to this fact)?

I eat our frozen rodent supply at least twice a week when hungry, no harm has come from it..lol
Welcome to the forums, I have never had any problems with sharing our freezer with snake food, althou I really need a bigger freezer, as I have to place too many orders seperately, due to no space in our freezer.
Thanks
Rusty

[Pirranha]

I keep frozen rodents in my freezer too,without any problems.
here i am at my sisters wedding a few years ago-see im fine!

[Marla]

LOL -- ya look fine to me!

[new2herp]

Glad to hear the mice won't harm my unsuspecting roomates! About the shed, I'll let you know what happens. Right now he's just been chillin in his warm hide. Oh yeah, one other thing:
Do you think a short length of pvc pipe would make a good hide? Would I need to melt the edges after it was cut?

Thanks for all the help and insight (about the frozen cows and pigs also in my freezer...)!

[Marla]

You can buy pieces that are already perfect for a few bucks at a home improvement store. For example: