Refused rats

[Tigerhawk]

I was wondering what you guys do with your frozen thawed rats when your snakes refuses them? Do you throw them out, or do you refreeze them for later?

[alykoz]

you can refreeze them once more

[Rickys_Reptiles]

I never refreeze, I always throw them out.

[bcr229]

I have five large boas, there is no such thing as a wasted rat.

[el8ch]

When I was feeding frozen I would not re-freeze any prey items that did not get eaten, they'd go in the garbage.

Here's a little article on refreezing raw meat, this being said don't "cook" your rats!

Is It Safe to Refreeze Raw Meat and Poultry that Has Thawed?

The U. S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) advises, "Once food is thawed in the refrigerator, it is safe to refreeze it without cooking, although there may be a loss of quality due to the moisture lost through thawing. After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods. If previously cooked foods are thawed in the refrigerator, you may refreeze the unused portion. Freeze leftovers within 3-4 days. Do not refreeze any foods left outside the refrigerator longer than 2 hours; 1 hour in temperatures above 90 °F.

DO NOT thaw meat at room temperature, such as on the kitchen counter.

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When I was feeding frozen I would never refreeze any prey items that did not get eaten, they'd go in the garbage.

Here's a little article on refreezing raw meat, this being said don't "cook" your rats!

Is It Safe to Refreeze Raw Meat and Poultry that Has Thawed?

The U. S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) advises, "Once food is thawed in the refrigerator, it is safe to refreeze it without cooking, although there may be a loss of quality due to the moisture lost through thawing. After cooking raw foods which were previously frozen, it is safe to freeze the cooked foods. If previously cooked foods are thawed in the refrigerator, you may refreeze the unused portion. Freeze leftovers within 3-4 days. Do not refreeze any foods left outside the refrigerator longer than 2 hours; 1 hour in temperatures above 90 °F.

DO NOT thaw meat at room temperature, such as on the kitchen counter.

[MrLang]

Like the linked article says, "Do not refreeze any foods left outside the refrigerator longer than 2 hours; 1 hour in temperatures above 90 °F"

However, there is more here. They are talking about a butchered cut of meat. We are talking about a whole carcass. The chemicals inside the body are still there, including things like stomach acid, which can eat the flesh in the absence of enzymes being produced that prevent it. A whole carcass rots very quickly. This is why many fisherman and hunters will gut and clean their kills on the spot.

I would not recommend refreezing. If you have multiple animals, just thaw 1 or 2 less than you need and cycle who gets 'skipped' if they are all eating.

[satomi325]

I personally toss uneaten rats to the ferrets. They finish the job.

And I agree with the others on not refreezing. Just pure nastiness. If you thawed yourself a chunk of raw steak for hours then blasted it to 90-100 degrees, would you refreeze/rethaw and eat it again another time?

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[Tigerhawk]

I threw two rats out this morning, after they were refused. Thanks for your help. I will continue to throw them out, just to be safe as I do not want to endanger my snakes. If only I had a reptile that would not turn down a rat meal.

[jbean7916]

She's glad the balls are picky eaters

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[Tigerhawk]

Wow!!